I would say that it does seem that it should be the operational standard, being that most of the folks that commented on that post lean towards what you are doing Pat. Besides, it does seem sensible that you would follow protocol in dimming your lights of your a switcher, turning off the headlight to yield to a passing train, and going in reverse. Why would you blind people? Heck, just makes sense, eh?
And without further ado, the lighting requests by our viewers, …….this is video #1 of 2, …..as requested, front markers, red in front, amber on the sides, only to be on in reverse, with the headlight extinguished when in reverse,…..video #2 has our additional “special feature “ that were sure will be crowd pleaser!
Pat
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Awesome Pat.
Here’s a new special feature, ….our good fried Pete ( Norton ) suggested we do this feature to coincide with the operating front markers,…..so what you’re seeing here is operating rear marker lights!!…..When running light, in forward, or in pusher service, ie; the end of a train, the markers on the tender would be illuminated, …..many makers just simply have these lights illuminating all the time, which is actually wrong, ….so, with Pete’s help, we set up a timer board activated by the firing of the rear coupler, ….so when you let go of a train, or just running light, if you hit the rear coupler, the tender markers come on, …..the cool part, ….the timer can be programmed!…..right now, I have it set at 2 minutes on after coupler fire…..now, our star has fully functioning marker lamps, both front & back!!
Pat
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Also awesome Pat.
Simply amazing work!
I like the idea of having prototypical marker lights! Adds another layer of depth to operating and that makes things more fun (for me at least).
I love how smoothly this loco starts out and effortlessly drifts! Your upgrades are really the icing on the cake!
@Ted S posted:I love how smoothly this loco starts out and effortlessly drifts! Your upgrades are really the icing on the cake!
I haven’t calculated this engine’s gear box Ted, but I suspect is around 20:1 …..I’ll verify when I open it up to add the cab light feature, etc. ….also, it came factory equipped with two honking flywheels on a large 60 mm Pittman, ……the gear box is divorced design, so it’s free to float around and mechanically tied to the motor (it’s got a slip joint ) ……if all the Williams & Weavers were like this, it’d be a different story,…..
Pat
I got some time this evening to fit the 4 helicoils into the stacks, …..it’s a pretty dramatic difference, and well worth it,…..both at neutral, and moving, ……a set of 5/16-18 helicoils were a perfect snug yet slip fit, …..I like it!!…
Pat
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Looks so good there
any video at rest?
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What's the benefit of the helicoils? Improve the flow of the smoke?
You have some impressive smoke volume!! This is a beauty of a project 
@BillYo414 posted:What's the benefit of the helicoils? Improve the flow of the smoke?
You have some impressive smoke volume!! This is a beauty of a project
Billy, those 4 exhaust stacks are wide open in the shell, ….even with the funnel I built from brass, it was still difficult to direct the smoke out the 4 stacks …..the helicoils help with 2 things: 1. It’s putting a nice spin on the smoke exiting, ( it’s hard to capture that in the video ) 2. The unforeseen benefit is they’re directing an even flow out the two front stacks at neutral, then with a little draft while moving, all four stacks are exhausting …..
Pat
Gotcha @harmonyards. Using a heli was a clever move. Well done!
@BillYo414 posted:Gotcha @harmonyards. Using a heli was a clever move. Well done!
That was Pete @Norton ‘s idea ….. I can’t take credit for that one!
Pat
Now that is awesome Pat. Gotta love ideas that come up the way they do. Pete has now come up with two great ideas on this locomotive now, right?
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:Now that is awesome Pat. Gotta love ideas that come up the way they do. Pete has now come up with two great ideas on this locomotive now, right?
No one is keeping track Dave. We help each other out. I lost track of how many tips I got from Pat, Lou, and the rest here.
Pete
@Norton posted:No one is keeping track Dave. We help each other out. I lost track of how many tips I got from Pat, Lou, and the rest here.
Pete
And that is what makes the community great. Help here, help there, this person, that person, and back. Gotta love it.
Pat: Just love that smoke delivery at idle and under power...... well done.....best I've ever seen!!!
Peter....Buco Australia
@Norton posted:No one is keeping track Dave. We help each other out. I lost track of how many tips I got from Pat, Lou, and the rest here.
Pete
Absolutely, ….I can’t count that high how many times I’ve been bailed out ……..we certainly have a decent SOS system….I know I’m a frequent flyer,……usually starts with “ oh no! …what have I done!? “ 🤣🤣🤣
Pat
@harmonyards posted:That was Pete @Norton ‘s idea ….. I can’t take credit for that one!
Well done @Norton!
I dig the Let's Build threads! It's cool seeing the teamwork and the result of it. I've learned a ton too.
This thing will be one cool looking steam turbine engine when Pat gets it back together and shows it off on a run. I was trying to figure out if I was too tired last(which I was) or just seeing things. I noticed the railings along the boiler were not on. I watched it twice more because like I said, I was tired.
When all is said and done, another classic project will be in the books. No PRR fans will be calling Pat to get some of their PRR engines done. So far I've only asked Pat to do NYC upgrades. I wouldn't count the gearbox fixes among those though.
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:This thing will be one cool looking steam turbine engine when Pat gets it back together and shows it off on a run. I was trying to figure out if I was too tired last(which I was) or just seeing things. I noticed the railings along the boiler were not on. I watched it twice more because like I said, I was tired.
When all is said and done, another classic project will be in the books. No PRR fans will be calling Pat to get some of their PRR engines done. So far I've only asked Pat to do NYC upgrades. I wouldn't count the gearbox fixes among those though.
Dave, the handrails will be the last part to go back on, …once installed, they secure the smoke box door & all,….there’s still quite a bit of detail work to be done once we’ve proven all the upgrade features……no sense putting all those delicate details back on till we’re all satisfied she’s a proven performer….she’s still very much in test mode…..
Pat
@harmonyards posted:Dave, the handrails will be the last part to go back on, …once installed, they secure the smoke box door & all,….there’s still quite a bit of detail work to be done once we’ve proven all the upgrade features……no sense putting all those delicate details back on till we’re all satisfied she’s a proven performer….she’s still very much in test mode…..
Pat
Yes of course Pat. Just seeing this still in bare bones mode if you will, looks stunning. I can't wait until it is finished, that's for sure.
Pat, I know you said the rear markers are on a timer, if the rear coupler is closed prior to the designated time, as if coupled to a train, will the rear markers go out?
I still think we need an "easter egg" jet turbine sound at like 88 scale miles per hour.
@coach joe posted:Pat, I know you said the rear markers are on a timer, if the rear coupler is closed prior to the designated time, as if coupled to a train, will the rear markers go out?
Coach, the tender markers remain off until the coupler is fired, then the lights come on and stay on for 60 seconds ( timer can be adjusted) …….so when you uncouple from a train, ie; running light in forward, the marker lights come on and remain on for the timer allotment……if your still running light for whatever reason, and you’ve run out of timer, you just fire the coupler again, and the lights come back on for 60 seconds……..technically, you could overlap the markers, but in practice, before going into reverse, you would wait till the timer expires on the tender, then shove her into reverse, and the front markers illuminate, signaling a reverse movement……clear as mud right??.🤣🤣🤣🤣
Pat
@rplst8 posted:I still think we need an "easter egg" jet turbine sound at like 88 scale miles per hour.
Ryan, this antique iPad doesn’t do the sound system any justice!!…..with twin speakers, and both baffled in that big brass tender, the sound at speed I believe is just what you were suggesting it should be, …..you definitely can here the turbine whine, and the draft on the smoke output seems to match pretty nicely ……..I’ll try and do a fly by video with the iPad at track side ……then report back with what you think……hopefully that’ll tickle your spine….
Pat
@harmonyards posted:Coach, the tender markers remain off until the coupler is fired, then the lights come on and stay on for 60 seconds ( timer can be adjusted) …….so when you uncouple from a train, ie; running light in forward, the marker lights come on and remain on for the timer allotment……if your still running light for whatever reason, and you’ve run out of timer, you just fire the coupler again, and the lights come back on for 60 seconds……..technically, you could overlap the markers, but in practice, before going into reverse, you would wait till the timer expires on the tender, then shove her into reverse, and the front markers illuminate, signaling a reverse movement……clear as mud right??.🤣🤣🤣🤣
Pat
Add to what Pat said, the timer is programable. You can have the markers on from milliseconds to many hours. You can also program it so hitting uncouple once turns the markers on. Hitting it a second time can turn them off even it the cycle hasn’t completed. The next owner has something else to play with.
Pete
Pat it's as clear as the South Carolina sun at high noon. Rear markers go out and the end of the time allotment even if you throw it reverse, hook up to a train and close the coupler. See, crystal!
@harmonyards posted:Ryan, this antique iPad doesn’t do the sound system any justice!!…..with twin speakers, and both baffled in that big brass tender, the sound at speed I believe is just what you were suggesting it should be, …..you definitely can here the turbine whine, and the draft on the smoke output seems to match pretty nicely ……..I’ll try and do a fly by video with the iPad at track side ……then report back with what you think……hopefully that’ll tickle your spine….
Mostly just kidding around Pat. Super cool build. You did a great job!
Maybe a little CCR “Traveling Band” when it hits 100 though…
737 comin' out of the sky
Oh, won't you take me down to Memphis
On a midnight ride?
I wanna move
Playin' in a travelin' band, yeah
Well, I'm flyin' 'cross the land
Tryin' to get a hand
Playin' in a travelin' band
Well, I'm flyin' 'cross the land
Tryin' to get a hand
Playin' in a travelin' band
Slow but steady progress, …….The original coal bunker pile was quite long in the tooth, with chunks missing, loose chunks, etc, …..so it was certainly dated looking ….We need a place to hide the antenna anyways, so let’s rip it all out and put a fresh look to her,…..after the antenna install, Brennan’s # 4 real anthracite coal is employed here, along with epoxy to set everything like concrete …..
Pat 
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Looking great Pat. I wish I was feeling better as I'd be more active. Guess I got the bug. Keep up the great work.
Epoxy, that coal isn't going anywhere!
So as requested by our viewers, I’ve installed John’s motion control board, and the exhaust works just as y’all asked for it to!!…..John’s board with a string of diodes, controls the smoke perfectly!…..we get a lot of smoke at idle, and once in motion, the smoke wanes off perfectly after about 2-3 feet, ……here’s some motion shots, and a shot at idle, …..this beast is growing out of our control!….( which is how we wanted it! ) …….getting closer to the finish line!…..I’m really looking forward to see what we can do inside that sparse cab!……..thanks to John for the board, & Pete for helping me figure out the math for the diode pack that wound up working out like we wanted!!….
Pat 
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Running along Pat, running along. Any crew would be grateful hopping aboard to run that engine. Just hope the Central guys don't come along and change the tender letter to New York Central, haha.
Some minor progress, but important progress,…..we now have a much more capable crew rather than the anorexic crew that this engine came with, …..also detailed the gauges, …..that was quite the reach !….that backhead is deep inside that cab!!…..
Pat 
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That really looks nice Pat. Somewhere around here I have some round gauge decals from a model race car this may be just the place to use them. Might even scan them and print to size. j
Pat, where do all the former crew members go to when they are replaced by the Harmon Shops "Supermen"? I'm guess maybe the find the local deli down the street from the shops, that is if there is such a place?
