Non-powered diesels

You're kidding, right?

No, I'm not kidding. I'm new to the hobby, but old and need to ask stupid questions. I need a diesel to pull a North East Trains cleaning car and have found what are termed non-powered diesels. I don't understand how a loco can be expected to pull anything if it is not powered.

Probably a stupid question to experienced modellers, but I need a serious answer before I plunk down serious money on a diesel.

Regards,

Rick

A non powered diesel is an engine with a shell and maybe lights or circuit board to switch lights, inside but no motors. Also called a dummy engine by many in the hobby. Sometimes there is an engine that has a lot of power and so to make it look better and run slower somebody will add an unpowered unit behind the powered engine.

If you need a powered unit buy one that mentions being powered.

Lee Fritz

Thank you Lee!

Best regards,

Rick

It is a diesel that is only there for looks. No motor.

Thank you Corey! Seems an awfully steep price to pay for something that doesn't work.

Best regards,

Rick

Hi Rick, since you are new to the hobby let us know what you are looking for (road name i.e. Santa Fe or Erie Lackawanna) and your budget. Also - do you run conventional (transformer controlled speed and operation) or command (Lionel TMCC / MTH DCS). You will find many low cost options on the secondary market.

Let us know how we can help.

Paul

Thank you Rick,

I know what you mean by high price for an unpowered engine. Williams wants around $100.00 for an unpowered engine, and MTH or Lionel want over $150.00 for an unpowered engine. That is if the unpowered engines are still being produced.

FYI; I am not buying any more new engines from anybody, I got all the motive power I could ever use and then some. I have about; 3 GP-38's, 2 GP-9's, 6 F-7's, 5 SD-45's and 2 T-1 (4-8-4)steam engines.

Lee Fritz

Rick Wolters posted:

Concerning O gauge diesel locos, what does the term "non-powered" mean?

 

These have no motor and are therefore not self propelled. Often they are used behind a powered unit an example would be a Lionel, MTH, Kline, or Williams F7 powered A unit with an unpowered B unit and/or second A unit. Where higher amounts of electronics are used for sound and motor control the unpowered unit is used to house the circuitry for these features and controls. However, many unpowered units are simply empty when not sold as part of a set of diesels. Some manufacturers offer powered trucks as a replacement so these unpowered diesels can be operated independently or in combinations with other powered diesels

Bogie

Rick, Do a search on dummy engines or similar on the forum, there have been some good threads debating pros / cons on having a dummy as compared to paying more and having two functional engines if you want an AA setup.  Apparently only a small few even have smoke.  The lionchief plus AA diesels appear to be the exception and you can buy B units with motors in them.

Hi Paul, thanks for the offer of help. I need it! :-)

I am running a steam operation using a conventional transformer. The scene is desert or arid plains so the road name might be Union Pacific, but it's not that important. What is important is that my steam engine isn't powerful enough to pull the North East Trains cleaning car, so I will need a diesel just for cleaning track. Most of my curves are 42, but I do have two short sidings for unloading cargo that requires 31 inch curves. My layout is only a 4x8.

Since I am retired and on a fixed income my budget requires me to stay below $300 for an engine. Yeah, I know -- good luck.

Best regards,

Rick

Rick, search the auction sites on Williams engines. There are scores of two motor diesels there for under 100 bucks. They are well made and will easily pull a number track cleaning cars no problem.

Pete

You can look on the for sale section on here or go to an auction site like www.choochooauctions.com That's the site I use for buying or selling model trains.

Any way a Williams GP-9 or GP-38 should have good pulling power and will run on 027 track. The SD-45 by Williams has the same motors but is not as good for pulling power.

Lee Fritz

Just found a GP-38 Union Pacific powered diesel from Williams by Bachman on Hobbylinc for $247. Now looking for some reviews. I could handle this.

Rick

Another place or two to look is Mario's trains or Trainworld. They have some sales on Williams engines right now, maybe you can purchase one for as low as $150.00 with shipping.

Lee Fritz

A number of forum sellers have lion chief plus diesels for sale now a bit over $200, maybe $230.  That would get you some cool features too.  I think Mario for example has some like this and I think Sidetrack hobbies is another.

Lionel engines don't have all metal gears like the Williams engines and for pulling a track cleaning car you will kill the Lionel engine's gears very quickly.

Lee Fritz