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Has anybody modified a Bachmann Peter Witt chassis to fit into a corgi PCC car? I know the running gear wouldn't be correct for a PCC, but I'm looking more for reliability. Does anybody have pictures of the Peter Witt frame, or even better, measurements?

I have two Corgi Detroit PCC cars, and I'd like to motorize one to run on my Redford Theatre display. I already tried the kit by GHB international in one of them, which didn't hold up to the frequent running and is already a shelf queen. I wouldn't feel as bad about cutting into that one now since I have a second one to display as built.

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That is correct.  I tried the GHB trucks in mine, and while they ran OK, I don't think they were designed for the amount of use I was putting them through.  I was skeptical when I originally installed them as to whether or not they'd hold up to frequent running for long periods of time.  They looked well designed, but the motors were quite small.

Hi AUBV.   Love that photo. Talk about a "neverwazz".  If the Los Angeles Railway had acquired the Pacific Electric's Glendale-Burbank Line and ordered more of the ill fated M series cars instead of PCCs there could have been  a Witt train like yours in LATL markings entering the tunnel to the Subway Terminal. Of course the LARY was narrow gauge and the Pacific Electric was standard gauge, but this is a mere detail.

On the other hand, the PE "Hollywood" type cars that ran on Glendale-Burbank somewhat resembled the Witt cars shown in your photo, But they were never painted National City Lines'  "fruit salad" colors.

lewrail

 

 

lewrail posted:

Hi AUBV.   Love that photo. Talk about a "neverwazz".  If the Los Angeles Railway had acquired the Pacific Electric's Glendale-Burbank Line and ordered more of the ill fated M series cars instead of PCCs there could have been  a Witt train like yours in LATL markings entering the tunnel to the Subway Terminal. Of course the LARY was narrow gauge and the Pacific Electric was standard gauge, but this is a mere detail.

On the other hand, the PE "Hollywood" type cars that ran on Glendale-Burbank somewhat resembled the Witt cars shown in your photo, But they were never painted National City Lines'  "fruit salad" colors.

lewrail

 

 

Is this color scheme more to your liking?image

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The peter Witt's look pretty difficult to modify. Too bad that bachmann chose such a unique car body to emulate. Hopefully they will release a regular double ended car at some point that will be easier to hack up for scratch building. How about the atlas industrial rail trolleys?  They are out of production but you can still find them. 

I got lucky and eventually found a NOS Bowser chassis on eBay with the help of a notification because I had done a “saved search” for bowser corgi.  The motor mount plate for the truck had zinc rot issues and I had to fabricate a replacement.  Other than that it runs great.  It doesn’t look amazing as others have mentioned, but it’s simple and robust.  If you can find one it’s a nice way to go.

SantaFe158 posted:

I got lucky and eventually found a NOS Bowser chassis on eBay with the help of a notification because I had done a “saved search” for bowser corgi.  The motor mount plate for the truck had zinc rot issues and I had to fabricate a replacement.  Other than that it runs great.  It doesn’t look amazing as others have mentioned, but it’s simple and robust.  If you can find one it’s a nice way to go.

Thank you. 

3 Olives posted:
rex desilets posted:

Have you looked at NWSL's Stanton drives?

Thank you. I just looked and am impressed by the choices.  I won’t have the Corgi until next week so I don’t know what size to look for. 

Thanks again. 

NWSL makes the drives to order. So if any that are cataloged in O don't fit, they'll make one that does.

As I recall, the PVC has small wheels, that might be a limitation.

Somewhere the has to be a drawing of the PCC. But rember that the Corgi is 1/50 scale...

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