Re-powering the Tunnel Motor is a Pain

So right now my budget doesn't allow much in the way of buying brand new locomotives.  I could if I saved up over time, but that doesn't work so well with me.  I plan on getting a new locomotive and suddenly "ooooo shiny new tank car!" or "well dang, I just got to have that Hy-cube" and etc, etc, etc...  So instead I tend to put a little bit into the existing engines.

In this case, I want to have my tunnel motor be able to run with my SD45-2.  This is the beginning of the Pain.  When I tried to do this a few months back (around September...  geez) I found that they were just too different speed-wise.  I played around with the speed table settings on their decoders but that was a lot of time to get nowhere.  So the idea was side lined.  However the idea has come back to the forefront as I am trying to join a local club.  But if they won't run well together then what can I do?

While the two locos are similar in drive train design, it turns out they have very different motors.  The tunnel motor is from the RTR line and the 45-2 is from the Genesis line, and the output on their electric motors is very different.  I had an extra RTR motor sitting around so I tried it in the 45-2, but the frame and weights will not allow it to fit (Pain).  So I decided to try a Genesis motor in the T-2.  After some time on the 'bay I got a new Genesis motor and went to install it.  Turns out it fits as far as the securing screw holes, but the frame was too tall for the screws (Pain again).  SOOOO more work.  Now it looks like this after some time on a mill.

One of the perks of working at a place with a machine shop

 

The motor now fits in the frame!  I had to add some shims into the securing holes as the screw heads could pass through them but it can be done.  However, I am now stuck again (more Pain).  To get the motor to fit, I had to put it in "backwards" so now one of the dogbone shafts is too short...  Blah...  There are some longer ones on order so I will update again when they are installed. 

If you want more detail on the process, or advice on how to avoid the pains above, leave me a comment and I will help out as best as I can.

Later!

Some Pictures for the Last Post

Alright y'all, are some pictures as I promised.

First is a shot of the layout construction progress. 

Aside from the messiness of the room, you can see how it is coming along.  About half of the decking of 15/32" plywood is attached and about 75% of the support frames are built.  I only have one more to go!

Due to space constraints I have scaled back the layout some.  It will now have three walls of layout and the fourth wall will be a connector for continuous running and where the work table will go.  However I do have a decent plan still.  The yard ladder has been built (it can be seen about halfway down the right side decking) and should be installed tonight if I can stay awake.

This is the re-motor project I am working on for the tunnel motor.  She didn't play well with my Genesis SD45-2 so I decided to put a Genesis motor in here.  The internet says that the Genesis motor fits RTR locos.  What they didn't say was that it takes some work...  More on that in a separate post.

And lastly, I randomly caught the Illinois Terminal heritage locomotive.  She unexpectedly passed me leading a train from the Texas City Terminal and by the time I caught up to her for a picture, this was the best I could do.  But I swear it is her!  Zoom in on the cab numbers!

And lastly, a shiny new BNSF Gevo near my work.

Now I am off to recover for an op session tomorrow on the Almeda Terminal & Gulf layout!

Workin' on the Railroad

Specifically my model railroad.

I have been making slow progress, but progress all the same.

I don't have any new pictures for this update yet.  I may put them in another later post.  Sorry.

Layout: work is progressing steadily.  I have all of the turnouts I need now so track will be laid in earnest once the layout is fully built.  One frame and the remaining decking to go!  Currently about half way on the decking.

Paint Scheme: a new Texas-themed scheme should be getting applied to a new loco shell next week.  I hope it comes out as cool as I imagine it as.

Prodigy: my trusty DCC system up and burned out on me a few months back.  MRC got her fixed up and returned so the engines can move a little at least

Yard: the yard ladder should be secured and powered by the weekend!  Once the ladder is tested and operational, I will lay the yard tracks and put out some rolling stock.

Until then, have a good time everyone!