Thanks to Bachmann for the excellent sound value model Alco S2.   Specifically ITEM NO: 63405 which is the United States Army #7109.

This is one of the four US Army S-2 units sent to Fort Richardson, Alaska for switching duty that were later in the Alaska Railroad Fleet.   My conversion article and general review of this excellent model can be found here:

http://alaskarails.org/creations/PD-7109/index.html

PJD

Sorry guys I do not photobucket so you can use this link to see the complete construction article and finished photos of my most recent kit bash.   http://alaskarails.org/creations/PD-208/index.html

The Alaska Engineering Commission started in 1914 and built the railroad in Alaska that became The Alaska Railroad upon completion in 1923.   Some of the first locomotives used in construction were former Panama locomotives used during construction of the canal.     My U. S. 208 is a kit bash of the Bachmann Alco 2-6-0.   This was a fun project and the first of three to be built representing changes during their service life in Alaska.

Pat Durand

Really the clutch must be slipping.   I purchased the Little River rail truck in June of 2010 along with four other new locomotives in on30.   When I finally got around to taking the truck out of the box last week she would run down the track in spurts and with any restraint the motor ran but it went no where.

Up on the rack it was apparent that both ends of the drive line might be slipping.   Both of the u-joint sections that press onto the steel drive lines were cracked.

So I removed the differential and back axle to pull out the drive line.  I discovered the U-joints were not the problem for they had been glued onto their respective input and output shafts.

So I held the U-Joint right behind the transmission housing and cranked up the motor.   Motor ran with nearly no resistance but the shaft and U-joint would only turn when I released them.  Some where between the drive line and the motor the "clutch" is slipping.

Talking to service,  they want to replace it with the railbus, a most generous offer.     I want to fix it.

Can anyone tell me what is wrong?   How do I get the transmission cover off?  Does the motor have to come out of the frame with the Transmission cover?

Like my truck, just need to get the "clutch fixed"    Help!

Pat Durand

If there is any air leak between the tender tank body and the frame your sound will go to nothing.  The tender body is the enclosure for the speaker.  If you make any holes they need to be filled and the body must be secure to the frame.

If the enclosure is broken, increaseing the CV volume level will just begin to distort the sound.

Experience is the teacher in this case for me.

Pat Durand

Want to know how to get into the new Alco 2-6-0?

Follow my kit bash of this model into Alaska Railroad #208 cir 1916.   The first two sections are already posted, the third is ready to post and there will be one final chapter on finish detail and painting.  Just check back from time to time or I will post when the next section is available.

Just go to:    http://alaskarails.org/creations/PD-208/index.html

In short I think this little gem is a very sophisticated piece of engineering that lends itself to many adaptations by kit bashing.      Best of modeling to you all.

Patrick Durand

Just installed a soundtraxx decoder plug in in three truck shay.   I tested the loco on DC prior to installation and noted a periodic stall as result of loss of electrical pickup. 

In the process of installing the decoder and speaker I removed all three trucks, cleaned the electrical wipers and mating bolster contacts with alcohol and then prelubed them with electrolube.   With the locomotive upside down, I connected one lead of my meter to the last wheel on the left side and then probed for continuity on the other 5 wheels on the left side.  These all tested indicating a continuous connection of all left side wheels even when the trucks were rotated and rocked back and forth.   Process was repeated on the right side.   This was done with the motor disconnected.

Wheels were cleaned, track was cleaned and the installation was completed.   Both electrical plugs going into the bottom of the water tender are secure.    Locomotive was put on the track and all the sound functions and operation checked out perfectly.

Here is the rub.   I like to run these locos at a walk.   Periodically there is a loss of electrical contact and the decoder resets starting the air compressor sequence.   On occasion the loco will stall at the same time.  The problem is not gears, it runs freely at all speads forward and reverse.   

It just erratically stops.  I can duplicate the problem by rocking the water tender to the right lifting the rear truck from the rail.  It is as tho the two front trucks are not picking up from the left rail.  Pressing down on the loco while tilting the tender will restore power and the pump starts running again.

By running the loco at an unprototypical high speed it will run all day without a glitch.

The problem is not a short as the DCS stays silent (no short indication).   It is an open circuit between the left rail and the decoder that occurs intermittently at slow speed in spite of having 6 wheels on clean rail.         The fact there is continuity among all those 6 wheels tells me the connection thru the plug between the coal bunker and water tender is secure.

Any ideas?

Pat Durand