Intermountain FT

[SirTainly]

I've just received a couple of FTs, (A+B) from an ebay win, and while the B is complete the A is missing quite a few bits. Before I bother intermountain spares department, just wondering if anyone knows:

Are the trucks Atlas ones, or bespoke?
Same with the frame separators, screws and nuts?

(it's also missing a motor, drive shafts, light and front coupler, but the screws are oddly still there for the light wires)

[thomasjmdavis]

According to the Model Railroader review quoted in Spookshow's article on the IMRC FTs, they ride on Atlas trucks.

These models ride on Atlas trucks, and three of the four axles on each unit have box-shaped journals- the fourth axle has a round journal bearing - a design quirk found on prototype FT's. The FT's come with body-mounted Accumate couplers... Removing the shell reveals a typical split-frame chassis with a PC board on top secured by a pair of small screws.

Note that while the trucks are Atlas, the sideframe is a little different- the one odd journal. So you might be better off rebuilding the ones on the model, rather than replacing the whole truck.  Also, I don't have any current production Atlas models, so I can't say whether their truck design has changed at all over the past 20 years- so, I would recommend getting parts for older Atlas models.

Lots more good info on these at Spookshow's site:
 https://www.spookshow.net/loco/imftab.html


I hope the eBay seller alerted you to the fact that the A unit was gutted. 

[randgust]

Atlas parts are problematic as there is 'that guy' on Ebay that has bought up about everything and is reselling it.  Admittedly, Atlas was dirt cheap and you couldn't find ANYTHING on their website, so for the price of a decent search engine you might still find something there.  That's where all the motors went, that's for sure.  And the Shay parts.  And the GP7 parts.....

I don't 'think' they have changed trucks, but good luck on locating the right motor.  There are multiple, multiple variations on motors, all under the same part number too.   I think I've decided there are possibly five variations on GP7 motors, between physical fit and RPM (original vs. 'slow speed') and shaft length for universals.  They look the same, they just aren't.

I think your best bet is to go directly to Intermountain, plead insanity, they may have stuff from returns they have scrapped out.  Remember, if it's a damaged shell, it was sent back to them, even so much as an air horn missing.

[SirTainly]

thanks guys!

Good to know which bits I can borrow from my Altas bits pile. The seller did say it was missing the trucks, but not that it was gutted, but I only paid 15GBP (about $20) for the pair, so no complaints.

I used to be able to order from Atlas, but my account is somehow screwed up now - I had someone at Atlas helping me try to fix it, but after they manually entered my new address it stopped me logging in. Bummer!

I've pinged IM - let's see if they do have any of the bits. tbh a set of trucks and some Atlas bits at least gives me a dummy, and as the B is powered, still usuable.

[BCR 570]

Simon! 

By all means try Intermountain; I called them about a month ago and they provided me with spare tank car parts.


Cheers

Tim

[SirTainly]

Thanks Tim, will do!

[Lackawannae8]

I think I democratted Atlas gp7/9 trucks off an old frame to fix an IM FT for myself in the past and it worked. Alot of the IM stuff uses atlas parts

[SirTainly]

Sadly IM was a bust (haven't made the FT in years so no spares). So I've picked up what I can from Atlas, as suggested GP trucks, and some frame spacers. I think I have some screws left over from a previous parts order. Ultimately I think I'll transfer the guts of the complete B into the A frame to have a working A, into which I can fit a decoder and lights, and make the B the dummy as that works better with the need for lighting.

[drgw0579]

While all Intermountain F units use trucks designed by Atlas. There are two different types.  The FTs have trucks with a flat top mount, similar to the Kato made RS3s. These were the first generation of Intermountain's locomotives.  The F3, F7 & F9 use the same tricks as the China built Atlas models, these came later on. They don't share anything like side frames between the two designs. 

Bill Kepner

[SirTainly]

Ouch - looks like my Atlas order will be straight to the spares bin then - luckily another Railwire member has come to the rescue!