Donor loco

[Javelina]

Gentlemen, and Ladies too......

I've got an itch to make a streetcar. Not named Desire, just a plain old streetcar. I want to scratchbuild the contraption (I'm a machinist, I build stuff) and I'd like opinions on donor chassis. Four wheels is all I need, though a real small two truck switcher might work. Two trucks would probably bend it in the interurban direction, but hey. Opinions please, and in the interest of my cheapness, cost counts.

Lou

[AF1963]

Or, as we call them, trolleys:

pcc2743.html

[ADCX Rob]

An RMT "Beep" chassis would work nicely, and have the reliability built-in.

[rtraincollector]

back in the late 70's or early 80's lionel made some small 4 wheel diesel switchers I have one there actual number is 6-18900 but have 8900 on the side there DC powered as they came out of a cheap set but if you could find one of those I think that would be a possibility to make a trolley from

[alank]

I would find an old Marx motor and mount it in the center of a sheet metal frame.   You could then build your trolley off the sheet metal frame, adding some sort of different wheels to the front/rear like Marx, and have the sides of the trolley dip lower than the frame on the side to mask the wheels of the motor.   I think you could build a nice trolley this way.  

[Hudson#685]

Lou,

I recently purchased a new MTH War Bond trolley for under $50 at a LHS. You could go that way and build your own body using the MTH running gear and you would have it also with the bump and reverse. Also a good alternative is an old Lionel #60 Trolley or #50 Gang Car, The #50 Gang Car I have seen going very cheap at shows.

John

[Javelina]

Alan,

Mongo likee. I found an old Model Builder arttcle about doing just that sort of thng. I may even have a donor engine myself that would swap chassis with it's steam alter ego easily.

Lou