Four F-Units

This week I finished inventorying the new roster. Here are the trains that are now set to run:

Track 1 – C&NW F7 AA and short freight

Track 2 - SR F3 AB and long freight

Track 3 - CP F3 AA and the Northern Range

Track 4 - NP F3 ABA and 5-car Vista Dome North Coast Limited

Notes:

-The Lionel Northern Range (actually Commodore Vanderbilt) heavyweight cars are made for O-54 track, but Track 3 is only O-42. This train needs to run slowly, and will bump passenger cars on Track 4, so I run it independently.

-First all-F-unit-powered roster.

-SR Postwar #2356 is performing well after making repairs last week.

-First time running for K-Line ATSF “Midnight Chief” boxcar 97199, Lionel GN boxcar 24872, and Weaver GN boxcar 2512.

-First time running (on this train set) for Weaver CNS&M boxcar 500814

-NP #2390A seems to need a new battery, as the sounds are acting strangely.

The all-F-unit lineup

Williams C&NW F7 and a short freight

60-year old SR F3 pulls a scale boxcar freight

Brand new boxcars on Track 2

North Shore boxcar and a brand new GN boxcar

CP locos pull a 4-car Northern Range

Lionel NP engines pull a 5-car MTH NP passenger set

More engines back in service

Over the past week, I was able to make some nice progress in train-land.

Northern Pacific Quirk

I tried running the NP 0-6-0 on a track by itself. Upon startup, the whistle began sounding non-stop automatically. Pushing the whistle or bell buttons on the transformer would not resolve this. I looked up solutions on the Internet, and after a few trials, I found a fix. MTH locomotives running Proto-Sounds 2.0 or 3.0 should not be the only thing on a track drawing power. Add a lighted car to the track (or wire an accessory that uses a lightbulb to the track), and the extra power usage somehow resolves the issue. So, all is well with the 0-6-0.

Southern Railroad Surprise

I opened up the SR F3 A unit to repair it, but found that it was working properly. Previously, it seemed like the rear motor was frozen up, putting a lot of pressure on the front motor. I checked the connections and confirmed that both motors were spinning merrily along, so I closed up the engine and deemed it ready for service. This #2356 locomotive is at least 60 years old.

Rock Island Return

I opened up the RI 4-8-4, and confirmed that the motor drive is not staying in contact with the main gear (slipping). I experimented with different motor angles and came up with a good one using some scrap pieces of cork. The cork worked well temporarily, but needed to be replaced with something safer and more permanent. The next day, I picked up some rubber erasers and cut them to fit the locomotive. The locomotive tested well with the new rubber spacers, so I re-affixed the shell.

I also got out more trains for the new roster and inventoried them.

Fancy new blue rubber spacers under the Rock Island 4-8-4 motor

This Northern is back in action. It is currently the 2nd-largest locomotive in the fleet.

RI 4-8-4 ready for service

In the Engine House

Over the past few weeks I've been repairing two units: the Lionel Postwar Southern F3 #2356 A, and the 3rd Rail Electroliner. I've also snapped a few photos of real trains.

I tested the 2356 after returning with it from Illinois. It successfully traversed the outer loop of the layout, but after a few minutes I noticed smoke coming out of the front of the engine. (Modern diesel models frequently have a smoking unit installed, but you won't find this feature in a circa-1955 locomotive!) I removed the shell and started troubleshooting. This engine has dual motors. The front motor showed signs of major stress - the carbon brushes had become slightly deformed, and there was a lot of carbon debris within the motor housing. I cleaned the interior of the motor and re-affixed everything. When testing, I found that the rear motor armature wasn't rotating. So, my theory is that the front motor had been working extra hard to make up for the frozen-up rear motor, which resulted in the brush damage. Now I'm working on restoring the rear motor. I can get the armature to spin erratically, so my first step will be to thoroughly clean the entire motor. I will use the steps provided by Just Trains at http://www.justtrains.com/Service/maint-3.asp.

Now over to the Electroliner. Since I bought it over a decade ago, operating this critter has always been problematic. It is among the best-looking models in my fleet, and is the only brass O-scale item I own. The internal systems, however, are marginal at best, and because of its construction, it is the most delicate set I have. It is terribly easy to unintentionally bump something and cause a slew of problems. So, regardless of past issues with the 'Liner, here is what I'm currently dealing with. I had the motors repaired by Roy at www.royztrains.com in Michigan. I restored TMCC (Train Master Command Control) functionality by re-soldering a wire in one of the compartments. And, I partially repaired a damaged truck. The remaining issues are that the motors do not always run in-sync (one is going backwards while the other is trying to go forwards), the powered wheels do not have enough traction to properly propel the train, the sound system sounds distorted, and all of the internal windows have detached. I've asked for Roy's advice on the motor issues.

On our return trip from Illinois, we stopped in Hayward, MN. While my bride was shopping at a quilt store, I hung around the tracks of this little town, hoping for a train to come through. No such luck, but I got some classic small-town railroad photos. In Wall, SD, I saw a Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern train come through to drop off some MOW cars. The RCPE is just over 1 year old and connects Rapid City with Tracy, MN. Their colors are orange, black, and yellow, and they run several former DM&E locos that have not yet been repainted.

My folks visited Billings in August, and they snapped a photo of me with NP switcher #1031 at the Yellowstone County Museum in front of the Billings airport.

Til next time, keep your rails shiny ~

Front motor on the 2356 showing carbon brush damage and debris

Rear motor on 2356 after initial cleaning

Repaired red wire connection on the Electroliner

Repairing the Electroliner truck

Electrified Electroliner!

Identification sign and mile marker at Hayward, MN

PCRE train at Wall, SD

Logo of the new railroad

Me and the local Billings switcher