My dad left me a General Models Corporation EMD 1,000 hp diesel engine. It is like new with original box. I don’t know too much about it other than it was made in Wheaton IL. I would like to know more about the history of this company and what else they sold.
It seems to have a problem with 027 curves and Lionel couplers, anyone have a suggestion for a cure so I can use it on my track without it pulling the Lionel cars off the track in the curves?
Thanks,
Kevin.
Very cool.
I don’t know enough about them to post anything meaningful.
They came in two rail and three rail versions. I have an unbuilt 2 rail kit, but it is missing the motor truck.
I’ve had my eye out for a three rail version for a while now.
Here’s a few links I found: http://www.binnsroad.co.uk/railways/gmc/advert.html http://www.binnsroad.co.uk/railways/gmc/index.html http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/151937/1680710.aspx
Yep I have seen these I hoped to find out more.
TKS
Kevin
I had an unbuilt dummy kit which I sold, I think on ebay, a couple of years ago. An interesting claim about this type of engine is that supposedly on the 1950 Lionel Showroom layout there is a black switcher in the photos and since Lionel didn’t come out with a switcher until 1952, the switcher in the photo is supposedly a GMC model.
Tom Cox
The only thing we’ve run on this was “The Phantom of the layout” by Lee Price, August 1992. This was a model that appeared on the Lionel 1949 showroom layout, though obviously not a Lionel product.
The August 1992 issue is still in stock.
Yes Tom I had seen that as well.
Tks,
Kevin
I just repaired one of these engines. I had to rewire it and the center rail pickup was missing. I adapted a Lionel roller pick up assembly to the non powered truck. The engine runs great and the reversing sequencer works great. I test ran it on a loop of Lionel 027 track and it worked fine. I tried it on a layout with Lionel switches and it derails. Apparently the nonpowered truck flanges skip off the track on the switches. I did a little research and found it definitely will have problems with Lionel switches. This will be running on the line of my layout that doesn’t have switches on it. It is also a good puller can handle several cars. Mike
MDS - Welcome to Trains.com! [C):-)]
I have several in 3-rail. An original vertical motor NW by GMC or early A-N, a horizontal motor A-N, and what was a vertical motor, now a dummy. I have a 2-rail horizontal motor 8-wheel power and a GMC sold by A-N 600-horse unit with permag vertical motor. All run really good.
Originally both 3-rail units came with Thomas sliders and horizontal e-units, which were horrible (apply power, start to move, THEN is shifts), so the three-rail ones have Dallee ACRU’s in them.
Not sure what they’re worth anymore, as the “doorstops” seem to somewhat have fallen out of favour with the 2-rail crowd (from what I’ve read), but they do run well.
You can tell age by looking at the gears first…turn it over look at the gears from the tower to the axle jackshaft.
EARLY ones had straight-cut gears, mostly GMC and early A-N, then A-N went to helical (Constant Torque) angled gears, which lasted for, oh, 20-30 years, then later ones came with sprockets and chain.
Thos can be an issue, as they milled the hubs almost off, and the gears crack. There is a gy on the MTJ 2-rail “0” forum who fixes them.
Almost all of my units have straight-cut gears…I like the noise generated by them.
Early ones also had a speedometer cable driveshaft from motor to truck towers. I’ve never had any problems with these, some folks don’t like them.
So, flip yours over and tell me what you’ve got!
Dave
Oh…forgot…couplers. The easy fix was Thomas couplers. Drop a pin in and presto! They are “fixed”, but if the cars you are connecting to open, never an issue.
One other difference…look at the coupler pocket on the pilots.
2-rail units had a small rectangular opening for a scale coupler, tinplate units had a LONG slot for coupler swing.
This is three-rail, right? Field wound motor and pickup rollers or sliders?
Dave
[quote user=“Curmudgeon”]
Oh…forgot…couplers. The easy fix was Thomas couplers. Drop a pin in and presto! They are “fixed”, but if the cars you are connecting to open, never an issue.
One other difference…look at the coupler pocket on the pilots.
This is three-rail, right? Field wound motor and pickup rollers or sliders?
Dave
Thanks Dave,
3 Rail with pickup rollers.
Mine has the helical (Constant Torque) angled gears. Can you elaborate on the couplers and just what it is I need to swap these out? Mine look like they are soldered in. What are Thomas couplers?
Tks,
Kev.
I sent you a message on the forum…get back to me, I’ll send you a photo!
Does your engine have a long slot for the coupler?
Like, oh, an inch long?
You may have scale pilots, but I can maybe help with that for you.
Dave
Those photos help any? I suspect (unless it was cut off) there is another pivot hole…if you use that, the coupler will be more “extended”.
Dave
Dave,
Yes they were a help. Mine seems to be set at the longest setting but there is only the one hole at the end of mine.
Thanks,
Kev
Could very will be to mount that spring the extra was cut off. You see how far the coupler swings over, and from the two engines, how far out it sticks on long hole and short hole.
Should be able to push yours over and see how it compares.
Dave
