Something different for push-pull commuter service?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I do like rail passenger service, and through the years, I’ve collected a few F7 and 9, A and B units, most powered, being either Athearn or Bachmann Plus. I also have a few bi-level commutor cars, some are cab cars. A conventional push-pull train that is over 4 or 5 cars is a challenge on my small layout, so, I’m going to use an F7b, inbetween 4 bi-levels, with a cab car on each end. I’ll pick my best running, powered F7b, add a decoder, and I’ll add lights to each car, with head lights and ditch lights on each cab car, powered from the track.

If warm weather and outside work time doesn’t get here soon, I’m starting this project now.

I’ve searched around, and I found roads that put remote controls on B units, and used them in yards, and one road used them to move coal cars around at a mine.

I just thought I’d put this out there, and get some feed back. Any ideas on the track powered lighting for the cars?

No, it’s not April Fools idea, although some may think so!

Mike.

2

Sounds like a pretty good idea. Any way you could disguise the powered unit in a passenger car? Also, keeping the unpowered cars on the heavier side, especially those closer to the powered unit will help them track better.

3

Mike,

I recently completed a campaign to light most of my passenger cars. For the power, I mostly used a Radio Shack 276-0268 bridge rectifier along with various caps, mostly in the 470 uF range, plus the requisite resistors. The rectifier is a 1.5 amp glass-passivated single-phase 400 Vdc item. It’s also available from All-Electronics much cheaper. I use the car’s built-in wipers (bless Walthers for making this standard equipment on most of their cars) or build my own out of Tichy phosphor-bronze .010 wire soldered to pads cut from circuit board tie material.

I do use a few standard LEDs for special situations, but most of my lighting is section cut from Radio Shack LED strips (276-0329 for the white LEDs). You can also find this cheaper, but 2 meters did about 20 cars (some were smaller narrowgauge, along with head end cars that often don’t require as much lighting.

Lots of details and pics at this link: http://atlasrescueforum.proboards.com/thread/2132/cheap-updating-tomar-drumheads-lighting

I’d be glad to answer any questions, post more pics, etc, here tomorrow, but getting late and that’ll give you something to look over for right now.

4

Thanks for the info Mike, I’ll check it out. Seems like crappy weather is coming back in our direction the next couple of days, I think I’ll dig the stuff out, and at least start on the B unit. I hate to see a good running loco just sit! even if it is a Fb unit. I’m still deciding which B unit to use, I have an Athearn, and a Bachmann Plus, and both run excellent, quiet and smooth, and would require the same procedure for installing a decoder. I won’t worry about light function, as I’ll do that with each individual car. I’ve also been checking out Evans Designs as they offer a nice selection of lighting, with the resistors, etc, already in place. I have to thank Karl for that one. I used their peco size, surface mount, pre-wired leds for ditch lights on my lastest loco rebuild, and it was easy.

Mike.

5

Mike,

Here are some pics of typical installs.

This is how I do wipers, in this case on a PSC HOn3 RPO/express.

Here’s a close-up of the typical components installed on the PSC chassis.

This truck is off a Walther troop kitchen car. I installed wipers for both rails to ensure good pickup.

This car is an old Con-Cor sleeper I rrough partioned to make the lighting work right for a sleeper and hide the electronics.

In this pic, I left the LED strips loose so that the light was more radnomly distributed to different compartments.

The results.

I use a lot of resistance in these installs to get that nice low level lighting. Typically, the installs use from 60,000 to 100,000 ohms.

6

Well there is no theoretical reason why the lines than ran, or run, push pull with cab cars could not have done this BUT – with an F7 b unit in the middle of the train, does this means the cab cars at either end will each need their own conductors since the passengers will be isolated and unable to pass from car to car? It also means that loading will be different since if someone gets on a full car and needs to pass to the other car, they are out of luck since they won’t be permitted to stroll through the B unit, entertaining though that might be.
Dave Nelson

7

On push-pull trains, there is a cable running through the train that is used to remote control the locomotive from the cab car . It runs down one side of the train. On trhe other side, there is another cable that is used to control the doors and communication systems. For this reason, all cars in the train must be oriented in the same direction, and cab cars therefore cannot be placed on both ends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA2G_a9pTqM

8

Rock Island had an E6b ( I think) that had an end window and would split off and run up a branch and join up behind the A unit for the return trip. I think this was in Colorado.

9

Thanks Mike for the pics. I always like your night pics, with buildings and your cars. And ndbprr, I’m going to research that and see what I can find, thanks.

Dave, the engineering dept. has thought of the problems you bring up, and have been meeting daily to resolve such issues, and come to positive operating rules and proceedures. To date, issues that are on the table, and possible solutions:

A conductor, and a train person on each end, to assist passengers, help with the disabled, and to monitor car seating, and overall car condition. The conductor will also work with the engineer, as he will move from cab to cab, as the train changes direction.

Passengers will be allowed to move between the two cars, on each end of the loco, to find availiable seating, but will not be allowed to pass through the loco, as train personal will be. And, if there are no seats availiable, passengers will be allowed to stand, just like Metra, and Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service passengers do now, until a seat is availiable. Men, are encouaged to act like gentlemen, and give up their seat for a standing woman. The conductor and train person will constantly monitor car capacity, and condition.

Bicycles and pets will be allowed between 9 am and 2 pm, and pets must be under the complete control of the owner, which will be under the descretion of the conductor and train person. Service pets will be allowed any time.

Donuts, ( Steemtrayn ) and other food items, including alcoholic beverages, will be allowed on board, and passengers will be encouaged to use the proper disposal facilities, located on each end of the car.

Some potention problems disscused, and taken off the table are:

A ladder and cross-walk set up over the middle power unit, so passengers can move between all four cars, with the cross-walk also serv

10

NDBPRR,

The Rock Island had Two AB6’s 750 and 751. Originally built, with one engine and a baggage compartment, for the Rocky Mountain Rocket which went from Chicago to Denver and Colorado Springs. It looked generally like a B unit but had a full cab. Early in their careers both had a rear diesel added. The AB6 units were usually the second locomotive in the train and were the engines that went to Colorado Springs after the split up at Limon, Colorado.

Later in life as long distance trains faded 750 and 751 became part of the RI Chicago commuter trains running between Chicago and Joliet. The large fuel tanks were replaced with smaller ones. Each one powered a train of bi-levels and they, as far as I can tell, had the engines on the outbound from Chicago (South) end of the train. Inbound to LaSalle Street the control cabs were on the “North” end of the train.

To the original post…Mike, It’s your railroad but I’ve never seen the engine in the middle like you have described. The engine exhaust comes out the top too! Kind of uncomfortable! I run my ConCor N scale control cab and coach with an E8A. My mini tunnel was built big enough to accommodate them. I run them very slow when the control cab leads through a thrown switch and haven’t had trouble yet.

Hope this helps,

Bob

11

Heh – just remember Mike that your passengers who are also railfans would happily PAY EXTRA if they could walk through that B unit.

Dave Nelson

12

The conductor would have a hard time keeping his uniform clean walking through that grreasy engine room.

13

Hey guys, your on to something here. That would probably ease the seating problem, as any rail fan aboard will probably spend some time in there, walking around both sides, watching, and listening, which would free up extra seating! I just might re-propose that option. I’m sure it won’t get past the legal dept.

Mike.

14

Just get a big plastic tube and run it from one end door to the other on the B unit to keep everyone safe. It would be like a Habitrail for railfans…[:o)]