Well, in order to install the smoke, TMCC, lighting, etc., I'm sure I'll have it apart a few times! 
I did stick a bridge rectifier in it and test it's pulling power, it pulled my 20 boxcars around without a sweat, so I think it's good enough to pull it's seven passenger cars. 
Reminds me of a story about a coworker from at least 45 years ago. This fellow was a nice guy, but an ultra-perfectionist. His wife told another coworker that he bought a brand new car. That evening she went out to the garage to see what he was doing. He had all 4 doors off and leaning against the walls. Alarmed, she asked what was going on. He said the gaps between the doors and the body weren't all quite equal in distance, so he was shimming them to make them exactly the same.
Obviously John, you have to take the engine apart to add all the items you plan to add, but your statement reminded me of this old story. I couldn't resist. 
When I get a new car, it does go into the garage. That's my limits in regard to that story!
John, ….glad it got home safe and sound, …..how was it on your layout?….she was smooth as silk on mine …..not even a whimper….
Pat
Pat, ran like a champ around, no problems at all. I was happy to see it could pull a bunch of cars without a whimper, I think it's going to work out great! I think I'll treat it to some glass in the windows before I start putting everything else in. 
Here's the C&O Yellowbelly in it's maiden run with just a bridge rectifier. I shouldn't have worried about pulling power, no sweat at all!
A thing o beauty...
@gunrunnerjohn sound difference between the elevated portion and the table with the homasote is quite striking. So is the Yellow Belly.
Congratulations Gunrunner John, the C&O yellow belly Steam Locomotive is a Winner. Your video with a 20 car freight load runs flawlessly, smoothly, and is a work of art, right at home on your beautiful layout. Pats the best at what he does for our steamers, the stainless steel shaft, Pittman motor, all the detail work, it’s just amazing. You could actually turn this steamer on, set it to a modest speed and it would run for hours and hours with no hick-ups. That’s because when an engine comes out of the Harmon Shops, it’s ready for duty. Now, with your smoke units, chuff stuff, etc., it’s going to be a fantastic locomotive. Thanks for the video. Merry Christmas, and Happy Railroading Everyone
Very curious to see how you'll pack the electronics into the updated locomotive, so be sure to post more updates towards its completion!
Diesel, she don't need no stinking diesel. Glad to see that Yellow Belly haul like there is no tomorrow. Great work Pat, can't wait to see what John's work yields.
@Shawn_Chronister posted:@gunrunnerjohn sound difference between the elevated portion and the table with the homasote is quite striking. So is the Yellow Belly.
Yep, I'm putting some butyl rubber sound deadening sheets under the elevated section, and part of it will also be enclosed. It's really the fact that it isn't rigidly supported that creates a lot of the noise. I have the butyl rubber under some of the elevated section, and you can tell the difference as it runs. A work in progress. 
@Mikado 4501 posted:Very curious to see how you'll pack the electronics into the updated locomotive, so be sure to post more updates towards its completion!
I'm considering that now. I was thinking of using a wireless drawbar, but then I can't use a tender pickup for reliability, so it's a mixed bag. I may use a small 4-pin tether and put the Cruise Commander in the locomotive and the sound in the tender. It appears there's plenty of space for the Cruise Commander in the locomotive, so I have flexibility. The big thing is handled, how to do the antenna in the locomotive, the handrails are already insulated.
John, probably the best bet to go with the 4-pin tether. I think Pat and I had talked about that on some of the possibilities for another one of my engines(forget what one is in the Mohawk), but it is definitely reliable.
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:John, probably the best bet to go with the 4-pin tether. I think Pat and I had talked about that on some of the possibilities for another one of my engines(forget what one is in the Mohawk), but it is definitely reliable.
That's the way I'm leaning. I want the extra roller for reliability, it's a common upgrade for customer locomotives for that reason.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I'm considering that now. I was thinking of using a wireless drawbar, but then I can't use a tender pickup for reliability, so it's a mixed bag. I may use a small 4-pin tether and put the Cruise Commander in the locomotive and the sound in the tender. It appears there's plenty of space for the Cruise Commander in the locomotive, so I have flexibility. The big thing is handled, how to do the antenna in the locomotive, the handrails are already insulated.
I’d love to see the setup if inside the locomotive, since Pat put the giant weight over the drivers where the LCRU used to sit.
If you could get the CC in the locomotive WITH the weight, too, that’d be exactly what I’d be after with this engine.
@Mikado 4501 posted:I’d love to see the setup if inside the locomotive, since Pat put the giant weight over the drivers where the LCRU used to sit.
If you could get the CC in the locomotive WITH the weight, too, that’d be exactly what I’d be after with this engine.
This engine has traction tires. It will pull the same train, maybe longer without the weight if some or all has to be given up to fit the electronics. My CV has similar setup and shell and pulls like a tank without the added weight.
Pete
@Mikado 4501 posted:I’d love to see the setup if inside the locomotive, since Pat put the giant weight over the drivers where the LCRU used to sit.
If you could get the CC in the locomotive WITH the weight, too, that’d be exactly what I’d be after with this engine.
The "giant" weight is gone. The locomotive and shell weigh 7# 8oz, that's 120 ounces, and the weight was six ounces. I didn't see any difference with or without it, and without it everything fits nicely. At 5% of the weight of the locomotive, it didn't seem to offer enough for me to compromise my installations to try to keep it. I can add some weights after all the electronics are installed if I see fit, but I suspect I won't bother. Since it pulled the 20 cars, and clearly could have done a lot more, it seems pointless to worry about weight and concentrate on functionality and appearance.
Edit: I see Pete beat me to it. As he says, it has traction tires, heft, and pulling power.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:The "giant" weight is gone. The locomotive and shell weigh 7# 8oz, that's 120 ounces, and the weight was six ounces. I didn't see any difference with or without it, and without it everything fits nicely.
Edit: I see Pete beat me to it. As he says, it has traction tires, heft, and pulling power.
The weight was my cheap insurance, ……😉…..what you do with it on your pike is totally up to you!….glad it worked without it!…
Pat
To answer the pulling power query, here's the locomotive with 38 cars, no problem making it around, including the grade. I see no issue with pulling power...
Nuff’ said, ….my work here is done, …..carry on with your mission, we’ll be in the area all day ….
Pat
Wow. That's what you call a stump puller!!! Awesome work Pat. Great job. Looks like John's gonna have a lot of fun with that and you know it's going to be a 1 of a kind locomotive when he gets done with it. Good luck with it John it's really nice.
I put a large can motor in mine with all the goodies. Can pull anything I put behind it.
The large can motor in mine is a Pittman, it pulls very well.
She really took off.
@coach joe posted:She really took off.
It's running with just a bridge rectifier, I'm just testing the running gear. I have my DCS set to start at 2 volts, even that gives it a shot in the butt when it hits.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:To answer the pulling power query, here's the locomotive with 38 cars, no problem making it around, including the grade. I see no issue with pulling power...
That's quite a haul. Those tankers look good with the steamer John. Can't wait to see the jewelry next!
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:That's quite a haul. Those tankers look good with the steamer John. Can't wait to see the jewelry next!
I just hooked up to a bunch of cars that were in the freight yard.
John kinda cheated here fellas, ….those ore cars count as 2 for 1 …..so those math numbers are askew, ….not 100% sure if that was intentional, but it makes for good numbers,…..🤣🤣🤣🤣
Pat
@harmonyards posted:John kinda cheated here fellas, ….those ore cars count as 2 for 1 …..so those math numbers are askew, ….not 100% sure if that was intentional, but it makes for good numbers,…..🤣🤣🤣🤣
Pat
Not so fast, they have as many wheels as any other car, and they're even a similar weight as many cars. They're a legitimate car, stop denigrating my math!
John, if plastic MPC era wheel sets, and a couple of marbles you stole from your Howdy Doody lunch box you still have, count as legitimate cars in your eyes, then who are we to judge!?…..😂😂😂😂😂
Pat
Them there are real metal trucks and wheels. They are two oz lighter than the tank cars.
Judge not, lest ye be judged! 
Wow, this overhauled C&O yellow belly is a fantastic runner, puller, and it’s just beautiful. I think you could actually run it slow and it wouldn’t miss a beat. I’m excited to see what sounds and features you plan to add, it’s a beauty. Have fun. Happy Railroading Everyone
Pat certainly did his part, the running gear and the cab interior look great, and the drivetrain is silky smooth! Needless to say, the big Pittman is loafing in there, I doubt I'll be able to tax it's capability.
I just have to try to match that workmanship with the remaining electronics and smoke installations.
A tank pulling tank car and hoppers. Great!
Started on the locomotive, pulled the cab interior to work on the LED's, I think I need to use some special wide panels for even lighting. I mounted the smoke unit, made a stack for it, and mounted the Cruise Commander.
I have decided to go with the wireless tether to the tender, so I got out an AD-20A and tested it to make sure it would drive the RS-Commander, backup lights, and coupler. Of course this requires me to add center rail pickups to the tender, another pending requirement. If all that gets too absurd, I can still use a small 4-pin tether just to drive the audio, backup, and coupler. Time will tell...
Attachments
Clean living John, ….looking good!…
Pat
Looks like a hot rod to me GRJ. A big block. Even if you don't use it to it's full potential, it's there, under the hood.
Top speed will probably not be exercised.
Another step along the road, took longer than I expected. All the shell wiring is in, just have to put the connector on the bundle before I move on to the chassis. Nineteen LED's light this puppy up!
- Headlight (1)
- Number Boards (2)
- Ground Lights (6)
- Flickering Firebox (4)
- Cab Lights (2)
- Lighted gauges (4)
