Recently a fellow model railroader asked if it was possible to to DCC a Plymouth CR-4. You remember what a CR-4 Plymouth switcher is right? Tyco was the company that put it out on the market.

This is what it looks like.

In my blog on building the Otter Creek Falls Coal & Lumber RR I mentioned I needed to build some disconnect log buggies. I'm going to use this blog for that purpose so the layout building can be kept separate from the discussion that may arise from this subject.

I'll keep this post short so it you don't have to scroll through a lengthy begining.

Bernd

There was much conversation on the forum here about the engine going up a 9% grade. Many ideas were given on how to improve traction and so forth. This morning I did some testing on a track test bed I had built last year to test the pulling power of model engines. I never finished it totally.

I’ve been contemplating the building of a TT scale layout for quite some time now. The original plan was to build the first section and see if I could get it published in one of the major railroad publications. I have instead decided to do an SBS (step by step) and post it to two other forums besides Model Railroad Hobbyist, TTnut and Rail Line Forum.

I think I need to update my age old sound equipment.

The New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. acquired a brand new SW1200. Unfortunately it doesn't come in un-dec. I will need to remove the lettering first. More to come on this model since it's an unusual model, at least for the NY,V & N Rwy.

Builders Photo March 1, 2014

Bernd

It's not really new but more of an up-date on the eddy current drive system I've been working on. I finally have a good solid test chassis built to be able to test different motors.

Now before the questions come I'll give two links that'll explain how and what eddy current is.

This one will explain what and how eddy currents work.

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/blog.asp?p=eddy-currents

While surfing for an answer to MDC's 4-6-0 & 2-6-0 models as to there prototype I ran across a very interesting 2 page thread. The second page is the most interesting with some interesting discussion on motors by poster "fwrite".

Carefully read the third to last post on page two and learn about cogging in a DC motor.

Page 1:  http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/131845.aspx

The little brown truck delivered this today.

I ordered it Friday and it arrived today. Talk about fast service. This is a die cast model in 1:50 scale. Close to O scale. At some point in time it will be fully motorized and controlled via radio control.

The cab housing.

An HO scale SD40 next to the crane.

Lenz This blog will cover the mechanical rebuild and improvement for electrical pickup on a Mantua 0-4-0 steam engine.