GTW U-4B 4-8-4 decoder install and new delivery.
======
GTW U-4B 4-8-4.
Installing a TCS 1517 decoder with LED's.
LED wires are extremely small and my 'wire strippers' are useless so I have found that putting an X-acto blade on the wire and then pulling the wire (and not the blade) will strip off the insulation.
Tender done.
Had to route the connector and wires through the 'coal bunker' so the connector can be hidden inside the 'coal bunker' since that area was, already, open.
Glad I drilled some holes in the 'coal bunker' before painting as I had to route the wires through the holes.
Engine boiler had a hole under the deck so I routed the wires through that hole.
This engine is unusual in that the motor is in the middle of the boiler instead of at the rear plus there were multiple pieces of brass spanning the bottom of the boiler.
I had to reverse the 4-pin connector that, usually, goes from the frame to the boiler to a 3-pin connector from the boiler to the frame.
There's, also, an 'ash pan' that is held in place by the frame and, also, forces all wires to go to the center of the boiler.
Wiring complete.
Had to caulk the 'fire box' glow LED to the boiler instead of the usual place on the frame.
The 'fire box' LED is always a 3 MM LED versus the 0402 LED for the rest of the lighting.
I screwed 'something up' as I'm getting a 'short' on the 'programming track'.
Will have to diagnose later as I have other things to do.
======================
New delivery.
UP 4-8-8-4 big boy made by Tenshodo in 1961.
Tenshodo made some others in 1958 but, what I've read, they only had the back set of drivers 'powered'.
This engine has both set of drivers 'powered' so I'm guessing it was made in 1961.
This is one of the first 'hand crafted' big boy's made.
videos:
Testing the back set of drivers with new tubing added but keeping the original open frame motor.
Surprised at how quiet the mechanism is, as I was expecting a lot of 'grinding' considering this engine is 61 years old!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV0BaM5C3cE
Both sets of drivers 'yard test':
Again, very quiet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEewdj0p5W0
The engine and tender came in 2 boxes.
The 'staples on the end of the box indicates it is an early model.
No foam, just cardboard for 'protection'.
The engine box had a wood base platform.
Items that indicate a very early run.
A blue 'Tenshodo' label on the driver retaining plate.
From the appearance of the drivers, I don't think this engine had any run time, except maybe a 'short' yard test run.
The inside of the cab has this label.
The tender has this label.
Disassembly to replace the rubber tubing.
The back engine has number '120' stamped on it....
as well as the back of the cab under the deck (if you can read it with the blurry picture!).
Tubing replaced.
I put some 'heat shrink' tubing over the 'rubber' tubing to strengthen it.
There was about a 1/4" gap between the front and back gear boxes so I put a piece of 'metal' tubing in the 'rubber' tubing.
I have other things to get done and will get back to pictures of the engine assembled and comparing it to my 1981 Tenshodo big boy.
