Atlas 2 rail Scale locos how to power dummies?

I think it will be very hard to find any thing to fit.    The castings on the end of the motor from each mfg are different.   And then when you solve that problem, unless the motors are the same mfg and model, the motor rpm may be different at each voltage and the unit will not run at the same speed as the powered ones.

A fellow called Baldwin Forge, might be able to machine new motor mounts for you.  He does a lot of model machining and conversions and is a good machinest and craftsman.   You might want to contact him.   His name is Joe Froerkalb I think, but I got the spelling wrong.

I have powered 3 atlas dummies using P&D drives.   I did not have to cut the frame, I could fit it in the existing holes.   BUt I did have to drill and tap the frame and mount new bolsters.   These ddrives are 4 axle only as far as I know, but very nice.   they would run at a different speed than your atlas powered ones also.   so probably not a good option if you want to match.

You may be able to purchase the proper motors from Atlas' parts department.  Call 908-687-9590 and ask for Bill in parts.  If you can't get what you need, most of the Atlas trucks can be disassembled.  Remove the (probably 6 or 8) screws to get the bottom plate to drop off.  You can then remove the idler gears so the dummy will roll freely.

At one time you could buy parts like motors from Atlas and it was indeed very economical to power the dummy units.  But, when I got the B&O F-3 set that was powered A-Dummy A I was extremely disappointed that it was the powered unit could to pull the dummy!  The dummy's weight and gear drag was incredible! When I called Atlas they were no longer selling the motors separately (they were keeping spares only for replacing damaged units).  So I went on the internet and found an undec powered unit, swapped the chassis, and sole the now unpowered unit on eBay.  A lot of trouble but very worth it.  It would be worth the call to Atlas to see if you can buy the motor assembly.  ray

Here is the Atlas O Parts Diagram Link:   http://www.atlaso.com/parts.htm

My Atlas GP 35 Dummy seems to pull fine behind my powered unit. I would say the resistance is equal to maybe 2-3 cars.  I wonder if they built yours and left the power transfer gear assembly in place as shown in the next link:  http://www.atlaso.com/partspdf...0rail%20complete.pdf

A friend of mine a few years back had North West Short Line Make the idlers and motors for him.  http://www.nwsl.com/

I powered a pair of AtlasO dummy Erie -built FM diesels several years ago with 4 motors purchased from AtlasO..  The dummies had the drive axels pre-installed.  All they needed were the motors.  As Ray pointed out, a few months later Atlas made a business decision not to sell the motors other than as replacements.  As best I could tell from the Atlas parts lists virtually all the vertical can motor drive diesels AtlasO imported used the same motor/worm part number.  Therefore  any two or three rail AtlasO vertical can drive basket case diesel could be a motor source for your re-powering project.

Ed Rappe

Powering the units is not as difficult as adding the power pickups.  I think just about every Atlas diesel truck has its own unique power pickup methodology and the all the parts tend not to be available.  There always seems to be at least one part unavailable.

Hopefully Atlas's new builder will be better about parts than the last.  Atlas got whatever Sanda Kan chose to send, they had zero control over the availability of parts.