General Models: anyone have one of these?

The engines were made in both two rail and three rail versions.
I beleive the two rail engines have flanges that are more scale-like than the three rail version. So converting it for use on 3-raill tubular track would involve more than adding a pickup.

Oops, I think I am bidding on the same one. I have had 2 of them in the past and they  good runners and will pull paint off the wall. The only drawback is noise, I have never been able to quiet down the things.

I will back off the bidding and you can go for it.

Malcolm

Malcolm,

Very gracious of you---thanks!    I if I secure it, I will paint it Philadelphia Bethlehem and NE...

Ed,

Many thanks for the advice and information!

I am re powering one using P&D and NWSL wheels.

the engine is a very well done in scale size, the 3rail version motor is little weak, IMO.

but in appearance is nice for  65 YO engine

AG.

Ag,

What parts woudl you recommend for repowering?

Thank you,
Brad

I have maybe six of them including three in lifetime bronze.  I like them.  Recently they have taken a very serious price hike, so I would take Ed Rappe's advice on the Atlas.

 One is brass/bronze, the other is die cast.  The earlier bronze units did not have the intake detail on the top of the hood.  They were otherwise almost identical.

Bob,

Who made the calf in your set?

Brad,

I am using P&D plus NWSL wheels. the motor is a pittman 8514 and NWSL flywheel.

IMO is a great combination. I never try the NWSL gearbox yet.

I tested today using direct DC from a GML DC commander and run smooth..

Andre.

Andre's power is probably as good as it gets.  Don't forget Ed's solution - I hear that Atlas mechanism was the best in O Scale diesels for under a grand.  I bet an Atlas can be had for under $300 all day long.

On the calf, I removed the cab and replaced it with brass and JB Weld.  Need a cab?  The lead unit is brass - they are reasonably rare, and I would not cut one.

I also have the All Nation version of an SW-1.  It is sort of shortened, but not particularly accurate.  They tell me it is also rare.

Here is the garden variety - note the screw heads on the trucks.  I lay no claim to being the world's greatest painter.

Bob,

Nice work; I am keen on the Atlas version, but am canted towards brass for long term value...    Another discussion....

As I sell off  my Lionel, I will redeploy into 2R (brass) with said funds..     I love early diesels and have  a soft spot for yoder s-12's...

Are there any good brass NW-2 or s-2 out there?

BradA,

If you are leaning toward brass, don't assume it will have long term value. The only brass that is holding value anymore are the exceptional and rare models. Because there are so many models on the market now as compared to the past, values have plummeted in the last few years. People that collected are now dying off and younger guys don't collect. I agree with Ed that the Atlas is the best out there. They always run well and for the money they can't be beat. These models hold their value. And parts are available should you need them.

Tom Mapes

Ed is usually quite accurate, I beleive the Atlas SW series is either 9 or 8, smoke stack change.  The SW7 being a pre 9, 1200 hp unit with a few lourve differences, maybe headlight, most differences were internal.
Just an amazing drive system.

Montour SW7 (72) note the Louvers and side letter board.


Note the side difference. SW9 (78) There may have been an arched window (SW7) where the horn is located also, but I am not sure about that.  Pictures from George Ellwood's Fallen Flag website.

Thanks for catching my error - the Atlas SW is a "9" and a darn nice one at that.  I was really disappointment when AtlasO abandoned their single motor horizontal drive in favor of poorer performing twin motor China drives.  

Ed Rappe

We are fast approaching the point when current Three rail TMCC electronics mother boards will be exhausted. The same would apply to R2LC Lionel control boards.  It will be interesting to see where this model goes in three rail.  I talked to  Bill Seratelli at Atlas about this awhile back, he wasn't sure about future parts for service and repair, nor could he tell me about the future of the model, which has been available for  at least 10 years with TMCC and a few years before that with Dallee electronics.  

Interesting.  Does that mean that you think the 2- rail model will be discontinued, or in some way impacted?  I have yet to decide on command control and sound, although I do have an MTH Hudson with PS-2.  My experience with Atlas 2- rail is that TMCC was a not- so- popular option.  Most of my contemporaries have decided on DCC.

Several of these Atlas models are at auction now, with prices under $300.

A review of the Atlas O site shows that they have done at least 48 different offerings with 83 different engine numbers.  SW9/8, SW1200, SW600.  Not including undecorated, which was offered every time a production run was done. (6) of my (9) were undecorated.  I counted (8) production runs. First offering posted on their site was June 28, 2001.  There were less offerings in two rail.  Last offering was Sept 4, 2009.  I'm told that early models had an exploded parts list included, maybe someone could post that for all of us.
Mike

A few years ago I converted one of the early 3-rail SWs to 2 rail. Geared 2 rail wheelsets are available from NWSL and just drop in easily. Power pickup parts were available directly from Atlas and also installed easily. I installed a small Lenz DCC decoder to make a good-running 2 rail engine. Some styrene filled in the large 3 rail coupler gap in the pilots.

Hopefully, the large number of units produced so far will insure their availability on the secondary market for some time to come. Those early, pre-TMCC, Dallee 3-rail units are really looked on as white elephants by the 3-rail command crowd which should keep prices at a reasonable level for some time.

I have a few stashed away for use in future loco building/repowering projects. 

By the way, the Atlas AEM electric locos also had a similar horizontal drive. The gearing ratio though is different making slow speed operation not quite as good as on the SWs, but still not a bad runner.

Jim