Back in the 70’s, dummy engines were quite easy to find and I had many of them…
Now they seem to be scarce.
Anyone know if Athern or other companies make them?
Thanks,
Brian
Athearn once sold a number of dummy engines–F units, switchers, etc. I’m not sure if they still do, though. You can still find them in some hobby shops.
Try Ebay. I am looking for some myself, and I find a few different kinds of dummy engines on there.
With the detailing on recent models, off shore manufacturing and other factors, the manufacturers/importers cost difference between a dummy and powered unit has declined dramatically. The manufacturers/importers, for the most part, have thus decided that it is not worth it to produce dummy locomotives.
You’d might have to look around at the train shows… thats what I do cuz I’m in need for a few dummy locos for my layout! [:D]
Good idea…
Is there a web site that you can find upcoming shows?
Thanks,
Brian
Try www.greattrainexpo.com that should give you a listing of all the greenberg shows in your area.
Thanks bro… good link!
Brian
I stripped older bachmann, AHM, Tyco F-units, almost anything with decent detail & a limited # of electricl pick-ups, & use them for sound units. I usually don’t have to add weight, its already there. A Soundtraxx sound only decoder costs the same as one with motor control & have alot more room in the dummy for a speaker & decoder. I model the transition period & 1-2 locos powered can pull what 3 protoype used too so a loco consist works out fine. Tweet.
Tractive Effort Hobbies in Fayettville Arkansas has several of them, I was there last weekend, and they had a good assortment of Road names, their number is 479-571-8722.
Very cool!
Thanks buddy… Glad someone else is local and knows these things!
Brian
Hey Todd,
C&NW is the road I am modeling.
I grew up in Boone Iowa, where there was a yard and a stop between Chicago and Omaha.
My Uncle worked for the railraod and I had a great time going to the yard with him as a kid, and even more fun was that my Grandparents farm was situated between the C$NW main line on one side and the Ft. Dodge, Des Moines and Southern on the other.
I would run back and forth between the tracks all day watching the trains go by.
When my Uncle was on… the horn would blair, and when the “small train” went by… “Ralph” in the caboose always yelled “Hey Brian!”
I guess the reason I enjoy modeling is that I had a great childhood and grew up around trains… and miss that.
B
I grew up in Jefferson Iowa, I used to go to the Boone Yard and sneak pictures in high school.
I run over to Tulsa and hit the casino there once a month or so… are there any good hobby shops there?
Am gonna run down and check out “Tractive Effort” this afternoon… it is cold and windy here and it will be a good day to stay in and work on getting my new layout set up…
The hobby shops in Tulsa are terrible, Action Hobbies carries old consingment junk, and they are rude. It is worth the drive to Tractive Effort, Very nice people, have a huge selection of HO and N, best LHS in Arkansas
I would have to concur, Todd.
And I can tell that Anita is a fan of your as she spoke very well of you while I was there yesterday!
Brian
i used to modle in N so i know backmenn sells them with there starter kits in N i’m not sure about other scales
Dont bother with Tulsa.
Try Fayetteville as stated before or…
One Track Mind -Mabelvale
Hobby Shack -Jacksonville
I think there is one in Conway, but only open part time and maybe one in Bald Knob.
Pine Bluff Project 819 has a train show coming in April.
IF I may…you are better with a system where you can just run more powered locos. I always found dummy engines to be a hassle, they were never convincing to me and at least the ones I had always derailed. I found them to be good if you wanted to just display one. I still have some of my old HO ones, they look good since they are the same shell as the powered models but I never really liked using them. I’m in N now and don’t even know if there is such a thing.
I see dummy engines as a liability in the pulling dept. I was told a dummy B that went with the A unit did not need to be powered. I think the cost diffence between a powered and dummy unit at the time was 8 dollars. The poor performance of the B unit meant that it was almost never used and was considered a waste of money at the time. If the B was powered, Im pretty sure that the A-B set will get alot of miles over the years but I have a ABBA set of F units now and dont need to worry about that little issue.
They can be useful as stated before with the sound units and decoders if needed for that space.