Quote from: BestSnowman on February 21, 2010, 09:35:59 AM
... I would guess that the light board in the first one is at issue, you could try wiring up the slow one directly from pickups to the motor to see if it speeds up. That way you would know for sure if its the lightboard or something else.

That's a great plan. On the slow loco picture I see two groups of four diodes. Before DCC days one would make constant lighting in a locomotive by wiring four diodes in a "bridge" (I forget the name), and the bridge in series with the motor. There would be a constant voltage drop of 1.5 volts across the bridge which would power 1.5v gow/gor bulbs full brightness at anything above 1.5v on the track. Further circuit connections would yield directional lights as well as constant intensity. I have several Athearns set up this way, i.e. a GP-9 with constant light in the cab and directional headlights. Only thing is these locos take a significantly higher voltage per unit speed vs unmodified locos. Wasn't a problem for me as I always ran one powered loco with additional ones being dummies.

When I saw those groups of four diodes, I thought that might be what's going on with your slow loco. I believe this circuit is still being used today in some way with LED's. However... there is a jumper wire in the middle of your slow loco board which is labeled "CUT FOR DC". I wonder what that indicates?

Robert

Quote from: Woody Elmore on February 20, 2010, 08:59:42 AM
pipefitter - I envy you working in a trolley museum.

I worked on track with a crew, replacing rotten ties and adding ballast to level up sagging sections. We got to build several turnouts from scratch and a very small yard when they added a new three stall barn. I told people that I would only do that work as a volunteer as it was so hard you couldn't pay me enough to do it We worked early on weekend mornings before the museum opened to the public and were usually spiking the last new tie when the first trolley came. We called ourselves "maintenance in the way." One got a lot of satisfaction from a big job accomplished and we enjoyed lunch together at a favorite local pub afterward.

QuoteOf course GG-1s worked under much heavier wire. It would be a challenge to duplicate PRR style catenary wire. It's been done in the past but it's a lot of work. There is some eurpean style catenary available. Most modelers wouldn't know the difference.

I'm pretty easy and would be thrilled with anything as long as it worked. I forgot to add in my earlier post that I also have two Atlas AEM-7's, one AMTRAK and the other MARC so have a pretty good fleet of electric NE Corridor locos. I retired a couple of years ago and now have some time on my hands. I have always had a love of craft. I began as a pipefitter apprentice for the Navy (civilian) and ended as a technician who built and installed precision test instruments. Started out silver soldering 8" naval red brass pipe and ended up soldering 24K gold wire under a microscope. I have two complete sets of American Beauty resistance soldering setups with all the attachments that had been thrown out as "old fashioned". Would like to give them a try. Look at this great web site for some pretty neat home built catenary.

Robert

http://prrnortheastcorridor.com/NORTHEASTCORRIDORHO.html

Quote from: ebtnut on February 19, 2010, 08:40:41 PM
If you REALLY want to see how much you can take, try scratchbuilding heavy electric catenary.  A lot of folks in the past have just gone to pre-fab systems such as Mearklin. 

I've always been surprised by large number of bids and high prices that those parts and pieces bring on eBay Buying new is pretty pricey too. However, I suppose it's a trade off for the great amount of work that they make up for.

Robert

I have GG1's from Mehano, in both the one motor and two motor versions. They can be run from either the two rails or from one rail and overhead wire. There is a switch on the underside of the locos to pick either configuration. I have toyed with the idea of running some overhead wire after having worked at a trolley museum which had a layout.



I have the new Bachmann DCC-Equipped E60CP Locos which have a serious looking, metal pantograph on top in place of the two plastic arms on an earlier version. This looks to be a possible overhead runner as well - I'll have to investigate. The E60 and GG1 would be well paired on a NE Corridor style railroad. Probably have to take out the decoder - I run DC only.

Quote from: lexon on February 17, 2010, 01:08:20 PM
Wolfgang Dudler has done this sometime ago. Click on the link and scroll down a ways ...

Thanks for this Lex 

Robert

A couple of questions about this set... Who is the manufacturer of the coach car? I've only seen Amfleet and full dome cars from Bachmann. In another thread, discussing couplers with this set, it is noted that the couplers on the two cars are mounted differently from one another.

I see the two locomotives are listed as F7's, A & B units, both powered, and apparently not DCC ready. Are these Bachmann? When I was into model railroading years ago, Bachmann was producing the F9's with a pancake motor. When I returned to the hobby recently they are producing the FT's with can motors. Whose are these F7's?

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=3089

Robert

Looks like it is a special Bachmann Europe model available only from Britain's National Railway Museum. It's OO gauge like the Thomas models. Two versions for approximately $225 and $305 US plus s&h. It sure is a beauty!

http://www.nrmshop.co.uk/product/276887.html

http://www.bachmann.co.uk/pr1.php?id=248

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFCAXSnzezE

Robert

Debra, I have searched and found that VIA does not currently have any open observation cars in its roster. Indeed, it also seems that they no longer operate the blue and yellow cars. They now have the silver, stainless steel cars as well as two other newer types. (I rode "The Canadian" across the country in the mid 80's and the train had both blue/yellow and silver cars). However, does the car you're thinking of look like this? http://www.jefflubchanskycpa.com/GEORGIA300DC-NOV11-00-145159-17A.jpg This is the type of car I was talking about. It's the only kind with an open platform.

Here's the newer style with no platform and closed-in end http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VIA_Silver_%26_Blue_Class.jpg

Robert

Using a 30 deg crossing, a figure eight requires 22 pieces of 18" radius track. That's 11 per side. 11 pieces is one piece shy of a complete circle. So a figure eight constructed this way would be slightly larger than two 36" circles side by side and would be the smallest configuration possible. Here's the 30 deg crossing:

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=192

I haven't found anything yet for using a 90 deg crossing but I know it requires some straight track pieces. Try googling "bachmann ez track figure 8" or something like that.

Robert

Here ya go...

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=176

Mantua Classics by Model Power has a drovers caboose. They were used on livestock trains for the crews that watered the animals during stops en route.

http://www.tycoforums.com/tyco/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7881

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200401069014

I have been looking and looking since I saw your original post but can't find a picture or lead. However, I know I have seen an open platform heavyweight observation car in blue and yellow VIA colors. I'll keep looking. Cheers, Robert

Is this the blue, black and yellow paint scheme cars? Sounds like an "Observation" or "Business" car.

B&O also ran their early geeps (GP7-9) long hood forward for crew safety. When I was a kid we used to watch the evening parade on B&O's Metropolitan Branch (Washington DC to Point of Rocks MD) from Forest Glen in Montgomery Co MD. I especially liked the GP7-9's in their "passenger gray top" paint scheme leading commuter (now MARC) and no-name number trains.

Quote from: pcctrolleyII on February 07, 2010, 01:21:49 PM
... just click more from K4doubleheaderPRR for more videos

Thanks for this. I like all your vids