WSRR 2025 MIK Challenge Backwoods Diesel Engine

[WaverlySouthern (Dan Hilyer)]

The boys in the shop have been wanting to try their hand at building a locomotive. With no experience in this area, management has been quite reluctant to grant their wishes but understands that if they don’t let them try, they will never get any experience. SO, the shops have been given the task of building a small backwoods engine. See the art quality sketch below.

The little engine will be built on a USA Trains power truck (in hand prior to 1/1/25). As stated above, we have absolutely NO experience in this field, but we will give it our best shot. The engine cowling will be 3D printed along with the power truck’s side frames, the fuel tank that will be mounted on the rear of the engine and other small details yet to be determined. Most everything else will be made of wood and brass.

This will be a true challenge, but fun also.

[WaverlySouthern (Dan Hilyer)]

One challenge with this build is where to put the electronics. I plan to use a RailPro system (in hand), so I’ve got to have a place for the battery, charging port, and RailPro card. The only spaces I will have are the engine cowling, The exhaust/muffler, the fuel tank and under the cab roof. Need to get the measurements of all those parts before design starts later this week.

[capecodtodd (Todd Haskins)]

Yours will be a neat and unique build. Who doesn’t like a custom piece of equipment purpose built by the RR?
It is a challenge to fit the electronics into a small engine like this. You could always add a small bunker on the back to house the battery or raise the cab floor and put it under there.

[Devon_Sinsley]

Just restating what has laready been said I guess. As I assume this is a dino burner it will need a fuel tank. Since its a backshop sort of affair maybe some sort of fuel oil tank trailing car as a fuel tender that can house some or all of the electronics?

[WaverlySouthern (Dan Hilyer)]

Thanks for the help, Todd & Devon. We are on the same page. My current plan is to design the engine cowling to house the battery that I have on hand, see if I can stuff the RP card either under the roof or design the fuel tank that will reside on the back of the cab so that it can house the card. I considered making the cowling rather tall and putting the card in the radiator, but that idea will probably end up on the floor rather quickly. Lots of design challenges still to work out and I wouldn’t have it any other way

[Dave_Taylor]

Just cut the card in half…And fold over on its self… Easy… Peasy…!!

Then, solder little tiny wires onto all the traces you cut to get power back to the other half…

See… I can fix all your issues…

You can thank me latter…

[WaverlySouthern (Dan Hilyer)]

Dave, how about I send the card to you and you perform the prescribed surgery I can certainly cut it in half, but then it will be like Humpty Dumpty, all the King’s men and all the King’s horses won’t be able to put it back together

Fortunately, this is a new design from ground up, so I hope I can account for the electronics. We’ll know soon.

[WaverlySouthern (Dan Hilyer)]

Not much time to work on the MIK project today. Did get the 3D model to a point I can start to see how it will work.

As I was rummaging through my junk drawers, I ran across a set of side frames that I had put together some years back. They were based on the Fox Pressed truck side frame. I thought something similar to that would look good on a small engine, so I designed something that resembled the Fox but not a replica. What ya think? Here are a few more shots of the model.

I also designed a side frame similar to the napkin drawing above. These are probably more fitting with a backwoods engine, but I do like the Fox based ones.

Hopefully I can get the 3D prints started tomorrow and then start of the engine frame.

BTW: The battery will be in the cowling and the RP card will be in the fuel tank on the back. Both were specifically designed to hold them.

[Devon_Sinsley]

I like that. Looks like something the shiners would run down the track to avoid the revenuers. An Alabama swampwater moonshiners locomotive

[WaverlySouthern (Dan Hilyer)]

@Devon_Sinsley

shiners would run down the track to avoid the revenuers

Was it that obvious?? Fuel tank is double walled with the inside being fuel and the outside being shine. Revenuers never question when they check the tank and its just plain old diesel. They never think to look under the engine to see the fill/drain valve

[JRad (Jon Radder)]

I like that look. I’ve always been a sucker for small locos. A favorite that I should try to build is a little Brookvile gas switcher at the Rockhill Trolley Museum…

[WaverlySouthern (Dan Hilyer)]

Got a little more detail added to the 3D model including lights, cowling doors, exhaust and the detail on the fuel tank.

Also got the side frames printed.

Excuse the mess in the background.

I’ve got all the wood needed for the frame, flooring and cab, just need to cut it to length and put it together. I’ll try to get that done over the next couple days. Still not sure what details I need in the cab. I would welcome suggestions for those.

[Rooster]

Don’t forget the HEP cables, ditch lites and gen set on the roof!

[capecodtodd (Todd Haskins)]

That is a cool lil switcher.

[Cliff_Jennings]

…and the buddy funnel out the side…