What do folks suggest for a 3-rail power truck for
the Corgi Birney. I called GHB, and he said that
he offered none. I know that the Bowser units are
easy to install, but they don't have lighting
connections, and I believe the car operates only one
direction.

Thanks,
Lee

I used the Bowser mechanism and it worked fine, but you're right, you'd have to create the lighting connections, it substitutes for the entire interior.

Here's a photo of the Bowser mechanism, albeit a slightly modified 2 rail one, resting quietly next to one of my scratchbuilt bodies that drops onto this drive.



Runs both direction, too

I should have the resin castings for these together soon!

Just a thought, gentlemen. The new Williams Peter Witt cars will be powered by 2 under-floor 3-rail power trucks. Of course, the side frames will be different than the ones used on the Birney, but if one could obtain these trucks OEM from Bachmann, that would be a possibility.

Elliot

quote:

Originally posted by railfare:
Just a thought, gentlemen. The new Williams Peter Witt cars will be powered by 2 under-floor 3-rail power trucks. Of course, the side frames will be different than the ones used on the Birney, but if one could obtain these trucks OEM from Bachmann, that would be a possibility.

Elliot

It's not only different sideframes, but the wheelbase will be different - the 4-wheel truck under a Birney is noticeably wider.

Still, under the floor 3-rail power trucks should be very useful.

If you are truly desperate you could try a Superstreets Van. I used one to widen the gauge on a ON30 Bachmann trolley I had. It sits under the car very nicely and I was able to keep the interior.

SILVER LAKE
A truly simple idea that never occoured to most of us.With a little fiddling it should work very well with the Corgi Birney.Will help solve the problem that those running on 3 rail have had with the lack of power trucks.

Since there might be an O scale Triplex, or other O scale trainsets out there, do they make power trucks that can be used? hate to have to raid an MTH set for a power unit

I have several Corgi Birneys, and one of the ones I bought at a York Meet a couple of years ago is powered (3-rail, no reverse unit). I believe it came from Pennsylvania Heritage Model, but in checking their website I see that they don't offer a power unit or a powered Corgi model, or at least no longer do.

Seems to me that there would be a market for a power unit for those nice Corgi models--2-rail and 3-rail. I'm kind of surprised that there doesn't appear to be anything readily available these days. I didn't like the Bowser unit because it required removal of the trolley's interior. Would much prefer an in-truck power unit.

What about a truck with one can motor between the axles or can motors on each axle? Who makes those power trucks?

Current Line and Q Caroffer conversion trucks. The Q Car page has a great deal of information on DIY that preserves the interior. 'Tain't cheap.
Also-the neither outfit offers 3-rail conversions. Unless you're running on tubular track, this can be gotten around.

okay, so to clarify.... How would I get my hands on a 3 rail power truck?

quote:

Originally posted by Pelham Express:
okay, so to clarify.... How would I get my hands on a 3 rail power truck?

The only 3-rail one that seems to be available by what I've been able to find
out so far, is the Bowser one. That's not the greatest. I think GHB may have
one in the works, but when I called, he said no.

Lee

quote:

okay, so to clarify.... How would I get my hands on a 3 rail power truck?

Someone is sure missing the boat by not offering a simple-to-install truck-mounted motor unit for those Birneys. They're nice looking trolleys.

quote:

Originally posted by Pelham Express:
okay, so to clarify.... How would I get my hands on a 3 rail power truck?

Build it yourself would probably be most direct now if you must have a 3- rail one that sits fully under the floor preserving the interior.

You could use an uninsulated Q-car drive set up for overhead, disassemble it, replace the wheels, reassemble it and be done.

It will cost you more than the Birney to do so and those drives are soldered together pewter (i think....), but it can be done....

Or, you could just order all the components for building a drive from Q-car and supply your own wheelset from NWSL, and go from there.

It all can be done.

Actually, i want one for any future Kit type subway cars I might buy. I saw the D units at Rutgers, and I like them, but there is no power truck to fit them, unless I go two rail, and thats a BIT much for me to undertake

Pennsylvania Heritage Models and GHB International both offer
3-rail drives for double truck cars, as far as I know. I spoke
with the PHM man at the train show in West Springfield, MA, about
it last winter.

Lee

Thank you for that information, Lee.