Several years ago I purchased the RMT PRR/Pa. A-A unit (I have a PA oriented layout) but was somewhat disappointed with the lack of power. I just bought from Trainz the B-Unit to this set (more than a third cheaper than what RMT sells it for). To my pleasant surprise, the B-unit is powered and now my ABA has a powered A-unit attached to a powered B unit with its own motor which in turn is attached to a dummy A-unit. In effect, there are two motors, one in the first A-unit and then the B-unit for the ABA setup.
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JOHN F...actually you have 4 motors not 2 in the A-B-A
powered A is 2 motors
powered B is 2 motors
dummy A has horn
Make sure you use the male/female molex wire plugs. That way you will have pickup from all 3 units so there is no stalling over switch frogs or insulated tracks. Molex plugs are directional oriented so if they do not fit, check out orientation before forcing a connection.
(As per Walter)
Enjoy your BEEFs. Take a moment and read the EMD style builder's plate on each diesel!
Susie
PS: Buy another B and you will have 6 motors in an A-B-B-A. Matching PEEP PRR madison-style passenger cars are also still available at RMT.
Attachments
Thanks for the response. I did attach the wires in question. The ABA runs great and appears to be coordinated in that both powered units work in unison. It is an interesting idea to add a second B unit. Great suggestion.
I have to figure out how the horn works as it doesn't respond to the "whistle" control on my ZW transformer.
John
Are you sure the track connections aren't reversed?
That's a good point-I have two recently purchased diesel engines (RMT and Williams). I just switched the connections to a newer transformer and the bells/whistles of both engines worked. I will switch the wiring to the old ZW and reverse the track connections to see if this works. Thanks.
John
I did switch the wiring and the whistle works after I press the whistle control on the ZW and hold it down for at least 4-5 seconds. I wonder if there is something I can add to make both the whistle and bell work?
John
Lionel used to make a sound activation button to use with their Railsounds box cars that would allow you to have both whistle from transformer button and bell from that button.
Doing an upgrade to a silicon diode in the transformer will probably solve the problem, it works a lot better than the selenium stack rectifier for modern stuff.