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What if I could buy a RTR powered freight car that I could simply put behind my model steam engine and make it more realistic and more powerful.
I realize that I could simply use some diesel engine model, but I would like to have that diesel engine (pusher) camouflaged / disguised as an express freight/reefer/etc car.
I tried to do this posting as a POLL, but it kept asking me for 2 poll responces?? I thought I could read the english language.....(better than these software designers)
I happen to have 2 SF steam engines that could use a little help,....a Heritage 2-8-8-2, and a Bachmann 4-8-4.
Here is my choice for a pusher-helper refrigerator car for those SF locos,..
I have a couple of versions of that mech-refrig car's shell,...and its 'refrigeration' is spelled out on the other versions,.
Of course i only need one pusher-helper for that loco, but just for kicks here is a selection that might appear.
Then again, perhaps just a REA car (shell by Broadway Ltd)
Pusher-helper (powered car in disguise) made from Kato diesel engine chassis
A member of a module club known for his whimsical models had a powered reefer that had a superman figure pushing the car, cape fluttering behind. I wish I had taken a photo. He used, my belief it was called a Spud truck and it was operating DCC. That little solo car flying along the tracks got plenty of attention.
Are those HO scale? I'd have to see what sort of diesel chassis, probably operating on DC for one of my DC 2-10-4's that could use a little help going up Pi Hill (3.14% grade!).
I'll comment, I think it's a great idea! Especially if you have a small, or lightweight engine that can't pull a train very well, particularly on a grade.
Are those HO scale? I'd have to see what sort of diesel chassis, probably operating on DC for one of my DC 2-10-4's that could use a little help going up Pi Hill (3.14% grade!).
I looked around quite a while to find some diesel locos with trucks that would at least look halfway proper under such a car. I ended up choosing some older kato chassis engines that had reasonable shaped trucks,...and as it turns out have excellent running qualities.
I added lots of extra weight to those chassis with just auto car wheel weights. I've run them on the DC portions of my layout, and I am presentlty looking for the best MOTOR decoders to put in the dcc versions
These trucks are MUCH better representatives of those that would be found on express freight or refrigerated cars.
Both of these trucks are on power chassis that are Kato built,...and most of us are appreciative of the kato brand.
Note that the smaller trucks on the bottom car are from the shorter chassis that came from the ConCor engines. I actually prefer these on that size car,...but it does involve making use of the shorter Kato chassis that needs to be lengthened via method I have shown HERE,..
That longer Kato chassis requires no extra lengthening.
I have been watching your other thread, and as I said there it is a great Idea! I am especially all for a tender driven loco, very cool.
This is often how Lego train modelers power (Or give more power) to their Lego locomotives.
What if I could buy a RTR powered freight car that I could simply put behind my model steam engine and make it more realistic and more powerful.
I realize that I could simply use some diesel engine model, but I would like to have that diesel engine (pusher) camouflaged / disguised as an express freight/reefer/etc car.
That can be done also,.....but likely in today's prices be much more expensive than my pusher-helper freight car. And not as adaptable across a range of different main engine road names.
I've run into a discussion on another forum about repairing a Bachmann 2-8-0's belt drive mechanism,.....without being able to fine the proper cracked gear pulley. I've got a few of these engines, and if i ran into this problem i just might consider disabling the original drive mechanism, and substituting one of my pusher-helpers,..
Got a few of my Bachmann 2-8-0 's out yesterday to see if they had any hints of belt drive problems discussed elsewhere on the forum. I didn't find any at this time, but I'm watching the repair efforts over there.
I'm thinking that if I have the same problems as they are having, what if i just disconnected the original drive system (turning it into a dummy), then hooked up one of my pusher-helper cars,..
BTW, I had in mind turning that loco into a C&O one since the white rims and markings were very similar to the C&O