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Picked this old one up on eBay for $25 from a nice seller in PA.  Normally I don't buy AHM or other old unreliable items like this, but I was intrigued because I had never heard of it.  Only 26 of the real loco were ever made.  This is the High Cab version of the original.  Three cab heights were made.  I'm thinking this model might have been made near the time of the prototype....mid '60s.  Any ideas? <img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u172/dcrane_2007/c-415highcab.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" />   I've read the wikipedia article about this being developed as a single-operator switcher in 1966, but what I would like to know is how this model, #231 made it into the Santa Fe roster....if it actually did.  The online info and all diesel rosters I checked show no Santa Fe C-415, and no purchashing and renumbering of another line's loco.  I think perhaps AHM made a mistake? In any case I wanted to run it on DCC so went about a conversion.  This was a treat!  Everything necessary was on hand and the loco was easily adapted.....which is not always the case. This conversion is not noteworthy other than that the loco is old.  If you want to take a look, see the photos below.   The old open frame motor is mounted vertically.  Because the driving wheels under the motor were fitted with rubber traction tires and I wanted to replace the wheels, I took the opportunity to add wipers to this truck to give 4-axle pickup.  Original wipers on rear idler truck are visible. <img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u172/dcrane_2007/wiperview.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" />   Just adapted some tender axle wipers by cutting one half off. <img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u172/dcrane_2007/wipercloseup2jpgsmall.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" />   Original wheels were deeply-flanged and don't run on my ballasted Code 83 track.  Luckily, some Kato replacements on hand matched nicely.  For gears I cut down the hub of the Kato drive gear which has one less tooth, but nearly identical diameter.  Dabbed on some Loctite to hold the axle halves in the shortened hub.  The Loctite also isolated the two wheels from one another enabling them to use that wiper pickup. <img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u172/dcrane_2007/wheelcomparisonjpgsmall.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" />   Wasn't sure how the old loco would react to track power so I just used a left-over Lenz 4-function decoder taken out of some old Bachmann...in case it fried.  fit nicely in here. <img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u172/dcrane_2007/decoderfitshere.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" />   Headlights needed.  Cut away some of the nose weight and set an LED in with some epoxy. <img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u172/dcrane_2007/headlight1jpgsmall.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" />   Grills on the old AHM were cut through the shell, so need some black tape to block stray light. <img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u172/dcrane_2007/headlight2jpgsmall.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" />   Rear light was set in epoxy in the roof of the rear shell. First placement of couplers fit easily into space left by truck-mounted horn hook coupler....but it didn't work.  The coupler was far too low....even for an underset coupler to be of any use. <img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u172/dcrane_2007/Firstcouplerattempt.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" />   So, snipped off the old coupler mount from the truck and built up the space under catwalk for a frame- mounted set..  More work, but came out at exactly the right height. <img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u172/dcrane_2007/couplerbox.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" />   Now, the little beast sounds like ten can openers running all at once, but it responds well and is very smooth over the track.  Had a lot of fun with it so far.  Wouild just like to know how it ended up on the Santa Fe roster. <img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u172/dcrane_2007/C415ondutyjpgsmalljpg2.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" />
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