Does anyone out there own one of the HO dynamometer cars that Walthers came out with a few years back? I was wondering if they actually worked as advertised. I’ve wanted to build a Dyno car for some time but I’m not sure where to start! Does anyone have any ideas? Also I’d really like to find pictures of CNs Dyno car #15001 but so far no luck. Does anyone know where I can find pictures of this car? Thanks [:D]
The basic car came out, but the digital remote read out idea was dropped. I think they did have a small spring loaded ‘dial’ in a door opening.
Jim
I have one. I never got the digital remote read out. It does have a spring guage inside the door, but good luck getting any accurate measurements from it. I pull it for fun when I am running a new locomotive to break it in.
JIM
I have the 932-4658, Union Pac. Two notes are included with the car. #1, “Please Note: The optional Electronic Pack w/Remote Infra-Red Data Link (#933-1052) for this model has been cancelled and will not be available.” #2, "ADJUSTINGCARFORACCURATEMEASUREMENT The Dynamometer may need to be adjusted for an accurate measurement. To adjust - - - " It then goes on to tell you how to adjust it. The front coupler pocked is on a tension spring that connects to a pointer that moves up & down on an unmarked scale! Holding the [censored] thing in my hand, with a bright LED flashlight - and my glasses on I can barely see the scale & pointer!![xx(] With the car moving, it has to be impossible to see!! Your eye would have to be at track level with you moving along with the car, unless it is supposed to be used as a static loco test with the dyno car anchored to one spot[:(!] There is no price on the box - probably a good thing as I can’t remember what I paid & anything over a few dollars would only serve to raise my blood pressure!! Not one of my best purchases - but for part of a consist, I guess it’s OK. [tup][tdn][tdn] (How’s that for a rating!)
The only purpose of my dynamometer car is to add visual interest to train consists. In this case it is coupled behind my new Atlas SD24’s.
UHHHH, there are a lot of “smart” folks in the hobby with electronic experience. All you need is a strain gauge linked to a LED readout with a Min/Max/memory. how tough is that? have it as the last car, and have just one coupler have the strain gauge hooked to it.
I doubt it is a lack of smarts that Walthers did not offer the electronic measuring for the car, it was probably the end cost. The car with the remote measuring capability could be fairly expensive for the limited demand.
I know when I first saw the car in the ads it sounded interesting, but later found out it did not have the electronics so I lost interest.
However, I do have one with the spring measuring device; a friend bought it and lost interest so I got it from him. I’ve got it all assembled and painted in CP’s Tuscan colors, but haven’t been able to find the railway’s name in gold in a size that would fit the limited space. Should look for something in N scale I imagine. It’s sitting on my shelf, more or less overlooked.
I believe the Walthers car is a model of CB&Q dynamometer #30. At least, it appears so to me as I compare the model to a photo of the prototype (page 49 of “1975-1976 Burlington Northern Annual”). The caption says “Bright red CB&Q dynamometer car 30 was built in the company’s Aurora, Ill. car shop in 1930. BN donated it to the National Raioroad Museum, Green Bay, Wisc., in 1971.” I don’t believe it ever was lettered BN.
Ed