Rod,
I won't be using the Vandy tender, but I think I'll take your advice and look for a heavier duty motor. I know @harmonyards has been doing this recently on the LTI era Hudsons, Mohawks and T-1's, so I might have to hit him up.
Pete,
Thanks for the tip. I'll try and get a couple of those when I can (AFAIK Lionel's parts distributor is shutdown during the quarantine), since I might do the same process with the black Commodore Vanderbilt that Lionel made in 1998. However, since you have that engine, did it use the modular ACDR piece that can be replaced with an ERR Cruise M module like the 1998 Mohawk did? Lionel doesn't show a parts breakdown diagram on their support site.
As far as the C&O Yellowbelly and its hookups are concerned, I think the guys who'd know what to do with that would be @PaperTRW or @CentralFan1976 - the latter especially since he did a similar upgrade with the 1996 silver Commodore Vanderbilt using the original (and arguably better) sound system. (shown below)
