Lighting Dummies

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N

N2deep

New Member
I plan to add lights to my dummy engines and wonder if anyone has experience they can share getting this done. I anticipate replacing the dummy wheel assemblies with the metal wheel assemblies (with drive gear in middle) but this sure seems like an expensive way to go? Anyone?
 
im sure the regular powered trucks will work fine. thats what im doing with my athearn sd45, i just ordered the powered trucks for the dummy.
 
Adding metal wheels is the simplest way to do it. You can also wire a micro connector between the dummy and a powered engine and pass electricity to the dummies lights that way. But then you can only run the dummy with the engine with the connector.

You would really be farther ahead to power the dummy, as there is no need for dummy engines anymore. Unless you want to cram the shell full of speakers and a sound decoder! Then you still need the metal wheels.
 


no need for dummies? yea there is. I can't afford to buy all DCC equipped loco's, so I get a dummy paint it the way i want it and run it in the consist so it looks like I have more power.
 
NYSW F45 said:
no need for dummies? yea there is. I can't afford to buy all DCC equipped loco's, so I get a dummy paint it the way i want it and run it in the consist so it looks like I have more power.
Click to expand...
Good idea, does not work for me though. Athearn BNSF dash 9's cost about the same dummy or powered...
 
You know I've never noticed but I don't think I've seen any dummy steam engines. Has anyone seen any before??
 
The replies to question are greatly appreciated. Running power off the powered unit sounds relatively inexpensive but tricky. I have not gone to the DCC at this point so for me the dummies are used to effect. It looks like the metal wheels with insulator gear between the half axles the the way to go. Okay... let the fun begin.
 
If the dummy number lights can be lit I do it. I just run 2 wires from the trucks and or jumpers to a resistor and on to a led. I paint the inside of the headlight black. When I worked for the railroad some tower operators recorded the train number and engine numbers as you passed the tower. So I lite them.
 
Given any thought to battery power?
I hid a switch in the dynamic brake housing of an old Athearn to control the lights, gives a nice constant glow when you need it.
Another way to go is a magnetic switch much like Rapido passenger cars use.
I still use the odd unpowered unit just to beef up the consist without hogging more power.
 


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