Legacy Conversion MTH Pennsylvania T1 Duplex

Nice, and I like the MTH version with the portholes.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Nice, and I like the MTH version with the portholes.

Yeah this is my favorite version.

Beautiful locomotives - all of the T1's!

Had this one many years ago and wish it was still around. Have the Lionel model and would love to upgrade it someday...

Nice work!

You got the shrouded and I got the un shrouded!

@Bruk posted:

Nice work!

You got the shrouded and I got the un shrouded!

Sounds like a good deal to me 😁

Nice conversion. I'm too lazy to add whistle steam with my upgrades. As long as it's got 4 chuffs and smoke comes out the stack I'm happy, so ERR and PS3 are fine by me.

To be honest though these older (late 90s/early 2000s) steam models with Pittmans are the best for upgrades. Much more robust motors/gearboxes than a lot of the newer stuff. Just add new electronics and go.

@Bruk posted:

Nice work!

You got the shrouded and I got the un shrouded!

There's an unshrouded w/ portholes floating around out there too. I saw it on the big auction site a while back.

@Sid's Trains posted:

Here is something that I have been working on for a while now and it is finally done. This is an old MTH T1 Duplex that was originally a Proto 1 model. I received it with a ERR kit installed in it and a super chuffer in it. Good enough for some, but not for me. This engine needs to be top of the line. So I did want nobody thought of doing, I put legacy in it . Used the M1 sounds and this thing screams. It is loud. Also installed whistle steam and man does this thing smoke like crazy. Used a modified AC9 funnel for the stack and it puffs out white clouds. One other neat part is the front nose cone is the antenna. Kinda of a cool feature. This engine is now your standard Lionel Legacy engine.

That is fantastic!  I have been waiting for Lionel to make a T-1 in Legacy for years, but you just made your own!

Excellent work, your skills are top notch!

Sean

MTH well built engines with Lionel electronics.  Win win.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Nice, and I like the MTH version with the portholes.

John, the difference between the MTH version and Lionel's is the wheel flanges, right? I remember you telling me that any version Lionel has done(and will do) will have to have the flanges on the driver's milled down so that they don't have issues over Ross switches(and possibly some others), correct?

@superwarp1 posted:

MTH well built engines with Lionel electronics.  Win win.

That’s been the direction a few of us are heading, ….MTH platforms with either Lionel or ERR ….I like building sturdy stuff!…

Pat

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

John, the difference between the MTH version and Lionel's is the wheel flanges, right? I remember you telling me that any version Lionel has done(and will do) will have to have the flanges on the driver's milled down so that they don't have issues over Ross switches(and possibly some others), correct?

Correct, the Lionel 2000 model has fat flangeless drivers that short on many of the Ross switches.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Correct, the Lionel 2000 model has fat flangeless drivers that short on many of the Ross switches.

Yep, can confirm, mine does it too. I need to find someone to mill mine down.

Although since it's the center rail that it shorts on, and the center pickup rollers are sprung on pretty much every engine ever made, I wonder if the leading edge of the diverging center rail could more easily be milled down on the side closest to the outer rail.

Sturdy platforms from the 90s with new technology is always the way to go in my mind. I am very happy with command control and specifically like Lionel's speed control. They just work. This T1 was a lot of fun to do and is awesome to run. An upgrade I would totally do again.

Fantastic work on this great looking engine. You did a great job on this.

Took me a bit to get the video in, but watched it late Friday night. Great upgrade Sid, and you're right, that thing smokes like nobody's business. Almost like the real deal.

Looks good, and smokes like a champ.

This is why Sid wears the green jacket of the masters!…nice clean work Sid!..

Pat

Here is a video of the engine in action and some talk about the upgrade.

@harmonyards posted:

This is why Sid wears the green jacket of the masters!…nice clean work Sid!..

Pat

The power of quality

@harmonyards posted:

This is why Sid wears the green jacket of the masters!…nice clean work Sid!..

Pat

Hmm Pat, I think your post have about the same amount, no? I know whenever I see anything you have upgraded, made, etc., I am in awe. Yeah, that goes for all that anyone that does these conversions, upgrades and whatnot because I know I would blow it all up(someone cue Charlton Heston), haha.

Great video and explanation Sid. Love that smoke.

I have to ask, what all do you need to do a legacy conversion? I’ve seen more and more of these but Lionel dose not sell an upgrade kit, am I wrong? I have a few older MTH engines that I would love to try doing this to.

Very nice. I have a 3rd Rail T1 conventional. That would be nice to add.

@tf4k4 posted:

I have to ask, what all do you need to do a legacy conversion? I’ve seen more and more of these but Lionel dose not sell an upgrade kit, am I wrong? I have a few older MTH engines that I would love to try doing this to.

There's no kit. You need to order all the parts separately from Lionel and do a lot of custom fitting and wiring. Or send it to @Bruk.

Learn to crimp small pitch connectors, there are a lot of the 1.5mm pitch connectors in the Legacy world.

@tf4k4 posted:

I have to ask, what all do you need to do a legacy conversion? I’ve seen more and more of these but Lionel dose not sell an upgrade kit, am I wrong? I have a few older MTH engines that I would love to try doing this to.

You would have to send it to either Sid or I. No kits.

As said, this is a big process. If no one has seen any of Bruk's posts on converting any older engine to Legacy, it is simply put, "engineering without having an a blueprint". Though that said, of course these guys know what they're doing, it's just that a new never before done engine has to be looked at, taken apart to figure out how to do all that there is to do. At least that is how I see it from watching/reading these posts.

There is some trial and error(not really a mistake, just finding the better option) to make these things come to life. As for getting all the guts(sounds and such), that is the big mystery. I know Bruk has said in the past using a "donor engine", but what that all entails, you'll have to ask him.

Tomorrow the latest from Bruk arrives at my front door.  Video to follow.  There was some engineering, ups and downs with this one.  Not always a straight forward install.

I think there is still a long line ahead of me, lol.

@Bruk posted:

You would have to send it to either Sid or I. No kits.

Y’all ain’t lying!….even I wouldn’t dare attempt that swap!!…I keep a Sid in my arsenal!…….surround yourself with talent, and you’ll never be disappointed!…😁

Pat

@Bruk posted:

I know the upgrade is a doozy but I also have been curious where somebody actually gets the parts to do the upgrade.

This T1 is a beast though. I would love to have one of these!

@harmonyards posted:

Y’all ain’t lying!….even I wouldn’t dare attempt that swap!!…I keep a Sid in my arsenal!…….surround yourself with talent, and you’ll never be disappointed!…😁

Pat

That's why people are an email away, right Pat?

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

That's why people are an email away, right Pat?

Actually speed dial!…😉

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Actually speed dial!…😉

Pat

Pat and always have something going on. Recently we did a wicked trade that we might tell a story on here soon. Pat and I sure like our trains 😂😂. So much so that we are willing to trade a lot for one 😁😉.

@Sid's Trains posted:

Pat and always have something going on. Recently we did a wicked trade that we might tell a story on here soon. Pat and I sure like our trains 😂😂. So much so that we are willing to trade a lot for one 😁😉.

The NASDAQ rallied after we did that deed!….🤣🤣🤣…..

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

The NASDAQ rallied after we did that deed!….🤣🤣🤣…..

Pat

Breaking News!!!! Model train deal stimulates economy. 😂😂😂

Haha!!

@harmonyards posted:

Actually speed dial!…😉

Pat

I meant me on email, I don't have speed dial for anyone, haha.