Diesels

I have a couple of Atlas GP9's and a 7 that are factory DCC equipped.  They run great except they do have a bit of a time getting up a 2% grade with any more that about 4-5 cars.  If I put a finger on them they move right along which tells me I might want to add a bit of weight to these.  Problem is there really isn't much room. 

Has anyone been successful adding weight to one of these?

Thanks

Eric

Deer Lodge, MT

I recently adjusted all the wheels of a brand new Spectrum Dash 8-40CW to conform to the NMRA standards in order to use my loco on Atlas code 55 tracks.

I had to slide the wheels outward from each others in order to achieve the proper gauge.

But after that operation, I noticed the wheels/axles/gears assembly are all loose. Now the loco is moving from side to side in the trucks and there is no way to keep it centered. The pinion gears move along with the axles and wheels so I'm pretty sure the black plastic gears are not cracked.

 Well after almost a year and a half after first joining this site I have trains running.  I'm sure that is the one thing that many of us look forward to the most when building a layout.  It's a great milestone indead. 

Hey Folks

I'm just getting back into MRR after a decade and a half hiatus and my how things have changed.  I'm looking at putting together a small-ish urban switching layout and thought it would be instructive to see what everyone likes in n-scale switchers.  So let's hear it boys and girls!  What do you like and why?

Hi,

 I'm interested in any help I can get for a troublesome MP15DC.

This is a fairly new engine but it seems to be in need of a lube job and I'm not quite sure how to go about it.  I would like to learn the safe way to get the body off so I can service this little engine so that I can get rid of the high piched whineing and jerky performance.  Right now its setting Idle in the yard but I'd like to put it back into switching service as soon as I can.

thanks for any and all advice.

 

MPJOE

do these locos receive oil?  Is the high pitched intermittent noise normal?  If not, what type of oil? How does the shell come off?  Where does the oil go?  How often and how much? 

I have a Kato GE C44-9W with the standard Kato couplers.  I am having trouble on an 11.25 radius curve (code 55) with the box car being derailed by the 

Hello everyone.  

I was reading on this forum that one of the ways to improve the running of these locomotives is to replace the worm with a brass Kato one. Well, being on the other side of the pond it is not to easy for me to pop down to my LHS that stocks Kato spares. So where can i get one from mail order and what would be the part no. ??

 Thank you

Mike

Location(s)

This is a subject from another website.  Should CONCOR make the BURLINGTON ROUTE 1949 PIONEER ZEPHYR in N-scale as a kit to upgrade the 1936 set they allready make? 

I think so.  If you do suggest it to Concor  http://www.all-railroads.com/  But you just have to email them sense they don't have a suggestion box.  

This is a subject from another website.  Should KATO make the BURLINGTON ROUTE EMD E5ABA in N-scale to go with the California Zephyr or the Denver Zephyr?  In another post it suggests Kato to make the Denver Zephyr too!

I think so.  If you do suggest it to KATO    http://www.katousa.com/suggest.html   

alright, i just purchased a (used) Atlas FA-1 from 1978, oldest thing i now own lol

and im not having issues with it really, shes a good runner for her age, but im looking on how to convert the couplers.

is there any one here that has done this?

Check it out...Link to the Kato poster.  UP Heritage units!

 Also some other new stuff as well, such as SD70MACs in BNSF Swoosh.

 Better start saving!

 http://www.katousa.com/cgi-bin/dl/dl.pl?dl.mif,Poster-07-18-08.pdf

There was a rumor of Bachmann to make GE 44t in N scale.

Can anybody confirm this. I belive it was to be released in november.

[Mod Edit: Subject line changed. ~BS] 

[Mod Edit: Subject line changed again to reflect updated information - BDC]

Location(s)

One of my old N-Scale Trix F-7s was looked at by buddy at the train club today. It sounded like a boiler factory (and yes Trix locomotives are noisy) but this didn't sound to good to me. When he took off the shel he found that the bearings that hold the drive train in place were missing. The diesel still works but the drive train actually wobbles and that not only produces noise but also results in balky operation.

Any one know where I might find a source for these bearings?

Irv

Location(s)

See map: Google Maps

Can anyone out there tell me if the Atlas VO-1000,  product # 150-50002, is the first generation Korean, or the second generation Chinese version?   I've found and internet sale, and do not want to repeat what was pointed out in another recent thread. 

A few companion questions are, if not this unit, what is a good quality/price compromise make/model/paint-scheme N switcher that is appropriate for ATSF in the early 50s?   Or is this generation Atlas VO-1000 likely to be as good as it gets for the foreseeable future? 

I have a Con-Cor Galloping Goose which is in many respects a fine loco.  Lovely detail and runs well.

However, I found that the front bogies often derailed on my Atlas Code 55 turnouts with ME Code 55 track.  My solution is as follows:

1. Take the bogie wheels from an old Bachmann 4-4-0 which has been permanently retired.  (Unfortunately this has been the case with all of mine).  Best to remove them by taking off one of the wheels and sliding the axle out.  Put back wheel making sure it is in gauge.

2. Remove front bogie from  the GG and slip off wheels.

I have a Conrail Dash-8 locomotive that I want to repaint for CN; just wondering if anyone knows an economical way to convert the cab to a wide cab version that CN uses. Does anyone have custom parts out there? Please help!

Thanks! 

Hi all-

Ok, this is a call for all you rivet counters and train spotters. What locomotive did UP use for the heritage fleet? Whatever they are I know no one makes them in N scale yet. So part two of the question is what current Kato diesel is the closest match? My very untrained eye sees the BNSF AC4400CW as similar (the BNSF model has the high number board) eventhough I'm pretty sure the heritage units are EMDs. I don't think I'll be doing a lot of cutting and stuff, but I might repaint something to represent the DRG unit.