csxns jecorbett you would either have to reverse the polarity on one of the units or run them elephant style I run DC and never had to do this i run all of my diesels back to back from my Tyco days to the high end locos i run today.
jecorbett you would either have to reverse the polarity on one of the units or run them elephant style
I run DC and never had to do this i run all of my diesels back to back from my Tyco days to the high end locos i run today.
You're right of course. Don't know what I was thinking. Been away from DC too long.
Nevermind.
For modelers searching for good looking "potential" dummy hood locomotives that can be converted to DCC sound cars, there are plenty of older run Athearn RTR and LLP2K units up for grabs on ebay in the $25 to $35 range. You just have to be patient and search thoroughly.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
ATLANTIC CENTRAL jjdamnit Hello all, I recall reading the reason dummy units were produced in the DC era was because of the poor tolerances of early motors and gears. The same locomotives produced by the same manufacturer might not speed match at the same voltage. By using a dummy a consist or MU could be replicated without the bucking of two or more speed mismatched units. I can attest to this. When I ran my pike DC I had two GP40s from the same manufacturer that fought so hard against each other that they would break apart unless the "slower" unit was the lead unit to corral the "faster" unit. With the advent of DCC and the ability to speed match through the manipulation of CV's the "need" for dummy units waned. That's not to say that they completely disappeared; as has been noted by other posts. As has been noted, there has been a resurgence of dummy units as sound platforms. To say that "no diesel non- powered units anymore" is not quite true. Hope this helps. What brand were those GP40's........ I've been at this since 1968, I still run DC, and nearly every train is pulled by two, three or four powered units - been doing that for 40 years with no problems. Sheldon
jjdamnit Hello all, I recall reading the reason dummy units were produced in the DC era was because of the poor tolerances of early motors and gears. The same locomotives produced by the same manufacturer might not speed match at the same voltage. By using a dummy a consist or MU could be replicated without the bucking of two or more speed mismatched units. I can attest to this. When I ran my pike DC I had two GP40s from the same manufacturer that fought so hard against each other that they would break apart unless the "slower" unit was the lead unit to corral the "faster" unit. With the advent of DCC and the ability to speed match through the manipulation of CV's the "need" for dummy units waned. That's not to say that they completely disappeared; as has been noted by other posts. As has been noted, there has been a resurgence of dummy units as sound platforms. To say that "no diesel non- powered units anymore" is not quite true. Hope this helps.
Hello all,
I recall reading the reason dummy units were produced in the DC era was because of the poor tolerances of early motors and gears. The same locomotives produced by the same manufacturer might not speed match at the same voltage.
By using a dummy a consist or MU could be replicated without the bucking of two or more speed mismatched units.
I can attest to this. When I ran my pike DC I had two GP40s from the same manufacturer that fought so hard against each other that they would break apart unless the "slower" unit was the lead unit to corral the "faster" unit.
With the advent of DCC and the ability to speed match through the manipulation of CV's the "need" for dummy units waned. That's not to say that they completely disappeared; as has been noted by other posts.
As has been noted, there has been a resurgence of dummy units as sound platforms.
To say that "no diesel non- powered units anymore" is not quite true.
Hope this helps.
What brand were those GP40's........
I've been at this since 1968, I still run DC, and nearly every train is pulled by two, three or four powered units - been doing that for 40 years with no problems.
Sheldon
I have never seen running qualities as a reason for producing dummies ever and seriously doubt manufacturers produced them for that reason. It sounds like a guess one someones part and probably one any manufacturer would flatly deny.
I can say the running qualities of Athearn blue box diesels could vary quite a bit. I have a couple of GP40-2's and one ran decent and the other like coffee grinder. The 2nd on has been in pieces in boxes for many years but I've got Atlas GP40-2's and Genesis GP40-2's now so the blue box units may never get run except maybe at modular meets.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
ATLANTIC CENTRALWhat brand were those GP40's...
They were Bachmann; made in Hong Kong, with solid die cast frames painted green.
The shells were Santa Fe red & silver warbonnet with the road number 6067. These units had 8-wheel pickup/drive, can motors and no traction tires.
When I converted to DCC I sold them to two separate people. One of the buyers was familiar with this particular model and had been searching for it for quit some time.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
DAVID FORTNEY Any idea why?
Any idea why?
WHALE...., If you ask the LION, him will tell ewe that those dummies were rather cheap. The powered locomotives had decent trucks, but not so the dummies. Plastic wheel sets, and not enough weight on board. Derail, Derail, Derail!
Not worth the effort.
LION does have some A-B-A sets, where the As are powered and the B is a dummy, but it is on a powered chassis, (connected with drawbars, and wired as a single unit) with metal trucks and wheels. Where did the LION get those? Yup, him salvaged them from pwered locomotives. Go Figgure.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS