Meeting Mr. P. Motor in NYC

What's not to like about a P-motor?  Overly complex running gear with an overly intriguing look. 

They make me want to freelance a P:48 electrified RR in the Crooked Mountain Lines vein.

Anyone have thoughts on a 48” flanged driver to replace the 3rd (blind) driver?

Send it to Joe Foehrkolb along with a sample of the flange you want, or get MTH to send you additional flanged drivers.

How do you get .145 wheels to stay on 3-rail track?  My railroad won't put up with less than about .155".

bob2 posted:

Send it to Joe Foehrkolb along with a sample of the flange you want, or get MTH to send you additional flanged drivers.

How do you get .145 wheels to stay on 3-rail track?  My railroad won't put up with less than about .155".

Ummm. I don’t know?

This is my first NWSL conversion. 

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ok. I’m officially nervous. 

Regarding .145 flange.

 So long as the track is a true T rail there will be no problem. Oh, and make sure the wheels are gauged correctly. I use an NMRA gauge for O scale.

Did you replace the MTH Proto-Couplers with scale sized remote controlled couplers?

Andrew

falconservice posted:

 

Did you replace the MTH Proto-Couplers with scale sized remote controlled couplers?

Andrew

Hi, Andrew!

I’m not a fan of remote couplers, so I ripped out all the wiring and the little board in the pilot truck. 

Since this unit will run alone, I’ll be putting a Protocraft Scale coupler on the lead end and a Kadee 740 on the trailing. 

We’re a long way from that, since I haven’t designed a coupler box mount yet...

thanks!

-Mario

Ron H posted:

Regarding .145 flange.

 So long as the track is a true T rail there will be no problem. Oh, and make sure the wheels are gauged correctly. I use an NMRA gauge for O scale.

We use GarGraves at the club, and I’m pretty sure one member runs 2-rail rolling stock successful. 

We shall see. 

This locomotive project may actually have some traction, I found a UCUB board to put in it.

So, I finally got around to adding the 2R wheels on the pilot trucks. We’ll try them at the club this week. 

You absolutely won't want realistic sound for a P motor.  It was a high pitched fan sound, even worse that an NH EP-5.  I once rode one from GCT to Harmon and my ears were ringing when I got of.   I always wondered why the BofLE didn't vigorously protest the deafening noise.

That’s good to know! There aren’t a lot of sounds, mostly just a background whine.  But, the steam whistle and bell are nice. I powered it up for the first time yesterday and I’ll see if I can get a quick video. Like the PA, I’ll probably wire the motors in series, if they’re not already. 

thanks!

-Mario

Here’s a quick video... the squealing brakes can be heard really quick after the whistle. 

Well, too late to turn back now...

Easy question, @mlaughlinnyc. What color was the cab interior?  Gray or green?

thanks!

-Mario

I had to swap the decks of the trucks, as the longer motor leads were on the rear truck and I needed them to run to the back of the cab where they plug into the UCUB, and while doing so, I noticed that MTH got the front and rear sides backwards. If you notice in the pictures of the P2b, the deck with the box has a “2” on the cab side, and the deck with the brake wheel has the “F”.  To remember this, I say to myself, the steering wheel goes in front!

The coupler mounts are designed too, here’s a mock up. 

the buffer inserts into the pilot piece, so the buffer can be made of plastic while the actual coupler mount can be printed in metal. Printing test pieces currently. 

thanks,

-Mario

Ok, so it wouldn’t fit with the buffer on, but I think we’re on the right track. 

 

 Easy question, @mlaughlinnyc. What color was the cab interior?  Gray or green?

thanks!

-Mario

I believe the name of the actual color was "un-noticeable".

Well. They look good but the buffer placement didn’t quite turn out like I planned. Uggh. 

The buffer doesn’t sit high enough above the coupler and they rub. So, my choices are to either redesign the buffer or drill the flat spot above the coupler mount. 

hmmm...

So close...