Has anyone ever tried this? Was it worth all of the work? Any pitfalls or lessons learned?
Thanks
Ron
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Lionel has trucks with electrocouplers, I don't see any MTH ones. You might be able to adapt tender trucks to rolling stock, that would be the best bet. I suspect maybe some RailKing 2-axle tender trucks would probably be close, smaller steamers like switchers. Good luck finding them, the ones I checked are not available.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I suspect maybe some RailKing 2-axle tender trucks would probably be close, smaller steamers like switchers.
I actually have a RK tender not in use now and considered a simple swap of trucks. But they are still big and bulky compared to the Premier caboose trucks I have now.
No matter which way I try, I fear Dr. Destructo and his dremel tool will make an appearance. This is about the time the family starts locking up their things.
Ron
You might try mounting a Lionel truck on the rolling stock or caboose, maybe just use Lionel cars. They have several styles of freight car trucks with couplers.
Just a thought,,,,,,,,,,,,,how would you actually activate the electro-coupler? Wouldn't some sort of electronic board have to be installed, in order to receive a signaling then open the coupler?
@Hot Water posted:Just a thought,,,,,,,,,,,,,how would you actually activate the electro-coupler? Wouldn't some sort of electronic board have to be installed, in order to receive a signaling then open the coupler?
I tether to the PS3 engine. The caboose is my planned battery car and needs a tether anyway.
Ron
@Ron045 posted:I tether to the PS3 engine. The caboose is my planned battery car and needs a tether anyway.
Ron
What? You are going to tether a caboose to an engine? Then why bother, since there is already an electrictro-coupler on the engine? Isn't a caboose supposed to be on the end of a train?
@Hot Water posted:Isn't a caboose supposed to be on the end of a train?
Says who?🤪
So what I'm doing is converting my 44 ton to battery power. I plan to use it for yard work and light, local hauls. There just isn't enough room in that engine for a battery so I'm making a battery car. Rather then using an ordinary freight car, I have decided to use a transfer caboose. Those aren't readily available either... Not like the one I'm making, so I'm kit bashing one. Both projects are being done concurrently. While I had the trucks off, I thought about moving the coupler too.
Ron
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When we can't get what we want, we have to make it!
Nice work. Love it!
There are harness connections to dedicated MTH aux water tenders right? Not a big deal to run 2 wires to another car.
I hate that MTH never developed electric couplers for 2 rail. I had to use Atlas ones.
The first uncouple sound in the middle of this video, is because I forgot which end is the front on the switcher. Brain fart.
