Does anyone still manufacture power trains for scratch built steam locomotives?

BTS has purchased the Babbitt steam locomotive kit inventory which had 4-4-0, 4-4-2, 4-6-2, and 4-8-2 locomotive kits/drives. Their website is http://www.btsrr.com/

You might also want to check "across the pond." There are/were some English O scale kits and parts available for steam projects. The scale is different (1:43 if I recall correctly,) but if you compensate for that difference, you can probably find the mechanisms and drivers.

Hope this helps.

How many drivers do you want and what diameter?  I have a Weaver Gold Edition chassis from their PRR H10.  The Weaver PRR H10 was an all brass 2-8-0 loco that I needed the boiler from.  The chassis includes the drivers, leading truck, all rods and valve gear, motor and brass frame.  It will run as it is.  Send me an e-mail if you're interested.   

I forgot to add in my last reply that the H10 chassis I have is for 3-rail.  The drivers can be converted to 2-rail.

Sciencemonster

Can you define "small locomotive" a little better?  It would be helpful in  figuring out what kind of mechanism you are looking for. 

Thanks,

Joe Foehrkolb

Baldwin Forge & Machine

I looked at BTS, but they don't seem to have any loco stuff in O. I am looking for something small - 0-4-0 - for an industrial siding. Something thrown together as on a logging line.

The layout is a toy train switching yard shelf layout with everything scratch built, so anything goes. 

How about a Porter 0-4-0 from Grandt Line. The whole kit is just $85.


Here's the link: Grandt Line Locos & Rolling Stock.

Yes, that is what I would like to scratch build. The problem is, those are not o Gauge, they are HO gauge, and all the motor assemblies are discontinued in any case. Not sure what you are supposed to plunk that kit down on, but HO has a lot more available...

What you want is a Thomas 0-4-0.  These have been showing up on eBay, but are going for prices about twice what they are intrinsically worth.

The International Dockside featured elsewhere on this forum is also a possibility, and you get brass, not die cast.  Good luck on your search.  Check with Joe Foehrkolb for machining castings, because that is your only other option for drivers this small.

Opinion.

Look again. Scroll down the page to the 1/4" scale section. Kit #93060 comes with a motor for O standard gauge (1.25"). If in doubt give them a call.

Scinecemonster,

You might look at a Lionel 0-6-0t.  They have been available for less than $100.00.  Of course, they are 3 rail models but I have converted many of them to 2 rail using Precision Scale 48" driver castings. As far as 0-4-0 mechanisms are concerned, Bob has it right about the Thomas and International B&O 0-4-0 switchers.  They can be found on ebay.  I rebuilt an International mechanism for another modeler a few years ago.  As it comes, the International drive is pretty trashy with brass drivers held on the brass axles with set screws and a very nasty gear drive and universal open frame motor.  It would almost be easier to build a frame and drive from scratch.  (That's what I wound up doing.)  I salvaged the driver centers, rods and valve gear.  Everything else on the drive went away.  There just is not a good standard gauge 0-4-0 mechanism being produced today.  I believe K Line produced a little 0-4-0t that used the drive from their Plymouth diesel switcher.  Again that would be a 3 rail engine that needs to be converted for 2 rail operation.

Welcome to 2 Rail!

Joe Foehrkolb

Baldwin Forge & Machine

Oh, I hate to disappoint you...I'm 3 rail. I feel so inadequate! I have a two rail trolley powered from overhead wires on my layout, but the switcher engine is 3-rail.

I hang out on this forum since toy train guys mostly open boxes. I like to build things. You guys have better answers.

I have an old Lionel Diesel switcher that I scavenged the insides for a 45 tonner I am making out of wood, but it's not the best slow runner. For a steam engine, I'd really like to start with something top drawer. This does not necessarily veto old stuff, as my streetcar has an old open frame motor in it and it runs great, but I think starting with a Lionel would be disappointing eventually.

I would love to build the entire mechanism from scratch, but sourcing all the drivers and rods and motors and gears and axles to all go together is over my head.

I see. I think you may be right...I will call them up. Thx. For that price, I could just get the whole thing and scavenge detail parts.

I thought that while they are O scale that they were On3?

Sciencemonster:

The Grandt Line Porters are On3.  It is possible to convert them to standard gauge.  There are photos of one of the 18-ton models converted on the Proto48 Yahoo group.  I'm trying to convert an 8-ton model and it is a lot of work.  The flanges on the On3 models are nearly identical to Proto:48 flanges and mine is being converted to Proto:48 standards.  If you are in 3-rail the wheels and flanges will be a problem. 

If you're into 3-rail, will an 0-6-0 work?  I have a Weaver Gold Edition B&O and PRR 0-6-0, an all brass model, that I'll sell very cheap.  $220.  You can use what parts you want from it to kitbash or scratchbuild or just run it as is.

MTH offered an O-4-OT tank engine that goes for, last I checked, less than $100 on

eBay.  I modified two of them to use for Great Western Sugar Co. "dinkies".  The

B&O Docksider was also offered by one now defunct three rail builder (name?) in Ohio.  (but haven't seen his stuff surface on eBay) Lionel had an 0-6-0T similar to the old HO Athearn tank engine kits (with square side water tanks vs. a saddle tank)  These are all three rail.  I'd sure like to find some very small O scale drivers in a powered chassis for building Baldwin, etc., steam coaches.  The Brits maybe have some?

I searched eBay but didn't see anything from MTH currently. Last month there were several Lionel switchers for ~$100, too. Cannabalizing a 3 rail engine has me worried that when I got it dismantled, I'd find it chock full of crap that limited what I could build on top of it, what with whistles and smoke and e-units...I could cut them all off, but I'm afraid I'd be left with a giant motor right where I don't want it. I sure would like to see a pic of something with the top off before plunking down $100.

Railman, thanks for the offer, but I have a 6" radius loop at one end of my layout for turning engines and the street car around. I managed, with judicious use of a Dremel, to modify the Lionel #42 chassis so it could make the loop - but then of course, the motor dictated the shape of my engine and I had to replace the e-unit with an electronic one to make everything fit. For the sake of theme of my layout, everything has to be undersized. At some point I am going to tackle the Lionel operating cars and shoehorn the mechanicisms  into shorter boxcars. A 0-6-0 would be just too big.