Adding pulling power to a postwar Alco FA2s

The running "characteristics" of the PW and modern can-motored Wms 027 FA2 would be quite different, I would think. But - borrow somebody's Wms if possible, hook them up, and see how comfortable they are together.  Gearing, rev units, motor type are all miles apart, so I would be surprised if they liked each other.

The Wms are very nice locos, BTW. I added ERR Cruise Commander and Alco sound to an AA set. I use them as switchers in my more 1:48 world. They will creep.

  The K-Line/Kusan versions are OK too, actually - but the Wms are sharper.

Personally I wouldn't mix modern and postwar.  I don't think much of the all-plastic K-line Alcos with the motors in the trucks; I can't recommend them.  The only vertically can-motored locos with "back drivable" gearing (i.e., where the wheels can turn the motor a little) are Lionel Legacy.  Williams Golden Memories and LionChief have self-locking gears and may not take kindly to being pushed or held back by another loco.

No one else mentioned the LionChief Alcos, but I think they are a valid surrogate for Postwar.  The product numbers I'm thinking of are 6-84422 from 2018, for example.  That was five years ago, but more recent than the Williams.  Maybe easier to find, and better features, too.  Lionel may have reissued them after 2018 in other road names, you'll have to review the catalogues to be sure.

My question for you is, how much are you trying to pull?  And what's your specific objection to swapping shells so that you have two single-motor powered units instead of a powered unit and a "dummy?"  I'm personally not a fan of dummy units: dead weight and a lot of drag.  (Growing up, I had a small layout, so with 29" of motive power you had less track length for the trailing consist!)  If you're hauling a long passenger consist you can make things easier on the loco by removing all of the pickup rollers, and lighting the cars with battery power.  This mod goes hand-in-hand with an LED upgrade.  Or, leave rollers on just the first and last car, powering the others through a tether.  In any case, be sure to put a drop of oil on each of the axle bearings!

If you search the Forum, you'll find photos of Postwar 2023s converted to a dual-motor setup.  With the early die-cast frame Alcos, this isn't an easy conversion.  At least more difficult than it would be for an MPC-era Alco with the integral motor truck and sheet-metal frame.  Bottom line, I feel you have a few options, it just depends on what your goals are.

I like Ted's idea of converting to dual motors if you have a single Pulmore motor equipped model.  I did that conversion to the Lionel Phantom locomotive, the difference was amazing!

Ted's idea of two single motor powered units does not cost much to implement as 20xx post war Alcos  are plentiful and cheap then you can pull trains till the knuckles not holding becomes the problem.           j

I agree.  Swap the cabs on like engines.

Thanks for the ideas. Think I'm going to look for a powered A unit on the used market and put my dummy's shell on it. Seems like the safest and cheapest option.

I bought two sets of 2023s and run them together, with or without the dummies and they run great.  I tested each one individually to pair them so the speeds match the closest.  In others words, which one should go forward and which one reverse for the best match.

This is much easier than converting one to two motors.  you also can place them in the consist in different positions.  I usually put one at the front and one in the middle.