Dynamometer Cars

[TrainFreak409]

I'm looking for drawings, photos, and basic information on dynamometer cars. I'm thinking about kitbashing one...So, I wanted to compare some examples. Anything would be helpful, thanks in advanced.

[ndbprr]

Generally there isn't a lot of differrnce externally from a passenger car. EMD has/had one for testing engines. It was blue and white like Oakway leasing engines. PIctures have appeared in Trains in ads in the early 70's when testing SD-45's and trackside photos. The difference is on the inside with all the equpment to measure the parameters. A couple windows cut in the side of a baggage car and labeld dynamomter should go a long way to reproducing one

[Morpar]

The Walthers car is a good representative in HO. If you can get a good look at one, it should guide you on what you would need to do to create one of your own. I know somewhere I have a picture of an NKP 2-8-4 on a freight with a dynamometer in tow, I think in the book "The Nickel Plate Story" by John Rehor. Anyway, in the photo I'm thinking of, the dynamometer looks just like the Walthers model. Good luck.

[jrbarney]

TrainFreak409,
You might find something useful in the 22 article citations a keyword search at the Index of Magazines turned up:
http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?opt=S&cmdtext=dynamometer&MAG=ANY

Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[markpierce]

The article on Krauss-Maffei (German) diesel hydrualic locomotives in the Fall 2005 S.P. Trainline magazines shows several pictures of dynometer/test cars. The picture on page 12 even shows two business cars spliced between the test car and freight cars. What a sight!..... And from the photos, I'll assume it was Southern Pacific's practice to put the dynometer's cupola in the forward direction.

[orsonroy]

The NKP dynamometer car (which is the prototype for the Walthers version) is in a museum in Bellevue, OH. The Milwaukee dynamometer car is at IRM, and the IC Dyno is in St Louis. I believe that the C&O dyno is in Roanoake, VA. If you're ever around any of those museume, it might be worth popping in! (is there one at the RR Museum of PA?)