Just got done fixing this one up and giving it a review! It's a shame that Fleischmann didn't make more American trains, because they really had some quality products going.
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I have one of these myself, but the paint was in much worse shape, so I stripped it. Not sure of what to repaint it - probably PRR which had a dozen VO-660's and eight VO-1000's. However, Pennsy never had a diesel numbered 1340 (it is the Fleishman stock number). I think I'll say that PRR bought a BLW demonstrator which had the cast numbers and didn't bother to renumber it. as steamer #1340 was retired. As for that stack, BLW was notorious for the number and placement of them, so, I'll let it go instead of grinding it off and cobbling together replacements.
Fleishman just called it a “Baldwin-Westinghouse Diesel” - so you can say it's either a VO-660 or 1000. But CNW didn't have a number 1340. It had VO-660's 68-69, 1237-1246 and VO-1000's 86-89, 1o3, 1024 and 1037-47. Your story about the discrepancy is up to you. BTW, the unit came in both plain CNW Green and Yellow and lettered for the CNW like yours.
BTW, that yellow inside of the stack cries for correction. Grimy Black to the rescue!
It is oversized. I hear that was because it was in Double-O (1 to 76) not HO (1 to 87). I wonder if anyone has ever measured the loco and seen what it scales out to in OO?
Thanks for posting your video. I have downloaded it and am going to use it as my guide when I rebuild my unit.
Cheers !
Very nice tutorial on the tune-up of the Fleischmann HO Baldwin VO Switcher.
I own a more recent version - - Bowser Executive Line Baldwin CNW VO-1000 Switcher. It comes with a factory equipped Soundtraxx Tsunami decoder.
Rich
Alton Junction
BEAUSABREFleishman just called it a “Baldwin-Westinghouse Diesel” - so you can say it's either a VO-660 or 1000.
I would say a VO-1000 because it had a noticeably longer hood and wheel base than the VO-660.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Hi Darth,
I really love seeing old locomotives being given a new life, and seeing how they were built is a bonus.
Thanks,
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I have one of these, mine is black with a white stripe along the running board, lettered "1340" only. It was in a box of trains I bought from a former co-worker.
Really smooth runner!
Paul
Sounds like you have an unlettered version of this (Fleishmann made both lettered and unlettered models
ATSF had 59 VO-1000's (#2201-#2259). BLW units were renowned for the tractive effort, because they used Westinghouse traction motors, the biggest in the business. You are looking for tractive effort on slow moving switching service, not horse power which is important in high speed road service. Also why BLW sold units like the Shark Nose's for slow speed drag freight service out on the main.
Thanks! Yes, mine is completely unlettered, except the "1340" numbers are raised, and painted. Only markings on it. Would you say this is 1960's production? I had a Fleischmann switch engine as a kid in the '60's.
Great video!
What attchment do you have on your Dremel for buffing the wheels an commutator?
-Kevin
Living the dream.
RFE, I would GUESS (and that's all it is, as I have been able to find nothing about when lettering came in) it is an early unit, with lettered units coming later in response to consumer demand. For the record, Fleishman listed these units from 1955 to the mid to late Sixties. I can't guess as to when it was built, but I'd be inclined to earlier than later based on gut feel. BTW, "1340" is the Fleishman stock number - guess they decided not to research American railoads and applied it as the road number across the entire production. OTOH, how many modelers in 1955 knew what ATSF #1340 was? (It was actually an ancient 4-6-2 scrapped by 1950. The diesel version was an EMD GP35 from 1964, nine years in the future)
Ok, thanks! This engine may even be earlier production than I had realized. Great to know, I have a display track that I am setting up just for vintage H0. This will be perfect.
The beauty of your Fleischmann VO caught my eye. Interesting video, I can appreciate the sturdiness of metal construction and threaded fasteners.
Thanks and regards, Peter
richhotrain, that Bowser VO-1000 looks great! If it uses the same chassis as my Stewart S-12, it probably also runs as good as it looks!tstage, that could be. I wasn't sure at first, but after finding specs, it does look like the 1000 was almost 3' longer than the 660.SeeYou190, it's a felt wheel and screw attachment that comes with most of Dremel's buffing kits. I also picked up an aluminum buffing bar compound set to go with it, and use the white rouge compound to get a really nice shine.HO-Velo, it's hard to beat the weight and sturdiness of a screwed together metal model!
Darth Santa FeSeeYou190, it's a felt wheel and screw attachment that comes with most of Dremel's buffing kits. I also picked up an aluminum buffing bar compound set to go with it, and use the white rouge compound to get a really nice shine.
Thank you for that useful information.
Please keep your amazing videos coming.