ATLAS F3A OPERATING HELP

I just tried our GM&O F3 from several years ago and the dummy A doesn't appear to have command at all. The headlight remains lit through all functions of the powered unit. I haven't pulled the cab as I actually like having it on all the time. The front coupler on the dummy appears to be functional but has no wire to it like the one one on the nose of the powered unit. I installed the scale pilot and coupler and cut the TMCC one from it. Perhaps I could install it in place of the trailing unit's coupler? It might be nice to have the coupler operate at times...

I have a feeling that this design was considered when non-powered units being easily upgraded to power became an issue at Atlas.  If you supply a dummy with full TMCC capability that will operate lights, couplers, etc.  everything but motors for power.  My guess the issue was a problem to the point where non-powered units now are just that. IMO. 

There is a switch on the bottom of the dummy units that turns the lights on and off.

I have a feeling that this design was considered when non-powered units being easily upgraded to power became an issue at Atlas.

You may have a point Mike.

The GP9 I bought was easily powered with MTH F3 motors, but I had to buy the transfer gear assy from Atlas.  Saved a few $$$ doing it that way (the Railking F3 was bought for around $100 with PS2).

Oh, my unpowered Atlas GP9 came with functional lights and couplers if I remember correctly.

Yep - I was not impressed with the feature set at Atlas's price point.

The dummy A (at least on my set) did have an electrocoupler and wire harness installed. I added an Electric RR Mini Commander EX to control the electrocoupler and provide directional lighting.

On the last run of SD-40s several years ago the unpowered units were supposed to come with directional lighting,that did not happen and a inquiry to Atlas claimed it was too expensive to add to the units so it was not done.

Several years ago, I bought an A-B-A set of Atlas Fairbanks-Morse Erie-Built passenger diesels, with the leading cab unit and the booster unit being powered.  The trailing cab unit is a dummy, and does not, as far as I can tell, have any lights or electro couplers.  The booster has everything, including sound and a headlight.

All the non-powered units that I have from Atlas, having nothing inside them. No lights, electro couplers....zippo. They include GP60M, GP60B, Dash 8-40BW, and the Zebra stripe GP9s.

Well, how would the "dummy" know anything if it is just that; there is no tether

from the powered unit, and there is no board or antenna in the dummy to receive

any command (ERR makes one)...why would it be expected that the dummy is

anything but "dumb"?

A 4-wire tether from your powered unit board to the dummy would handle the Electro-

coupler and directional headlight. Cost a couple of bucks.

Getting the body off a nicer OS3R diesel is often the hardest part.

Since the "dummy" does have roller pickups the ERR Mini Commander EX will do the trick. Perhaps Atlas will sell me a actual electrocoupler to replace the non-functioning one.