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Lionel SD-40 from Erie Lackawanna Ltd set  and the separate sale SD-40 dummy.  Is it possible to add power to the dummy unit?  Power trucks are traditional pulmore motors.  Second item  what would be the best way to add TMCC to this pair?  Note I just purchased the units awaiting and trying to plan my project out if possible



Ed Samsen

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Check out ERR AC Commander (it think they are still available).  There is another vender who makes "drop in" can motors but it won't be cost efficient to change motors and convert to a digital system.

You have a very nice set which you can enjoy the way it is. A lot of my stuff is not prototypical, but they are toy trains, especially if they are older stuff, like the set you now have.

If you don't already have a digital system,  you are talking a bunch of money in addition to converting the SD40 to digital "whatevers."

Pulmor motors have been around since just after WW2 and just keep running.  They need lubrication and new brushes every every 10 or 15 years. Enough said?

Good luck and enjoy your "new" old train!

@Ed Samsen posted:

Lionel SD-40 from Erie Lackawanna Ltd set  and the separate sale SD-40 dummy.  Is it possible to add power to the dummy unit?  Power trucks are traditional pulmore motors.  Second item  what would be the best way to add TMCC to this pair?  Note I just purchased the units awaiting and trying to plan my project out if possible



Ed Samsen

For TMCC you need the ERR AcDc Commander. Plus the railsounds board. As ststed above you are better off hunting down 2 legact EL SD45's to be cost effective. Dont forget those "SD40's" are oversized as well as having fantasy EL paint scheme.

Last edited by prrhorseshoecurve

I have the Chessie SD 40 from about the same time with dual pulmors.

It is a smooth runner, great puller, and runs nice in conventional.

I also have the SP SD 40 with TMCC and dual pulmors.

It is also a smooth runner and great puller.

You can't go wrong keeping those units in conventional or installing TMCC.

When the SD40 first came out the official story in one of the Lionel collectors books is that scale guys bought the units and converted them to 2 rail operation because they liked the way they looked (and were affordable).

They may not be perfectly scale but they capture the "look" and also just plain look nice.

The EL set is a superb set.

I collect and run items from pre war all the way to the latest Legacy and DCS locomotives.

I like running them all and when I have visitors I enjoy showing and comparing different eras of toy train production and operation.

Enjoy the set.

I run all eras of Lionel and American Flyer O gauge.  At public displays of a club in San Diego, I ran a Lionel 156 set Flyer 3020 set representing the 1920s  AF Zephyr and City of Denver representing 1930s  226e with 2613s and 201 with 2650 series representing 1940s early  ( trying to use the magic electrol in the 201 to keep the 2 trains from *** ending each other after compensating load add or reduce consist by a car or two.  Classic 50s Lionel including 2344NYC F3s  60s not so much  70s and newer include Southern Crescent   SP Daylight F-3s with 4 motors  and GS4 with all cars including all add ons  16v  11a on a Z4000, 783 with Modern era Madison cars

EL Ltd  fits right in

Ed

@Ed Samsen posted:

I run all eras of Lionel and American Flyer O gauge.  At public displays of a club in San Diego, I ran a Lionel 156 set Flyer 3020 set representing the 1920s  AF Zephyr and City of Denver representing 1930s  226e with 2613s and 201 with 2650 series representing 1940s early  ( trying to use the magic electrol in the 201 to keep the 2 trains from *** ending each other after compensating load add or reduce consist by a car or two.  Classic 50s Lionel including 2344NYC F3s  60s not so much  70s and newer include Southern Crescent   SP Daylight F-3s with 4 motors  and GS4 with all cars including all add ons  16v  11a on a Z4000, 783 with Modern era Madison cars

EL Ltd  fits right in

Ed

Some of these guys forget that not everyone insists on scale accuracy.

@SIRT posted:

Fantasy model. El never had them or those road numbers.

So? Last I checked this was the toy train forum, not the 3 rail scale forum. I doubt a lot of folks here care if it's prototypical or not. I have begun to notice more and more of these type of comments in the TOY TRAIN FORUM where they are not actually appropriate. If this was the scale forum then yes, this comment has merit. Here we need to let folks enjoy their toy trains.

@Jeff2035 posted:

When the SD40 first came out the official story in one of the Lionel collectors books is that scale guys bought the units and converted them to 2 rail operation because they liked the way they looked (and were affordable).

They may not be perfectly scale but they capture the "look" and also just plain look nice.

The EL set is a superb set. Enjoy the set.

I would like to know who "those scale guys" are. I havent seen them displaying the jumbo Lionel SD40, SD50, C40-8, B40-8 in the NY metro area scale shows and clubs from the 1990s til today.

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