Jerome's Switcher Roster

[diburning]

This looks like an easy one.

D&H Avon Blue/CSX New Image Blue + white roof (looks suspiciously like an HLCX blue so the D&H Avon Blue would be closer)

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2468397

 

[diburning]

It's here!

As I suspected, it is an Athearn RTR shell on a Blue Box drive that was modified by the previous owner. The drive runs OK and I will be able to clean it up and install a decoder into it. There are no lights, so I'll have to think of a solution for that later.

Theres no interior for the cab, but I can probably either find one or do without one.

It looks like it has a double-clip on top making the modifications easy to undo (top clip is corroded way beyond salvage) and will help when I install a decoder. (If all else fails I have a few spare clips from when I scrapped an SD40-2)

The guy offered this as a Norfolk Southern engine on ebay, but in reality, it is the Southern Railway (pre-NS) version (it even says so on the box!). (There have been four River Street Ramblers) but for $40 it wasn't a bad deal at all.

Since I model the present day Norfolk Southern, this shell will most likely get stripped and painted for the current horsehead paint scheme (unless someone wants to trade shells!)

 

[wheeler1963]

Finished decorating NASA SW1500 #2 and her caboose #101 tonight. Now she's on her way to Jay in Colorado.

 

[diburning]

Wow, are the Nasa logos custom decals, or does someone actually make them?

 

[wheeler1963]

They are both Athearn painted units. I just added the numerous parts and matched the paint to them.

 

[diburning]

Jerome, do you install DCC at all into your locos? I will be installing DCC in the SW1500 on saturday and I was wondering what kind of decoder you used (if you use them). The chassis is a blue box so it doesn't have all of the room that the RTR drive does.

I was thinking of using a DZ123 (1 amp, 2 amps peak) since it's small and I have to wire it in anyway. I'll leave the bulbs out (tape the leads to the shell) until I get some micro-connectors for them.

 

[wheeler1963]

No, about half of them are dummies. The ones that are DCC'ed, Mark installed NCE #N12SRP's into them.

 

[diburning]

Hmm, the N13SRPs are rated at 1 amp, 1.25 amps peak, which is relatively low tolerance, so I guess the DZ123 will work out just fine. (The DZ123 is less expensive and fits my needs; $15.99 at the LHS)

I have one (soon to be two) "locomotive" (Bachmann Spectrum Ballast Tamper) with a DZ123 installed in it. The P&W #150 will have a DZ123 installed in it as well

 

[fast_ian]

Without wishing to hijack the thread completely - A big "+1" on the DZ123.

It's tiny, handles (pretty much) any current demand and (despite my bad luck with one recently) they work well and are recognized by JMRI.

FWIW, even the miniatronics 3 pin connector is pretty big! I just hard wire the lights with enough slack to remove the shell. I did think about using the 4pin version on the GE44 tonner, but that doubles the # of soldered connections and just seemed like a lot of work for little return....

As always, just my 02c,
Cheers,
Ian

 

[MGWSY]

Hmm, the N13SRPs are rated at 1 amp, 1.25 amps peak, which is relatively low tolerance, so I guess the DZ123 will work out just fine. (The DZ123 is less expensive and fits my needs; $15.99 at the LHS)

I have one (soon to be two) "locomotive" (Bachmann Spectrum Ballast Tamper) with a DZ123 installed in it. The P&W #150 will have a DZ123 installed in it as well

Actually I use D13SR's they are 1.3A (2.0A)peak

 

[diburning]

D13SRs fit inside a SW1500? Actually, due to their thin profile, I would expect them to.

I might just get one of those instead.

Mark, where do you get your micro-connectors? I am going to see if my LHS has any tomorrow (doubtful). If all else fails, I can take a long walk down to TrainTek to pick these up:

http://www.traintekllc.com/Soundtraxx-810058-Micro-Mini-Connectors-10pcs/productinfo/STX-810058/

but if theres a place to get more of them and/or less expensive, then that would be great.

 

[MGWSY]

I just make my own from 8 pin IC sockets. I cut them in half and make a 4 pin plug. for the Athearn switchers I mount the decoder into the shell with all lights and then make a plug for the 2 power and 2 motor wires.

D13SRs fit inside a SW1500? Actually, due to their thin profile, I would expect them to.

I might just get one of those instead.

Mark, where do you get your micro-connectors? I am going to see if my LHS has any tomorrow (doubtful). If all else fails, I can take a long walk down to TrainTek to pick these up:

http://www.traintekllc.com/Soundtraxx-810058-Micro-Mini-Connectors-10pcs/productinfo/STX-810058/

but if theres a place to get more of them and/or less expensive, then that would be great.

 

[wheeler1963]

Mark's connections look like this. And they make taking the shell off the frame a lot easier.

 

[diburning]

Wow, those are a bit bigger than what I expected.

 

[kbkchooch]

Wow, those are a bit bigger than what I expected.

I said that to a date,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,once!

 

[Irongrave]

I said that to a date,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,once!

how did that end

 

[diburning]

Mark's connections look like this. And they make taking the shell off the frame a lot easier.

Jerome, did Athearn ever make those AAR Type A switcher trucks with roller bearings? (like the type in your photo, but with roller bearings)

 

[wheeler1963]

Eric, yes they did, but only in the RTR line.

 

[diburning]

Do those sideframes fit the BB trucks?

 

[wheeler1963]

Yes, same fit.