How can I power this project?

I believe that K-Line diesels had trucks that were powered with small can motors between the axles. Take a look at their model of the MP-15.

While the K-Line trucks do exist in such a configuration, they are really too big for this application. The truck bolster sits at locomotive height, and the wheels are too big for any sort of street railway model.

I do believe NWSL has 3-rail compatible wheelsets. Whether they can make them available ready to be geared to a typical 2-rail powertrain is still up in the air.

I saw a write-up by one hobbyist who used HO scale wheelsets bored out to fit O-gauge axles and used them as pulleys for a rubber band or spring-belt drive for a wheelset equipped with a pressed-on drive gear. Any of these work-arounds would require being able to remove and reinstall wheelsets.

One last possibility would be the power trucks GHB international makes to fit the Corgi non-powered PCC models. The sideframes can be removed and something else mounted in their place, but whether or not the wheelbase would work for your application is another question.

---PCJ

The WBB streets vehicle drive system may provide something to bash. They'll do up to about 60 SMPH and run good at 25SMPH. See attachment.

neat project!

my two cents

http://www.qcarcompany.com/listings/Motor_Truck.html

Andre.

AG's recommendation is excellent.

You might also look at NWSL's Magic Carpet drive, e.g:

http://shop.osorail.com/produc...2&categoryId=227

Depending on the load to be pulled you might need a pair of them. $75 a pop, as I recall.

Pennsylvania Heritage Models makes a powering kit for the Corgi trolley - Black Beetle it was called with either scale or hi rail wheels. They did my Corgi a few years back - super quality and good folks to deal with.

jackson

These are good suggestions.  However, NWSL has not returned my email about 3-rail wheels, Q-car seems to be all 2-rail, and I can't find a number or working web site for Pennsylvania Heritage's Black Beetle.

But what about this:  the Williams Peter Witt trolley has a hidden drive.  Any thoughts?

Thanks for all your advice.

I found some listings for their O scale wheelsets for 3-rail:

http://shop.osorail.com/category.sc?categoryId=57

That brings up a small measure of hope, as their 3-rail offerings appear to be made in a number of wheel sizes, the smallest of which are 26". Overall, they don't really offer a ready-to-run solution, although I believe a 3-rail power train can be assembled from their parts, it requires considerable knowledge on the part of the hobbyist.

One Forum member was experimenting with a 3-rail power truck made largely of 3D-printed gearbox and some gears taken from HO scale locomotives. He got so far as to demonstrate a test model powered by a battery, but I don't know of any further developments.

---PCJ

Look at the trucks from the K-LINE 8 wheel trolley. The one lettered for coke. These have a small self contained truck. Charlie

Pennsylvania Heritage Models: http://paheritagemodels.weebly.com

They don't list a phone number, but have a form to contact them.

By the way i found this in a few key strokes using Google.

jackson

Keep us informed on how these work out, as I am always looking for three rail power

truckd to power assorted railbuses and gas electrics.

NWSL did get back to me with the information that RailRide posted.  You can get a variety of geared axles with 3-rail wheels to make into drives.  

Bruce