With a pair of power trucks at each end why can’t one of the trucks at each end be a dummy?
I would think that one powered truck each end would provide more than enough pulling power.
@Geoff - That is most certainly an option, but if I can I am going for the gusto 
My intent is to be able to pull as much as the USA Bigboy, and that is a real challenge. OK … So I lied. Here is what I have in mind for the truck to truck slip / universal. Stolen from an old HO power truck I saw too many moons ago to count. Brass couplings with a stainless steel center piece. Flexible enough and tough enough for my application. On to the next challenge …
Bob C.
Some more design er… Anyway… Spent some time today working toward driving all four trucks. Picked out two Ametek-Pittman motors, .9 in/lb torque each. Close coupled that will make a stout drive. Connecting to a central drive shaft using cog pulleys and belt, and some more of the ‘dumbell universals’. This is still a work in progress, need to complete the mounting of the bearings and lower cog pulley, and it appears I may need to look further into assembly/dis-assembly for belt replacement, but hey, gotta start somewhere. Couple more concept pics. Iso view of top of main frame and motor mounting
Side view of drive arrangement. Belt is not shown, haven’t gotten there yet. Haven’t located the access through the main frame plate yet either.
Here’s a really cool example of an old thread that I completely missed back then. Very nice CAD work Bob.
Did you ever progress beyond here?
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Unfortunately Jon, no. Shortly after my last post Microsoft updated the O/S and my software quit working. I still have the AutoDesk inventor files, but the the new Solid Works software will not open the older files. Until I am able to get them translated to a newer software this project is pretty much stalled.
I hope you tried a google search or two for a solution. In my experience, these kind of glitches usually affect more than one person and someone posts a fix. Looks like a great project.
Pete, this was probably near 8 years ago. And I spent over an hour on the phone with AutoDesk tech support and the only answer they could come up with was the latest update in Microsoft .net services. I paid $1,500 for the program when I bought it (not rented), was NOT going to spend near $5,000 to get it fixed by renting the latest version.
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Well, it was a cool attempt. Sorry to open an old wound!
Jon, not an old wound in that you have revived an effort to revive the files. We shall see how this goes.
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Bob, this is the first time I’ve seen your amazing model. Totally understand about the Inventor $$ / etc.
Have to ask though: have you tried opening the model in Fusion 360? It’s free, and touted to be compatible; but I’m no expert on it.
Cliff, I haven’t looked at Fusion recently, will look again. Last time I looked the free version had sufficient restrictions on parts and assemblies that I didn’t bother to open an account with Autodesk. I sort of get tired of the restrictions on size of parts or number of parts in an assembly (always less than I need).
I am too spoiled having access to or owning the good stuff. Got a couple irons in the fire to possibly recover the files. And as far as I know, Fusion will not export step or sat files, that would make the transition easy. I do have all the documents I generated those models from, just don’t cherish the thought of having to re-create all the models again.
Appreciate the suggestion, might follow up on it.
Bob C.