Weekend Update 11-8-09

[Bruce Bird]

Dave, I find it quite odd that the cars have tracking problems.  I've got a few from the original run, they were the kit form, and I don't have a stitch of trouble with them.

I wonder if they redesigned the way the coupler swings under the sill...

Lee

Don't know, Lee...  There are stirrup steps that obstruct the swivel of the coupler shank beyond about a 14-15" radius or so.  I was surprised at how little play there was.

I had an issue with one of my flats from the first runner pack.  There was a cast metal 'knob' under the swing plate for the coupler drawbar that caught the drawbar and would cause the car to walk off the rail in a curve.  After filing the knob down the problem was solved.

[Dave V]

Thanks for the tip, Bruce!  I'll definitely check it out!

[oakcreekco]

Dave, I find it quite odd that the cars have tracking problems.  I've got a few from the original run, they were the kit form, and I don't have a stitch of trouble with them.

I wonder if they redesigned the way the coupler swings under the sill...

Lee

I've got a bunch from various runs/years, and haven't really had any tracking problems either. I still run the PC wheels on Peco Code55.

I did have a few that came with the trucks mounted with the incorrect offset, but at the time I had 18" radius curves, and only one gave me a problem.

[sizemore]

This weekend I took delivery of the newest toy!

After the wallet raping by the DMV I got to take her out for her maiden run under new ownership, it was fun. Needs a little tightening up but she drove well, I was impressed with how easily she stopped with drum brakes all around. First priority is getting a new temp gauge installed so I know how the coolant is flowing. Then figuring out why the driving lights arent operating but marker light works... ???

Oh and I installed 3 decoders in the MMID GP-38's.

The S.

[eric220]

I finally got some modeling done this week!  Other things have been taking up my time recently...

Anyway, I give you the PRR G32DM (GE AC3200BW-DM).  These were part of the PRR's massive power upgrade of the mid 1980's.  With large stretches of electrified territory in three different parts of the country, the PRR wanted a medium-power locomotive capable of moving between catenary and conventional diesel power.  Using the GE Dash-832BW as a starting point, the locomotive was upgraded with AC traction motors, a pantograph, and transformers, creating the AC3200BW-DM!

You are a lot closer than you ever thought...  Actually three 4 axle trucks. Electrically a beefed up 10K HP SD-40 (more or less).  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_GM10B The British Columbia purchased a number of GF6C for use on their Tumbler Ridge line.  Since dismantled. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BC_Rail_electric_locomotive_dismantling.jpg
 
from a historical point of view... and for all you CONRAIL QUEENS ...  you might be interested in this...

"Where do you think the concept for the push-pull modification to the MARC AEM-7's came from?  The ASEA engineers were reminded in 1985 that in 1976 they built a pair of prototype electric freight engines that could MU with diesels.  Never very successful because in 1976, CR lost "ownership" of the corridor and thus the electrical infrastructure.  Instead of charging AMTRAK for part of the upkeep of the wire, Amtrak was now charging them!  The didn't have that many electric freight locomotives left - some GG-1s and some E33s and E44s.  There was an upgraded E44 at GE in Erie that never left the plant, after testing. Anyway, CR thought it more economical to park the electrics and tell Amtrak "Thank you, don't need the wire." Have a nice electrified railroad...."

always fun to talk trains...

EP

Those photos of the GF6C are about what I would expect of a modern electric freight locomotive.  They look just like a diesel of the same era with pantographs.  That's why I didn't have any compunctions about just slapping a pantograph on top of a Dash 8.

[SirTainly]

This weekend I took delivery of the newest toy!

Then figuring out why the driving lights arent operating but marker light works... ???

Very cool. Got any history on the Jeep? Could the lights just be a bad earth or something like I've seen on ex military Land Rovers where there's a swtich that disables the headlights that's used when travelling in convoy at night.

[John]

So, what did the DMV want? and how are you going to get away with not having the plates on the car?

[sizemore]

Very cool. Got any history on the Jeep? Could the lights just be a bad earth or something like I've seen on ex military Land Rovers where there's a swtich that disables the headlights that's used when travelling in convoy at night.

It's a 1943 Ford GPW, "Bubba" converted to civilian life as evidence of all the holes in the dash that are not "factory". It has a post-war Willy's head, as evidence of the Willy's "JEEP" logo. Bubba or one of his distant cousins welded on some contraption to the frame that was torched off during its frame-on conversion back to military status. She's been converted from 6V to 12V. There are a lot of new parts under the hood, alternator, starter, battery, fuel pump in effect the engine is pretty sound and one of the reasons I picked her up.

Currently she's decorated for 1st Inf. Div. 26th Inf. Reg./HQ's 4, the Big Red 1. Bubba at the same time removed all the correct electrical components and replaced them with post-war parts, and in Bubba's fashion it's a rats nest.

GPW's used a push pull notched switch to control the lights there was no "master cutoff" for running deep. With Bubba's A+ wiring job it will take me a month to figure it all out, then wire in a new switch.

This is the typical wiring schematic for a 43/44 GPW:

Not rocket science when using a wiring harness kit as the wires are bundled, but I've gotta troubleshoot Bubba's work... :. Outside of the wiring harness she'll need new front fenders but that is not a priority as the ones she has will hold up with normal driving. When I begin the frame off restore next year, I'll give her a complete rewire along with the new tub (fenders included) among other things.

So, what did the DMV want? and how are you going to get away with not having the plates on the car?

Six hundred and fifty clams to put permanent historic tags on it, which makes her exempt from all inspections, and emissions tests.

The S.

[AlkemScaleModels]

This weekend I took delivery of the newest toy!

The S.

That brings back memories of being in the Army and puttering around Germany in a M-151 in the early 1980s. One warning, jeeps are notoriously unsafe.  My brother was almost killed in a M-151 that rolled at Ft Belvoir. Several of my soldiers were involved in accidents in M-151 jeeps.  Enjoy your new toy, but please be careful.

[Mark5]

This weekend I took delivery of the newest toy!

Oh man I love these things - always wanted one.

It's my short list if had a 6 car garage.

Mark

[Erik W]

It's my short list if had a 6 car garage.
Mark

Shouldn't you be planning on weather proofing that six car garage and building an uber layout?

Erik

[delamaize]

This weekend I took delivery of the newest toy!

The S.

That brings back memories of being in the Army and puttering around Germany in a M-151 in the early 1980s. One warning, jeeps are notoriously unsafe.  My brother was almost killed in a M-151 that rolled at Ft Belvoir. Several of my soldiers were involved in accidents in M-151 jeeps.  Enjoy your new toy, but please be careful.

those old WWII jeeps are pretty safe overall, it was the independent suspention of the 151 that made it unsafe, His has a strait axel.

[lock4244]

This weekend I took delivery of the newest toy!

It's gonna look great with a .30 cal mounted on it!

[Ian MacMillan]

Just mail that to me for some action on the Pemi Branch Bill!