Recently got “white elephant” gift of a Varney HO Diesel engine, PRR 5907 (die cast metal, green, possibly F3A) with three actual portals on each side. Trucks have 1655 imprinted, and chasis underneath has Varney 1947. Don’t know anything about HO (didn’t even know about Varney). Can’t track down this engine. Anybody have any information on it or where to find info?
you may have nailed it, all metal shell
1655 is the part number for the bearing plate on the power truck, according to my 1953 catalogue. I’m guessing that the F3 diesels shown in it are, by this time, plastic, though, as the portholes appear to be solid. Powered A- or B-units, as kits, were $13.95, while dummy units, also kits, were $5.35.
In addition to the F-units, Varney offered a full line of freight cars, shorty streamlined passenger cars, a diesel switcher and several steam locomotives, all as kits. The passenger cars and some of the freight cars were metal, with some plastic parts.
The catalogue also shows a comprehensive line of detail parts, mostly for steam locos, and parts for pretty-well every kit they offered. Three all-metal tenders were available, too, and the centre page shows a nice-looking scratchbuilt Challenger, supposedly built using Varney parts:
Wayne
According to my Greenberg Guide to Varney Trains, the F-3 kit with the zamac body was introduced in 1949, and driven by what Varney referred to as their V-4 motor, which was truck-mounted, but so long as to limit the turning radius of the locomotive to a 24" or larger radius. In 1950 the kit was re-introduced with the Pittman DC-71 motor, which reduced the radius to 18" minimum. The DC-71 allowed both trucks to be powered, whereas the V-4 was too long to allow a universal joint between the trucks, resulting in only the lead truck being powered. The “1947” on the zamac diesel body is a Varney catalogue number. So it looks as if your diesel dates from 1949-50 if only one truck is powered, and 1950-55 if both trucks are powered. After 1955, all Varney F-3 diesels were plastic-bodied.
Tom
The V-4 was a pretty big drive truck! The motor was designed by Lindsay for Varney, but instead of being in the center like Lindsay’s own 4-wheel trucks, the motor hung off the back with a long shaft geared to each axle. They also had one for steam engines with the gearbox built into the end of the motor, and it would assemble over the geared axle. Those things had 7-pole skewed armatures, the best quality magnets available at the time, and even ball bearings. The Lindsay designed Varney motors weren’t around long, and whenever they come up on eBay, they go for a LOT!
The Pittman drives were around for pretty much the rest of the years Varney made diesels. They were cheaper, simpler, easy to work on and modify, and much more flexible. The V-4 truck was better quality, but the cost, complexity, and lack of flexibility just didn’t work for a company making products that were supposed to be affordable to the average railroader.