Large Scale Central

Loco Transporter for the DC&M - better ideas?

General Discussion
#1

Hi, all Needing a way to cart locos back and forth from the right-of-way, I knocked up this simple gadget:

It’s functional, and the loco steps up onto it from the tracks without any problem, but the two-handed grip is a bit awkward to carry. I’m not really keen on the rubber-band retainers, either. I’m betting you experts have arrived at better solutions long ago. If you want to post pictures of what works for you, I promise to steal all your best ideas…(kidding, kidding) Seriously, I would like to find a better design. Any ideas? Thanks in advance, Steve

#2

Steve;

Your basic design is very good. I don’t have a carrier like that, but have seen several other, similar carriers. Most of them have a single handle crossing the centerline above the locomotive, something like the old open wooden toolboxes. You could probably adapt something similar to your existing locomotive carrier. I have also seen removable “gates” on either end of these carriers. These gates are sometimes secured with simple screen door hooks and have foam padding glued to their inner surface to help cradle the locomotive.

Hope this helps,
David Meashey

#3

Well, to keep the same style,

  1. I’d suggest changing out the dowels on the holders, and put in a 2 inch square piece of wood, then connect those with a dowel and the handle…

  2. make a ““drop in”” stop of to sit in front and/or behind the engine, to hold the engine in the holder… Maybe 2 barrelbolts to hold in the dropin retainer…

I don’t think the engine will fall out, as I think the sides are high enough…

Just my 2 cents worth… :slight_smile:

#4

Try here for one …
http://www.largescalecentral.com/articles/view.php?id=37

#5

For what it is worth, we had a visitor on our last train show outing in Dothan, AL that came from over Baton Rouge, LA way and the $150.00 carrier he brought his loco in was packed with bubble wrap and velcro straps. Yours looks fine, although I might change the rubber bands to something more substantial.

Bob C.

#6

Here’s one I made for my K-27. It’s a bit different than the one in the article but it works the same way.

(http://rgsgardenrailroad.com/Karrier002.jpg)

The ramp slides into the slots at the end of the carrier.

(http://rgsgardenrailroad.com/Karrier004.jpg)

I need to change the handle to something round, but that’s all I had at the time.

(http://rgsgardenrailroad.com/Karrier003.jpg)

#7

Hi, All Thank you for the good suggestions. I did add a handle the long way down the centerline and it’s much easier to lug the loco around now. One handed, even! I still have to add drop-in end blocks or gates of some sort. Ken, nice carrier, nice loco. In your last picture, are those by any chance 33-1/3 RPM record albums? I thought I was the only one still hanging on to mine… A couple of shots of the longitudinal handle:

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/dawgnabbit/T6.JPG)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/dawgnabbit/T7.JPG)

One of the best things about a discussion group like this is the willingness of members to share their ideas. Thank you. Steve

#8

I know my carrier isn’t the best looking thing around, but it’s functional and that’s all I was looking for. They’ve gone from here to Canada and back and out to Illinois quite a few times, so they get the job done. I didn’t do it on this carrier, but on the others I fastened an old B’mann coupler on the end piece to hold the loco from sliding back and forth. That way the back end of the tender is accessible with the ramp down for charging the batteries.

(http://rgsgardenrailroad.com/carrier001.jpg)

And yes, those are 33 1/3 albums, mostly from the 60’s and 70’s, from the “Four Tops” to the sound track from “Top Gun”. (and I still listen to them occasionally) Good job on the carrier. The handle will make it that much more comfortable to carry that way.

#9

Hi again… Just to close this one out, I couldn’t see an easy way to add “gates” to the ends, so dropped a retaining bar between cab and tender:

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/dawgnabbit/T8.JPG)

It’s just a scrap of plywood that fits into slots in the sides. Because I’m paranoid, I added some simple spring latches to make sure it didn’t hop out of the slots:

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/dawgnabbit/T9.jpg)

Well, I think this thing has been over-engineered to death by now. I’m gonna go play trains. Cheers, Steve

#10

One thing I have a problem with on my carrier is getting my loco on or off the carrier. The pilot drags so muh I have to lift the loco a little bit to get it on/off the carrier. Do you have the same problem Ken?

I was thinking of making a longer ramp to make the incline less.

#11
Jake Smith said:
One thing I have a problem with on my carrier is getting my loco on or off the carrier. The pilot drags so muh I have to lift the loco a little bit to get it on/off the carrier. Do you have the same problem Ken?

I was thinking of making a longer ramp to make the incline less.


Yup, mine hangs up all the time, either getting on the ramp or going from the ramp into the carrier. I’ve thought about that too, but I didn’t consider it that much of a problem, I just lift it a bit and on it goes.

#12

Steve, Not sure if this helps but I whipped up a carrier from scraps I had too carry my AMTRASH FLEET (as these guys call it) however it could easily carry 4 locos. I strap them in with small bungee chords and cover the cars/loco with terry towels too keep the cords from marring them. Kinda heavy but works well.

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/CVRR%20Locomotives/Superliners/carrier3.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/CVRR%20Locomotives/Superliners/carrier1.jpg)

#13

Way cool, David. Four cars at once, wow. I gotta do something like that for rolling stock. Thanks.

“…however it could easily carry 4 locos…”

Um, yeah…but could you lift it? I’m not sure I could…

Cheers,
Steve

#14

Here’s what you do for rolling stock, Steve:

(http://www.jbrr.com/assets/images/IMG_1251s.JPG)

or, if you prefer wood:

(http://www.jbrr.com/assets/images/IMG_1345.jpg)

#15

Slick, Bruce. Thanks.
Nice rolling stock, too…scratchbuilt?
Steve

#16

Only some of them in the picture are scratch built, though I think most of my stuff is. I started off with the AMS boxcars and now have 3 of them. I also have 3 tank cars and 2 hoppers that are RTR. Here’s a shot of my latest loco carrier. I used cheap luan plywood for most of it.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Locomotives/EBT/IMG_6759.JPG)

I prefer the handle goes the way shown; it makes it easier to carry. Though most of my carriers have the handle going the other way - it’s easier to build. :wink:

#17

I really like these ideas pictured here. They ar sturdy designs that protect the engines in transit.
I approached my carrying problem a little differently. Years ago I bought a LGB C+S Forney and with all the bits and pieces plow, bear trap smoke stack 2 trucks and a pilot it was a pain to carry so I made a cradle for it. I am track powered so I needed a piece of track for the engine to sit on. My train yard is on benchwork so one track was brought up on a grade to the edge of the carrier and I used alligator clips to attach to the carrier tracks, applied power and off it went. The carrier has a single handle made from 1" dowel and is similar in design to a A frame bridge or as I see it a gallows type turn table that cannot turn unless I manually lifted the carrier and turned it around. on my simple hands on RR this worked fine for a couple seasons. This engine doesn’t get much use anymore so it sits on a book case in its’ carrier on display. To keep it from rolling off when moving one hand on the handle and one on the front of the engine or just a thumb on the coupler. The back end had LGB wheel stops.
Todd

#18

I like the rolling stock carriers Bruce.

It gives me an idea. Your wood carrier doesnt look like it has a lot of materials in it so it should be cheap to make. A person could make several of them and just store his cars in them on the shelf. Then you dont have spend time transfering the cars from the shelves to the carrier. They would be like storage cartriges.

#19

Jake, that’s exactly what I do. These sit on shelves in my garage. In fact they were made to be able to slide in between the shelves.

I just take them out as needed to the backyard. Or, put them in the van if I’m visiting.

#20

Here’s my take on Bruce’s design. Its not complete yet, still need the closing end and a removable ramp, but its the basic idea.