Just bought one, new-in-box. Have ALL the documentation. This is a painted, unlettered, DCC no sound version.

Is there anything I have to do with this locomotive before hauling a train of about 10 MDC log bunks (empty) at my railroad club?

Just asking to make sure because I love the 2 truck version, but the main gearbox has a cracked gear in it. I really don't want to send in the 2 trk because I don't need another 3 trk in return.

Thanks,
Vermont Bob

it seems that my universals, where they enter the main gearbox are what has failed. You can spin the wheelsets by hand, & turn the driveshaft, but it sits there when you apply power, pistons whirring happily away, but doesn't move an inch.

VTBob

Is there a regear kit maybe by NWSL for the main gear box? Mine's been sitting on the shelf for a long time needing the front gear in the box. The plastic gear split on the shaft which renders the front drive shaft inoperatible.

I don't really want to send it back for one of those fancier 3 truck versions if I can help it. I like the littler 2 truck version.

VT Bob

The Quincey Railroad has a perfect example of a tank engine in the 2-6-2T wheel arrangement.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8629615497_2d422ecdae_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/6974556453_5e8ddee649_o.jpg

These would be a great addition to any logging or mining railroad where a turntable is too much room for a locomotive.

Full valve gear would be a plus, & technically you could use the running gear of the new 2-6-0 as a basis to start from, so the retooling of a new tank engine shell would be what you'd need.

VT Bob

I apologize for my tone, when I first read your posts I kind of felt shot down, like it wasn't worth even a looking into.

In my opinion, it would be one way of having a steam locomotive, minus those fragile wires & annoying tiny plugs that are almost impossible to get out once they are plugged in. Kinda of an all-in-one unit. Plus it doesn't matter which direction they run in, they were designed to run equally well in either direction.

Probably the most popular "Tank" engine was B&O's C-16 class, 0-4-0 better known to modelers as a "Dockside", Awful lot of these already on the market, which is kind of funny, considering that B&O only ever had 4 of these tank engines total (according the the north american guide to Steam locomotives. I made a list of the ones that ran tank engines:

canadian national - 4-6-4T - Qty. 6
Canadian Pacific - 0-6-4T - qty. 2, and 4-6-4T - qty. 3
CNJ - 2-6-2T-(qty. 25), 4-6-4T(qty. 5)
C&O - 0-6-0T(qty. 1)
DL&W - 0-4-0T(qty. 2), 0-6-0T(qty. 1)
NYC - 2-4-4T(qty. 10), 2-6-6T(qty. 36), 2-8-2T(qty. 5), 4-6-6T(qty. 5)
Reading - 2-6-4T(qty. 10)

Not a ton of the generic "usra" boilerplate design locomotives. But I'm reminded of a conversation last year where someone else had brought up the topic of a 4-8-0 "Twelve Wheeler", but had the same thing happen for the most part: Users claimed there wasn't enough evidence that other roads used them aside from N&W. The list was compiled a while ago below:

ACL = 1
B&M - 18
CNJ = 51
CNW = 2
CI&L aka Monon = 22
D&H = 1 (L. F. Loree experimental)
DL&W = 20
DM&IR = 6
GN = 60
MP (Missouri Pacific) = 19
NdeM = 8
NYC = 11
N&W = 286
BR&P = 46

I could see the 4-8-0 being made, considering how many there was. I understand about the tank engine being sort of an obscure unit, but it's just an idea I had for a possible & different railway locomotive out there. The last GEM model of the Boston & Albany's 2-6-6T came out in 1977. I cannot afford the asking price they go for, nor do I think (unless you did a full re-gear & wiring) would you be able to install DCC.

Not trying for a flame war here, but I would like an honest discussion about why everyone wants to make the same generic steam locomotive wheelbase designs, when you could corner the market with a few obscure locomotives. No one's made the larger tank units in plastic yet. & aside from the early (& I do mean way early) tyco 'tender powered' 4-8-0, I don't think anyone's made it in plastic with a running configuration. I wouldn't let Broadway be the first to snag this idea & run with it, when you have the chance.

Just explaining myself as to why I first suggested the idea,
VT Bob

Trouble is, they have at least three strikes against them.

1)  The 4-6-4T is a most unusual wheel arrangement.
Not really. Wouldn't be too hard to use the current 2-6-0's drivetrain & valve gear to make the running part. Just lengthen the pilot & ashpan area to support a 4 wheel trailing truck.

2)   This is a rather limited market locomotive as they are a CNR class.
Like I said, there's a wide range of names you could use. Boston & MAine, NYC, UP, etc, anything would fit unless you are a rivet counter.

3)  They are Canadian, hence no American manufacturer will touch them.  :-)
Wheelbase was used here. If you want to be more specific, there was several 4-6-6T's for Illinios Central, & the Boston & Albany.
CNJ used the 4-6-4T arrangement for their commuter runs.

In fact, several US lines ran them. They were: CNJ, LIRR, NYC, Illinios Central, & even the Burlington.

I've done alot of research on these little units.

VT Bob

I found a couple more reference photos for those that haven't seen this tank of an engine:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=426494&nseq=0

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=295923&nseq=11

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=292270&nseq=12

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=27715&nseq=19

What about the little "Condensed Hudson" that Blount ran when Steamtown was still located in Bellows Falls, VT?

There's a video here: http://youtu.be/TqAmm5WaZ-I

It was a 4-6-4T & was pretty sharp looking. Only model of it I saw was a GEM model from years ago, with an open frame motor.

I think it'd be a good addition because you pretty much could slap any road name on it, & with the exception of the purests (no offense meant), there wouldn't be any complaints.

Just a thought for those of us who don't have room for a big hudson other then in a display shelf to gather dust.

VT BOb

All of my DCC 70Tonners have been noisy. Run them without the shell & you'll see a massive difference. I'm trying to find a way to sound-deaden the shell.

Not much luck yet, but I've obtained some small 3m rubber adheisive that I'm going to coat the inside of the shell with to see if it helps any.

VTBob

All 10 of my 70Tonners make this growling noise when they run. The shell amplifies the motor buzz like a speaker enclosure. I've not found a DCC-version that was quiet.

The old 2 motor versions were slightly quieter, but they all growl a bit.

Vermont Bob

Check to see if the pilot is hung up on the track. I had to shave off a bit on my pilot because it dragged on the rails is a few spots.

Actually, I've had this problem with quite a few 4-4-0's of all different makes.

Vermont Bob

Found out why it didn't run after I removed the decoder. Forgot to reinstall the dummy 8-pin plug.

The MRC sound decoder (EZ-Sound) burned up the 2 once-yellow caps on the board. I won't be using the sound decoder again. I will keep this one loco dcc-free. My level of experience is intermediate. My first sound decoder install was when Bachmann's 3 truck shay first came out. I bought the soundtraxx unit & drilling through both frames to run the wires with the equiptment I had was the most nerve racking experience to date. imagine holding a full sized powerdrill between your legs while you held the tiny frame is your hands, carefully guiding it down on the drill bit. I didn't have all the nice n fancy tools I have now, so I had to make do with what I had.

To this date that shay has given me absolutley zero trouble.

The MRC sound decoder I had turns out to be very underpowered for this application & has been known to pop caps (as the guy at Tony's Trains told me) I might use a soundtraxx down the road, but for right now, I rather enjoy the silence on normal DC power.

Is there a way to remove the board entirly & make this a strictly DC-powered locomotive? I have no use for the Digital stuff for what & where I use this engine.

Thanks,
Vermont Bob

I have the 63inch drivers.

Hello,

I have searched without understanding about tender swaps. I have a 4-6-0 first run spectrum loco. A failed sound decoder install (MRC plug & run) has fried the factory circut board. Can I use the small, 4 axle vandy tender with this locomotive? Switching boards is not an option because the board is fried, & is too big to fit into the vandy tender anyway.

Thanks for your time,
Vermont Bob
(just starting to get back into the hobby after more then a year's vacation from it all)