Large Scale Central

A Steam Powered Railbus?

Modeling
#1

I have several ideas for builds this Winter one of which is a 250 ton crane which I started a thread about for sourcing parts and the responses have really got me thinking. Thanks guys.

Another possible build is more of a bash and I think I’m on the right track. I want to take a LGB Stainz and marry it to a Bachmann combine. The cab would be removed and the combine cut back to the door which would then become where the engineer works.

I have seen some photos of this type of early railbus where the boiler is inside the cab but I think it would be neat to keep it outside.

I think it would be a rather straight forward build resulting in an interesting train. The only thing I’m not sure of is putting my Stainz under the blade.

There are certainly some challenges to overcome such as cutting the combine where the boiler comes through it and making sure that the rear truck will turn properly given the fixed drive train but I think this might be more in line with my skill set then the crane is at this point.

Has anyone done something similar?

#2

Here is mine made from a Ruby:

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/scottychaos/Ruby/RubyAngel.html

There is a fine line (and perhaps a non-existant line?) between “steam powered railbus” and “inspection locomotive”…

I believe they are basically the same thing…much more:

http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/22991/inspection-loco

https://www.google.com/search?q=inspection+locomotive&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=942&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj95--PoIbSAhVFwYMKHTz9B-YQ_AUIBigB

https://www.google.com/search?q=steam+dummy&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=942&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiX7J_8n4bSAhWB5oMKHQ2BCegQ_AUIBigB

Scot

#3

This one has always been my favorite.

#4

Wow Scot she is beautiful! Great build.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#5

This is what I believe you are thinking of. Australia’s Pichi Richi Railway’s train knows as the Coffee Pot.

#6

That is one nice build Scot

Steve is that one made to haul passengers? I bet it would be nice and toasty in that cab and roasting in the Summer.

Chris that is a very cool railbus. It is very close to what I’m thinking about doing except the combine would encompass the new cab of the locomotive.

I think the crane build is going on the back burner for this one.

#7

Here is one I built a couple years ago. It started out as an LGB Mogul.

#8

Luv it John. Nice job. Is that a water or fuel bunker on the caboose?

#9

Here is mine

#10

Todd, Here’s a steam coach I built using a Bachmann combine and North East Narrow Gauge Porter kit.

(http://www.largescalecentral.com/FileSharing/user_2849/My%20Trains/Steamcoach-1.jpg)

Here’s the front showing the cab interior.

(http://www.largescalecentral.com/FileSharing/user_2849/My%20Trains/Steamcoach_cab.jpg)

Below is the rearview showing the coach interior.

(http://www.largescalecentral.com/FileSharing/user_2849/My%20Trains/Steamcoach_coach.jpg)

I removed the NENG drive and replaced it with a Magic Carpet drive mounted on the rear truck. Hope this helps with some ideas.

Don

#11

I love 'em all!!! Thanks for showing.

#12

My favorite is the railmotor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOQjCBIr-GU

#13

Great stuff guys. Thanks for sharing. You have all given me some neat ideas now if I can only figure out how to remove the cab from a #3 Stainz.

I have removed 4 screws from the underside but it seems that the boiler is still stuck. I have looked on line for diagrams and have come up short on what is holding the cab on.

Any ideas?

#14

Todd, the trailer caboose has water and oil bunkers, air tanks and other misc things on or in it.

Mine is strictly whimsey, following no particular actual prototype. I just looked at ones the guys built on this site and googled some pics.

It will be repainted for the ER&I one of these days.

#15

Wow, really great work on all those locos, guys! Very impressive!

#16

Construction has gone well so far to the point where last night I setup a test track and gave the railbus a go. It looked cool until it hit a curve.

I knew that the long wheel base was going to be a concern with the fixed front motor block but I had no idea what a huge problem it actually is.

Don Watsons build looks the closest to the one I’m building, How does yours handle the curves Don?

I might have to move the rear truck forward and maybe go to a single axle. I like where the cab sits on the loco so I’d rather not move that forward.

#17

Todd get with the program! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#18

Todd,

I guess I should have mentioned that one must, unless it is of an inspection car design, consider making the steam coach articulated. I did that for mine with a lot of work. I essentially made a new truck that pivots on the combine frame. Below is a photo of the frame I made out of fiberglass.

You can see the pivot pin in the center. I used most of the NENG drive linkage. Notice there is no motor nor gearbox. I removed them because they were a lousy design.

This is a view of the bottom showing the new truck mounted to the combine. You can barely see the boiler through the frame. Note the screw at the rear. it is loosely attached to the original combine bolster. There is also a screw at the front of the truck loosely attached to the boiler pillow block. These two screws help keep the new truck in place and aligned.

Finally, here is a photo of the rear truck with the Magic Carpet Drive installed.

Hope this helps. If you have any additional questions, please ask away.

Don

#19

When I started to build mine, I was concerned about minimum curves it would handle. I made an aluminum frame for the LGB drive to mount it in the coach. (It does not swivel.) Since my layout curves were all made of LGB 1800, I kept a few pieces of track on hand to test the build from time to time. With luck, it negotiated them fairly easily. Anything smaller, I think would be a problem.

#20

Having the front block articulate is a great idea…

another option is what i did with mine, instead of having the front driver section articulate, I gave the rear truck a really wide swing:

You can see that the rear truck is attached to a brass strip, which is attached to the locomotive at the screw near the rear drivers…that gives the rear truck a wide side-to-side swing…It has a fairly long total wheelbase:

but it will do 8-foot diameter curves.

Scot