Okay, yes, I know, these things are from like the 1960s…and weren’t all that great at times. But this is why I inquire the useful knowledge of the forums. I summon forth the power of others to aid me in my time of curiosity![^]
I’m bidding on a lot of these on eBay. Four of them, two that run, a dummy, and one that doesn’t run. These C-Liners have the three axle rear truck, which I think looks awesome. So this is why I wi***o know.
Are any motors available for these models if I want to remotor them? How can I improve their performance? Has anyone had any personal experiences with these models that would come in handy to me?
Yes, I am quite sure they are N scale. They come from the beginning of N scale in the USA, when it wasn’t all that great, back in the 60s. I’ve had a chance before to get a few, but never went through with it due to the poor condition they were in. When I took that apart, it had an odd motor configuration.
I don’t know of a Rivarrosi C-Liner in HO, but I do know of a Krauss Maffei ML4000 hood unit, which I wouldn’t mind having either.
My Very first train set (N scale) consisted of an Atlas/Rivarossi C-Liner (Milwaukee Road with the Hiawatha emblem on the front) and I’ve been looking for an HO scale version ever since started building HO layouts. I’ve only seen one or two offered, ever, and both were brass and expensive. The Rivarossi HO “C-liner” is similar to the Proto1000 Erie builts. That train set was given to me in 1972 for christmas… Actually it wasn’t a set but individual pieces.
Anyway, the answer to your question, New motors for those haven’t been available since the early or mid 80s and even then they were probably old stock. The motor is a vertical affair that fits into the solid metal frame of the loco either in the front or rear (at the moment I can’t remember which) . Only one of the trucks is geared (with a brass Inline geartrain) and the the other truck is a free roller that has contact wipers to pick up power from the track. The Problem with the motor is it burned out, Fast. They would have failed the torture tests of the museum layouts miserably. Either the brushes went bad or something happened to the armature or magnets. I’ve actually bought a couple of c-liners to keep my orignal one operational. If it weren’t my first one, I would have trashed it long ago… You said 2 of them work , one is a dummy, and one
I have one of these - not a great runner and I’m considering converting it to a dummy. As Jeff said, the motor is vertical and the shaft/worm forms the pivot for the lead truck, so I’m uncertain how to go about replacing the pivot after removing the motor.
There is a replacement armature available for these motors, but it would require extensive re-working to go into the CPA-16[20, 24]-5.
Turning them to dummies does not produce satisfying results. The chassis is so heavy that it will take most of the pulling power of whatever other unit you use to push/pull it.
RR did make plastic chassis dummies for these, but they do not track well.
They have only the front truck powered and do not pull well singly, although they are not bad in pairs. They do not run well, either. Hardiwiring a pair of powered units does help the pick-up some.
Only one road had CPA-16-5s, CN. CN also had the only B-units of these B/A-1-A trucked locomotives
LIRR had both CPA-20-5s and CPA-24-5s
NYCS and NYNH&H had CPA-24-5s.
The LIRR was happy with theirs.
The NYNH&H were not exactly ecstatic about theirs.
The NYCS hated theirs.
Atlas did not sell these in any of the roads that actually ran them.
Someone chopped up a C-C PA chassis and the trucks to get one that ran acceptably
Your best bet would be to check out the LifeLike units from last year. You may find a LHS willing to make a deal. Chances are, once you see the shell, the old Atlas/RR units go to the sideline. I miss the old LL website. At least the new Walthers site may give you tips on where to find them. Have fun searching!
You could try one of the mailorder outfits in MR or MRC like Toy Train Heaven. Then you can ask the clerk if they have any in stock.
contact Big Dave’s Trains on eBay. He sells 5-pole motors for first-gen Atlas locomotives. I have an Atlas/Rivarossi Mikado that was remotored by him, and it runs like a Rolex. Contact him and he always replies pretty quickly. In fact, I’ll probably see him at the Monroeville train show this weekend. If you like, I’ll ask about it for you. Just let me know.
He shows one motor currently in his ‘store’. While the body of the motor looks right, the shafts would have to be cut in order to work. I would be interested in knowing if he has something for the Atlas/RR C - liner. Go ahead and ask…
Just got back from the show. He has 5-pole motors which can be used using the original gear and brush holder for the C-liner, and said he has at least one of those listed on eBay now. He also handles remanufactured original motors for all the old Atlas N-scale stuff, they were $15 apiece. He’ll probably be at the show all weekend, so if you’re going to email, I’d probably wait until Monday. I also have the phone number here on his business card, if you want it just email me
My diesel fleet is mostly FM and Alco, so I might be looking for an Atlas myself. [:D]
A couple other resources you might want to investigate which have been helpful to me are the A1G group at yahoo:
Yep, and the auction just ended today, and I was still the highest bidder. YAY! [^]Now…what am I going to do with the lot of them…Hmm…choices, choices…
Hmmm. Might be worth the $15 to get a decent motor for it… Finally build that N scale coffee table layout I’ve been planning so long… Thanks for checking.
Trainfreak, Good luck with the locos… I don’t know why they appeal to me, I’m an HO scale steam train nut but those little N scale C-liners Are cool… Maybe it’s just because of the wheel arangement…