Ideas on a power truck for kitbashed switchers?

[Anonymous]

Call me nuts, but I like tinkering with some unusual stuff. I came across an old Pola two-rail industrial switcher. Although it's lettered for the Pennsy, it has a European look to it. But the guts were obviously dropped at some time, so the motor and gears will never go back together as they were. I'm looking for a way to put a three-rail power truck in there.

Unfortunately, the motor has to be lengthwise, or the body won't fit. I am thinking about the power unit from one of Lionel's new Speeders. Some even come with traction tire I've heard. Anyone ever taken the body off a Speeder? What's it look like?

How about a handcar? The latest ones have a traction tire. How "self-contained" are they?

As long as we're on the subject, does anyone have some "I took it apart" experience with either the Industrial Rail or K-Line trolleys? How are they powered? Is the motor actually in the truck between the wheels or does it stick up vertically? One powered truck or two? Traction tire(s)?

I purchased an MTH handcar about two years ago. The small motor mounted vertically between the axels gave it a great profile - but without a traction tire, it couldn't handle anything more than the body that came on it.

I've also got a couple of old Marx 70-ton switcher bodies that I'd like to have some fun with.

Thanks for any ideas.

[brianel027]

Msgalley, I am not familiar at all with the Pola loco you have mentioned. You might do a size comparison with the shell you have and the Lionel Industrial Switcher at the RMT Beep. You might have to make some modifications, but maybe those would work.

The RMT Beep chassis is available for separate sale complete, ready to run, minus the locomotive shell.

[Anonymous]

The Lionel Industrial switcher won't work because the motor is mounted horizontally above the wheels; the narrow "hood" of the switcher body is too narrow.

I've thought about the Beep chassis; unfortunately, they're on back order right now (have been for two months). No word from RMT on when more will be available.