spirit of 76' repair help

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


Glopy19

New Member
hello all, last year i received my first model train. immediately afterwards i learned that my mom had also operated rail services in her youth. The remanning bits of kit however hadn't aged well and were missing wheel sets and had fickle couplings. However, the actual locomotive, a F series painted in a fictional spirit of 76' livery, was still operable but the couplings were not compatible with my rolling stock so i removed the couplings in hope i could use it to push my rolling stock. The other problem that arose was that it ran very slowly, didn't have much tractive effort, and emitted a fierce metallic burning smell.

I am now asking about how i could going about restoring this locomotive to add to my motive power fleet. There are pictures of it in my gallery.
 

Glopy19

New Member
Loco type

Hello again, i have identified the locomotive it is an AHM FM C-Liner
Spirit of '76 No.5024-25

Thanks!
 

jayl1

Member
You have a real oldie. AHM (then IHC) is out of business. If you really want the shell, I would look for another drive unit at a swap meet. They weren't really good runners when new. As for couplers - since you removed the coupler & small spring, add a Kadee coupler box in its place & use a coupler compatable to the one you have.
 

Glopy19

New Member
I figured out the problem, the connections to the motors were frayed and soldering them made the loco much faster. I also (last night) invented a ghetto solution to the coupling problem. The seat for the ahc coupling is almost identical to the one i need (athearn) so i put one in, melted it and raised it up.
It's not very pretty but survivable. Thanks for the help.
 




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)


ModelRailroadForums.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

RailroadBookstore.com - An online railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used railroad books. Railroad pictorials, railroad history, steam locomotives, passenger trains, modern railroading. Hundreds of titles available, most at discount prices! We also have a video and children's book section.

ModelRailroadBookstore.com - An online model railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used books. Layout design, track plans, scenery and structure building, wiring, DCC, Tinplate, Toy Trains, Price Guides and more.

Top