So I set myself up for yet another possible embarrassment here:
Was this AHM 4 wheel "GE Centercab Switcher" based on a real prototype (to any degree) or as my inclination dictates, just another Foobie Loco?
I had one when I was a young'n, kinda liked it, except with only one axle driven, it could barely power itself around the layout, much less anything like a train. That issue is easy enough to address now.
or ?
FWIW, The local "Southgate Locomotive Shop" has been known to take some licence and produced a foobie loco or 3 itself, so it's not neccesarily a deterrent.
And, I have seen some models of absolutely outlandish looking locomotive abominations, that I thought could NEVER have existed, and found out the models faithfully replicated a prototype.
So, it's worth asking... Dan
Single truck diesels definitely existed, but afaik they'd all have been basically custom built for scenarios that required locomotives smaller than 44 tonners, so probably narrow gauge industrial usage.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Is it one of these?
GENERAL ELECTRIC (continued)
Jan. 1987 issue of the Railroad Modeler Magazine
I was never aware of the Cary metal boxcab body for the Athearn Hustler chassis.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190I was never aware of the Cary metal boxcab body for the Athearn Hustler chassis.
Back in the 1970's there was an article on kitbashing two of those shells and putting it on an Athearn SW7 chassis to make an engine close to an Alco-IR boxcab engine. It could pull a gazillioncars because those shells were thick cast metal.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Southgate 2Was this AHM 4 wheel "GE Centercab Switcher" based on a real prototype (to any degree) or as my inclination dictates, just another Foobie Loco?
There was sorta kinda prototypes. There were similar engines, how faithful the model was to any of them is debatable.
Search for "critter locomotive images" to see them. Most (but not all) of the centercabs had two trucks, most (but not all) of the engines physically that big had two trucks.
Thanks for the replies, guys!
Bear: Thanks for that link, I've seen some of those locos before but not all of them. They do give a bit of credibility to that model. I'm saving the link.
BN7150: Yes, it's the top one.
Kevin: Funny you should mention that! I only became aware of it maybe a year ago myself. I saw one on Ebay, I might have made a stab at it, but it went up north of $80 as I recall, not including shipping. And it was not in real great shape.
WELL!!! Last night I was parusing Ebay, and a new listing just popped up under a Cary Locomotive search, Buy It Now:
AND BUY IT NOW I DID!!! A very clean looking specimen, with the box and the Hustler chassis. $45.99 including shipping. I'll make further postings in WPF after it gets here. It will receive substantial drive improvements.
I still like that little GE model, as real or freelanced as it may be. Dan
Southgate 2 It will receive substantial drive improvements.
My Hustler has the Ernst gear drive kit installed, and it runs quite well.
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
It is worth looking for one.
The overall carbody design isn't far off from this MLW-Worthington C-415:
Industrial_Worthington C-415 by Edmund, on Flickr
Good Luck, Ed
Kevin: I think I tried one of those Ernst sets once and couldn't get it to work for me, or lost it in a fire. I'll post my alternative setup when I get the boxcab.
Ed: The little critter of the topic is smaller than a C-415, but is probably arranged similarly internally. And a big thanks for those drawings! I have a IHC one, its getting its drive replaced too. I like seeing how its laid out.
Oh, and I did grab a deal on the little GE. My wife made me do it!!! Dan