BLI PRR-P5A In Now

[eric220]

I do believe the prototype center driver was flangeless.

https://www.steamlocomotive.com/GG1/P-5a.php

[wazzou]

IMO, even if the prototype's center Driver was flangeless, it should at minimum make contact with the rail.
The illusion would be much more palatable if the wheel's rim were the same thickness as the wheels fore and aft of the center one.

[bbussey]

Well that explains why the center driver is flangeless.  Still inexcusable that it not touch the rails and aid in both connectivity and traction effort.

I received a response.  The front trucks are wired for pickup and they are sprung, but the springs are weak and possibly poorly located.  They say my model should be running better than it is and that I should return it, but I haven't had much success in returned items to BLI for repair.  Went back and forth for a year on a pair of PAs that still run like crap.  At some point, I will replace their ornery decoders with LokSound decoders.

Regarding the lighting, they have a "Pro Mode" setting that supposedly allows you to program the lights any way desired after setting cv128 to 1.

Just reviewed the exploded diagram.  The center driver is geared, so it's just spinning in the air.  Traction tires on both wheels on the front driver.  So only one driver picks up power.

[Chris333]

This cracks me up. A company that is out there to make sound equipped models. The detail isn't great and people are replacing the electronics. I think BLI is just a toy company.

[bbussey]

Note that the tire on the center driver is thinner than the other two, which means they intended for it to float.   

Attached is the exploded freight version diagram for everyone's review, since they aren't included with the models or available on the website.  The passenger version of the diagram is nearly identical.  The diagrams are wrong in one area, as they tag the middle and rear wheels as being the same, when clearly they are different components.  The diagrams also don't show how power is routed from the front trucks, although it does indicate that the springs can be adjusted or replaced.

[wcfn100]

That means the two outer drivers are the only reliable electrical pickup wheels for the unit,

Does the model have traction tires? What's #89 on the diagram?

I think the diagram has a couple issues.

Jason

[wazzou]

Does the model have traction tires? What's #89 on the diagram?

I think the diagram has a couple issues.

Jason

Just reviewed the exploded diagram. 
The center driver is geared, so it's just spinning in the air.  Traction tires on both wheels on the front driver. So only one driver picks up power.

[learmoia]

I would assume the center driver being prototypicaly flangless - they took it off the rails so if the driver came off-center on a tighter curve, the return to center would not bind on the side of the wheel and derail the locomotive..

It maybe something they found in testing.
.. Remember.. when a new locomotive derails on half a$$ track work.. it HAS to be the locomotive's fault.

A better solution might have been to use a flanged center driver, or a rounded wheel tread that touches the rail.

At least the front/rear trucks have pickup.. might explain the solid side frames...

[bbussey]

What's #89 on the diagram?

#89 is the traction tire.

There are two spare included with the model.  I'll have to look more closely at the model tonight.  I didn't see tires on the model yesterday, that I recall, and there don't appear to be any visible in the photo above.
 

[Jbub]

Maybe they intend for the middle driver to have the traction tire installed on it since it is a smaller diameter. Sure it'll most likely fall off, but that's about as far as thinking goes into their power pickup and wheel design.

[peteski]

A floating but gear-driven center-driver?!  That is a weird-a$$ design!  Who comes up with these ideas, and who approves them? 

[Jbub]

A floating but gear-driven center-driver?!  That is a weird-a$$ design!  Who comes up with these ideas, and who approves them? 

It does make sense to gear drive it since it would be stationary as a floating wheel.

[wazzou]

It does make sense to gear drive it since it would be stationary as a floating wheel.

Only at lower speeds.   

[peteski]

It does make sense to gear drive it since it would be stationary as a floating wheel.

Hmmm . . . Well, then why float it in the first place?  The old Minitrix (and some other manufacturers) used 3-axle trucks where one of the axles was not geared, just rolling on the rail.

[Jbub]

Hmmm . . . Well, then why float it in the first place?  The old Minitrix (and some other manufacturers) used 3-axle trucks where one of the axles was not geared, just rolling on the rail.

I'm betting that it was supposed to have the traction tire on it. They found that it wouldn't stay on, but were so far into production they couldn't redesign the wheel to either be a. bigger in circumference or b. grove the tread to allow the traction tire to seat and stay in place.