I found a old pre-owned Athearn BB B&O GP-35 and it is mint at K-10 Model Trains! It still has the steel wheels (They will go away) and has what I think is called a Rocket Motor. Motor is dark Gray in color and has steel flywheels. I started with these when I was DC and had to get a MRC 9500 to power 3 of them, high amp pull!
Soon as I saw the style the motor was I figured it would need to be re-morted, but I did a draw test to be safe. I was when I did the test run, at WOT it was pulling only .43 amps with me holding it in place. When I stalled the engine, it stalled at .86 amps!
Most decoders (I use mainly Digitrax) have a 1.5 amp rating and 2.0 peak. Is there one made now days with say a 2.0 amp rating with a 2.5 amp peak? I would like a little more margain in power rating just in case the motor starts acting up a little.
If I light the engine (mainly will be used as a 3rd in a consit) I will want LED lighting. I happy to add resistors if I can gain amp's use. It had been years, but did the Blue Box engines have painted hand rails,I have for gotton. These look factory painted and trucks are not black, more of a Dark Copper that look great.
Thank you for the coming answers, Ken
I hate Rust
cudaken Soon as I saw the style the motor was I figured it would need to be re-morted, but I did a draw test to be safe. I was when I did the test run, at WOT it was pulling only .43 amps with me holding it in place. When I stalled the engine, it stalled at .86 amps! Most decoders (I use mainly Digitrax) have a 1.5 amp rating and 2.0 peak. Is there one made now days with say a 2.0 amp rating with a 2.5 amp peak? I would like a little more margain in power rating just in case the motor starts acting up a little.
Thank You all for the answers.
Simon, is the DH 465 still being made? It is not on the Digitrax site, if it is, I did not find it? But, I did find it listed when I used a keyword search for sale on line.
Mel, I know the gold athrarn pulled in that range. I thought the older motors pulled a lot more.
Now that Digitrax offers a goof proof policy, I think I will try a new style DH 123 first.
Thanks again for your time!
Cuda Ken
None of my BB units came with painted handrails.... Mint in box you were not....
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
No BB locos came with painted handrails. Plain steel wire - so any still "mint in the box" likely have some rust on them unless they were perfectly stored and had a small pack of dessicant tossed in.
The trucks mark it as one of the older models - be careful when you order replacement wheelsets. The 'newer' ones have plastic truck sideframes that just press on for decoration. Those older ones, the sideframes are metal and are part of the power pickup - the axles have stubs on both sides of the wheels, not just on the inside to go into the gears. NWSL replacement wheelsets were offered for both styles - only one I ever say witht he metal sideframs was the Trainmaster, which AFAIK never got the upgrade to the more modern type.
Those old black motors are why the shells on the hood units are all a scale 6" too wide - scale width hoods wouldn't fit over them. The newer gold motors are narrow enough to fit scale hoods. Athearn never bothers with the expense of cutting new dies once they had the smaller motor, the newer RTR with scale width hoods are based on the RPP shells and tooling which Athearn aquired.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
The last releases by Athearn as kits contained optional plastic handrails which were much nicer than the metal ones. They also had painted trucks. I added visors, grab irons and number boards.
Ken,
It does sound like you have an old Athearn. Especially your description of the dark-copper sideframes. Those sound like the old ones with the bearings in them.
The handrails and stanchions should be in a paper envelope, though sometimes the long handrails were loose. If I recall properly, you should put the stanchions on the handrail BEFORE it goes on. You can close up the top loop better and even remove excess with a Dremel and cut-off wheel.
I think the motor is called a Jet.
When you said "Rocket", I thought you were talking about the Hustler.
Have fun with the project. Should you "take the plunge".
And make sure that envelope is in there. And the handrails. It's easy to forget about them.
Ed
ricktrains4824Mint in box you were not....
When I said mint, I meant the shape it was in not New In Box.
Thanks for the heads up on the wheels Randy. I have yet to take a look at the trucks.
I found out yesterday the engine came from a collection owned by a gentleman that did not have a layout.
Thanks for all the answers folks!
Ken