New chassis using Lionel wheels, axles, motors & gears?

[Boyd]

After sitting in a box for a few years I'm back to building a project engine. I have taken apart 3-4 modern can motored Lionel 4-4-2 engines plus I have taken apart a few little 4 wheel switcher engines like the LASER engine with the DC can motor in it. Also dismantled were two Marx 1666 & one 400. The connector gear teeth spacing in them is the same as the modern Lionel. I'm still considering making an articulated 4-4-4-2 not modeled after any real engine. Just something to build as a challenge to run and pull longer trains than my other small cheap steamers. I want something simple and I don't care about how many rivets are on it.

For the frame of the drive wheels I was considering using either Erector set pieces or else small hardware store aluminum angle metal, or else sheet aluminum. I was going to have the standard 1 gear between the two drive axles and then add another one ahead of the front axle and hang the can motor in front of the front driven axle so it will clear a swinging boiler. What about brass bushings or bearings for the axles? I need to buy a puller for pulling wheels off of axles.

Any ideas or suggestions?

[8ntruck]

Interesting sounding project. Are you planning on having a long boiler with articulated power trucks - kind of like a Big Boy or a Challanger? If you take this route, there will probably not be enough room inside the shell to allow articulation of two 'power trucks' that are very tall. You might have to come up with a gear train that places the motor vertically at, or near the pivot point for the power truck allowing the gear train, wheels and axles to pivot under the boiler shell. The easiest way to do this would be some sort of worm gear type of drive. Another option would be a solid frame (not articulated)for the two drive trains and removal of the flanges from the wheels on two of the drive axles - maybe the first and last. I think that brass bushings would be a good idea for the axles. There are probably replacement bushings available from places like The Train Tender or Olsens that would work and not be expensive. Good luck.

[Boyd]

Articulated. Can motor hung in front of drive chassis. Fake piston chambers to each side of can motor.