Large Scale Central

8 axle Transformer car build

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

I have admired the heavy duty movers like the Schnabel but the curves on my RR are too tight for one of those so the next best thing is the 8 axle transformer car that LGB made but boy are those expensive so I built one. The bulk of the car is finally together using a USAT depressed center flat car and a Bachmann flat that I cut in half. The next step is details then paint.
Question is what are those things on the LGB version?
Here is a link to one on Ebay right now so you can see what I mean.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LGB-4058-TRANSFORMER-FLAT-CAR-RARE-/231343932906?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item35dd2c45ea

What is in the horizontal barrels at each end of the car and what are those 4 round containers 2 at each end and their purpose?
Any ideas?

#2

Oh Mr. Pierce
Can you shed some lite on this.
He has one!

#3

I think the horizontal ones are reservoirs and the vertical are actuators , a similar one on a siding near Landquart had that sort of arrangement and I asked an RhB chap the same question and he said “For brake working” and mentioned the slopes they have to go up so they need good independent braking . It may have lost something in translation , so I cannot guarantee the answer . There was also the suggestion of water cooling for the brakes , so they could be header tanks .

The problem is , some of the heavy lift wagons in Europe have hydraulic lift gear which requires big hydraulic tanks , but I don’t recall seeing any separation points on the wagon I looked at .

For the truckies among us , it equates to the goose neck trailers and split bed trailers too .

Mike

PS A little known fact about some of the heavy stuff . Companies tender for the job starting from scratch and finishing up with on-site delivery , so it is not unusual for a new wagon or big rig (really big) to be bought as part of the contract , which leads to some confusion when you see British registered trucks operating in , say , Indonesia or Brazil . It would not always be cost effective to ship such vehicles back home , so to speak , so the locals get them at a knock down price .

In Germany , I have seen special landing areas built out into the Rhine for docking barges which carry transformers ; the whole road vehicle goes onto special barges complete with load . Keeping the barge level needs a lot of pumps!!!

Heavy lift work is extremely interesting

Mike

#4

I used to work for a company that worked on Hallamore equipment. You know them Sean over in Holbrook. They had some huge carriers there called Trambosa’s, They were heavy lifting flat beds with modular pieces to accomadate long loads. They would back in under something then hydraulics would lift up the bed and the load. There longest had like 100 wheels on it. The tractors were also huge. I remember marvelling at the side mirror being as big as a medicine cabinet in my bathroom. When they moved these things the road would be shut down.

The horizontal tanks on the LGB 8 wheel transformer car must be hydraulic resevoirs and it would make sense that they would have levellers on there as well. I think I will setup dowel pieces to replicate what is seen on the LGB car. I think I will paint it red with a wood and steel deck.

#5

Are you going to label it Hallamore ?
If you do ,it should be the orange and white theme!

#6

Hallamore does have some cool equipment and a distinctive colour scheme with that Orange and White.

I decided to go with the red with a wood and steel deck. The painting is under way then it will go back together and I’ll snap a photo for yall.

#7

I’ve always wanted one of these cars, but would it end up being a shelf queen or an actual runner is what I have pondered.

#8

Well John that is up to you. In the real world how often does something warrant pulling out the heavy hauler but when you need it you really need it.

I’m sure mine will see a lot more shelf time than run time just like half of my trains but what can you do? I think we are all guilty of amassing cool interesting cars and locos and we are just as content that we own them as we are seeing them go down the track.

What I’m trying to figure out is what kind of load mine will carry.
John I say Build it and the loads will come.

#9

The excuse (should there be a need for one) for having such a device is the ability to throw wobblies into normal traffic , so keeping operators on their toes .

It also provides a whole heap of fun making the train up----as I mentioned before , the one I saw at Landquart was parked on its own some way from the main yard . So , first you need a loco with sufficient oomph to pull and brake it , then a crew car then a…

So you’ve made up the train , now you have to fetch the load , but I fear the complications of sufficient cranage on your layout may make you use “the hand from heaven” . And at the unloading end , you could disappear into a power station tunnel where your device will be lifted , and the empty train now returned to its parking places .

So why not a largeish transformer ? Or some load hidden under canvas but shaped vaguely like a generator ?

Your imagination is the limit .

Mike

#10

"Or some load hidden under canvas but shaped vaguely like a generator ? "

Or some tarped load shaped generally like a flying saucer, or submersible, or rocket or…

#11

Tonight after giving the deck a bit of paint I’m thinking BIG GUN ! Like those German ones in WW2 or a generator might work.

#12

Todd , a generator could be as simple as a medical Tablet tube or bottle about 3"x1.25" as long as it’s completely covered with a tarpaulin . You can add the odd smaller tube on each end to give a more interesting shape .

Even a large crate completely covered would be OK .

Or you could go barmy and make up a transformer load complete with manufacturer adverts and no tarpaulin .

If you are running it near Area 51 , as David said , a flying saucer or even a space monster .

Mike

#13

In my HO days I had a flat car with a missile load. I used a plastic nose cone from a big fire cracker rocket attached to a tube that was angled with a piece of brown paper towel held down by black thread. It was good enough for me.

There is a LGB generator load on Ebay right now but I think I can make one just as good.

#14

Yanno, this thread is worthless without progress pictures… :slight_smile:

#15

Andy Clarke said: Yanno, this thread is worthless without progress pictures… :slight_smile:

YA!!!
:wink:

#16

Andy Clarke said:

Yanno, this thread is worthless without progress pictures… :slight_smile:

. Yeah Yeah I know BUT click on that link in the beginning and you will see what I’m trying to build then imagine a pile of trucks, wheels, washers for spacers a now red depressed center flat car, a bachmann flat car cut in half also painted red and several bits of detail parts and that is what I have right now. It was all together being tested going through a R1 curve and a photo was taken but it didn’t look like much so I didn’t post.
Don’t worry guys once it is together I will post a photo. :wink:

#17

Here we go the evidence is IN !! Spotted on the tracks heading to the shops for final fittings was the articulated heavy duty depressed center flat. The Cape Cod Central welcomes this new piece of equipment to its roster and now the only question is what will be its first load?

#18

It really does exist!! It looks great Todd. Problem is I happen to have both a depressed center and a flatcar, perhaps another project, Hmmmmmm

#19

Aaron, I am sorry to hear that your center flat car is depressed. I hope its able to cheer up soon.

:wink:

#20

That looks OK Todd . You have captured the general appearance of the family of heavy lift .

Mike

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