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I have a nice Hogwart's Express that I upgraded to command and fan driven smoke, etc. The only issue is, I got some extra cars to pull, and it had real problems pulling seven or eight cars, five is about it's limit if you throw in a 2% grade. Given the weight of the locomotive, it's clear that the issue is the wimpy set motor that Lionel equips them with. I sent a second engine off to Frank Timko to see about a motor upgrade, it just arrived back. This was a stock conventional Hogwart's Express locomotive, I wanted to see the motor installation and see if it ran properly before I committed to doing all the work to go to command. I'm happy to report that it seems to run great, and it certainly has a lot more pulling power, the object of the exercise!

Interesting solution to the width of the motor, I never thought about grinding a little of it off!

On to the command upgrade now!

A Garden Variety Lionel Hogwarts Express Locomotive

Hogwarts Locomotive Motor Upgrade N1


It's What's Under The Hood That Counts

Hogwarts Locomotive Motor Upgrade N2Hogwarts Locomotive Motor Upgrade N3Hogwarts Locomotive Motor Upgrade N4

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Last edited by gunrunnerjohn
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Ok ... now this looks interesting.  I've been wanting a DCS version of this engine for quite sometime.  What do you think it would take to upgrade to MTH command control (or am I stepping on the figurative third rail of the Lionel/MTH debate?)  Seriously, I'd love to run the HE on my all DCS layout.  Do you think it's possible?

 

I don't see why you couldn't do DCS.  It has a flywheel that looks large enough to hang a tach strip on, that's the major requirement.  The biggest challenge will probably be the size of the tender, and you'll have to add significant weight to the light plastic tender for the rather large MTH tether.  I used a pair of the Miniatronics 4-pin mini connectors to tether mine, they're flexible enough not to cause issues on curves.

 

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Well, I can't tell you a lot about the motor, I just sent it to Frank Timko and asked for a more powerful motor.  As for what adjustments were made to fit it, I see where he took a little off the sides to clear the wheels, obviously put the matching worm from the old motor on, and in the one shot you can see the aluminum block to align it.

The command upgrade was an ERR Cruise Commander Lite and the RailSounds Commander (Small Steam).  I also added a Super-Chuffer and a fan driven smoke unit.  As I said, this is a second locomotive that I'll upgrade now that I have it.

Right, all the photographic exploded views on Lionel's website show a small, flat can motor similar to what would be used in an HO diesel.  Probably made by Igarachi.  No doubt the Mabuchi RS-385 favored by Frank Timko is more powerful than that!

Fred, Lionel upgraded the motor in its Baby Berk, that might be what you're thinking of.  The motor is the heart of a loco, not a good place to cut corners.  Maybe they'll eventually upgrade the Hogwarts and train-set 0-8-0's.

Last edited by Ted S

Morning, John,

Great news that you were able to have a larger motor put into your Hogwart's Express engine.

Quite a while ago there were posts here about a joint effort between Hallmark Cards and Lionel called Toymaker Santa Express, an 0-8-0 LionChief rtr starter set. If I recall correctly I believe you said it had the same small motor as the Hogwart's Express locomotive. If that's true, can the same larger motor put into your Hogwart's Express likewise be put into the Toymaker Express engine? Also, do all of Lionel's rtr conventional set 0-8-0 engines, such as the one in the Strasburg Railroad set have that same small engine, and if so, could that engine be retrofitted with the larger motor?

Additionally, how difficult is it is convert a LionChief engine to tmmc so it can have cruise conrtol? (Or would it be simpler to replace a LionChief innards with LionChief Plus innards?

Finally, how can Frank Timko be contacted regarding replacing a small motor with a larger like what he did for your Hogwart'sExpress engine?

 

John, I just received the new bluetooth Hogwarts Express.  I am running it with the included cars and the Dementor car.  It runs well.  I especially like the way yours smokes.....I guess thats what the super chuffer and a fan driven smoke unit can do for you.  Just an FYI, I opened her up and it appears they are using the same version of the motor.

-Pete

Are they using the little motor or the one I just installed in this one?

ogaugeguy posted:

Morning, John,

Great news that you were able to have a larger motor put into your Hogwart's Express engine.

Quite a while ago there were posts here about a joint effort between Hallmark Cards and Lionel called Toymaker Santa Express, an 0-8-0 LionChief rtr starter set. If I recall correctly I believe you said it had the same small motor as the Hogwart's Express locomotive. If that's true, can the same larger motor put into your Hogwart's Express likewise be put into the Toymaker Express engine? Also, do all of Lionel's rtr conventional set 0-8-0 engines, such as the one in the Strasburg Railroad set have that same small engine, and if so, could that engine be retrofitted with the larger motor?

Additionally, how difficult is it is convert a LionChief engine to tmmc so it can have cruise conrtol? (Or would it be simpler to replace a LionChief innards with LionChief Plus innards?

Finally, how can Frank Timko be contacted regarding replacing a small motor with a larger like what he did for your Hogwart'sExpress engine?

 

Some of the locomotives have the larger motor, some use the small motor.  I don't know which models have which.  I know the Series II Polar Express set had the larger motor.

Forget about cruise with LC, go LC+ or just go with ERR and TMCC.

http://www.timkorepairdepot.com/

Where do u get these super chuffers i need some and i would buy a bunch of them

Here are the links for my products for steamer smoke enhancement: The Super-Chuffer II and the Chuff-Generator will give you the control of smoke like my Hogwards.  Obviously, as stated previously, I also had to add the fan driven smoke unit, these products don't do that for the mechanical smoke units that come stock in the Hogwarts.

Also john does the center driver wheels on ur hp engine not touch the track mines a 1/8 or so off

I never noticed it before, but the center wheels are very slightly off the track.  Note that the center wheel is a blind driver with no flange.  The rear wheel looks slightly raised, but that's the traction tire lifting it.

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Last edited by gunrunnerjohn

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