PRR E44 redux UPDATE FINAL

Very nice!

Keep us posted Chris!

That should keep you busy for a bit,

Those motors look like Pittman 8000’s, most likely due to space constraints of the E44 otherwise I’m sure Bill would have used the 9000 series as he did in the GG1 and FF2 of which I have several versions.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Pittman motors in my models were ball-bearing equipped and assume yours are too, pretty forward thinking for that era.   My Uncle was an engineer for the PRR and while the GG1 was his favorite, he once told me that the E44’s were very reliable motors but that during the winter months, the cab heater wasn’t worth a hoot.   Looking forward to seeing more brick pics.

I think he said they came with open frame.  I knew Bill, but never owned a complete Wolfer anything.

I used to use 9000s, always with ball bearings, but now exclusively use rare earth bb 8000s - in everything right up through giant cab forwards.

@bob2 posted:

I think he said they came with open frame.  I knew Bill, but never owned a complete Wolfer anything.

I used to use 9000s, always with ball bearings, but now exclusively use rare earth bb 8000s - in everything right up through giant cab forwards.

I started a new thread about Bill Wolfer so as to avoid thread-drift here.  Please contribute if you’re so inclined.  

Not sure I understand why you singled out my post.  Was I incorrect in assuming that this thread was about the Wolfer E44?

the small open frame motor in the second photo is the original. the cans are what I installed.

compared to a GG1, the E44 body is far narrower. was a challenge to find the right Pittman for the job.

@bob2 posted:

Not sure I understand why you singled out my post.  Was I incorrect in assuming that this thread was about the Wolfer E44?

No offense intended and this is about a Wolfer E44 upgrade.  Since you knew Bill, I thought it would be interesting and appropriate to start a new thread about him out of respect to the op.  

@PRR Man posted:

the small open frame motor in the second photo is the original. the cans are what I installed.

compared to a GG1, the E44 body is far narrower. was a challenge to find the right Pittman for the job.

Do you happen to know where those plastic (Delrin?) chains can be purchased?

Either P&D Hobby Shop or Stock Drive Components-Sterling Instruments.

Considering all the negative comments out there about 2 motor drive setups (as in China drives) as opposed to single motor horizontal drives, how did these perform? I've never heard/seen anyone comment on the Wolfer drive. Obviously it was done to improve running. I guess the question is, why were two motors better back then and not now, and are you staying with the two motor drive to stay true to the original spirit of the loco?

I remember seeing Ed Duddy (very nice man) with them over at York. Any idea if anyone took over the line after Ed passed?

Not a well known fact, but Ed was the guy behind ME code 148 flex. The earlier pieces were stamped "House of Duddy" on the plastic ties.

I don't recall CB doing these locos....was the body done by Alco?

Looking forward to more on your project.

Simon

Not sure why, but one of OP's photos shows up as "Image Not Found" on my screen.  From later discussion, I think it's the one that shows the old open-frame motor.

Chuck

Simon, I cannot speak to why Bill Wolfer used a twin motor-in-truck design. The E44 is a long engine with a narrow body. Getting a single horizontal drive and towers in the body probably would not work. I suppose a single drop-down tower and 'tank drive' shafts could have worked. I have no idea.

As can be seen in the photo above, I only changed motors, not the driveline.

I would like to know of a reliable source for those BB Pittman 8000 series motors referenced above. Thanks.

Bob

Pittman used to sell them - I would buy 30 at a time.  They were half the price of hobby stores.  As I understand it, if it is a standard motor, in stock, they will sell onesies and twosies.  Nice folks.

Charlie Pittman was a trolley nut - O Scale.

@PRR Man posted:

Simon, I cannot speak to why Bill Wolfer used a twin motor-in-truck design. The E44 is a long engine with a narrow body. Getting a single horizontal drive and towers in the body probably would not work. I suppose a single drop-down tower and 'tank drive' shafts could have worked. I have no idea.

As can be seen in the photo above, I only changed motors, not the driveline.

I believe post CB, Ed Duddy (House of Duddy) picked these up along with the EL-C/EF-4/E-33, he would offer them both as kits and assembled; this Duddy built example sports a single can in the car body driving CLW towers. For me the knock against the older Wolfer Chain drive is the fiber axle gears would get brittle and break teeth.

A late colleague of ours, Eddie Chamber's did some of the painting for Ed on these, as I recall he used the Champ Blue Ribbon sets for the E-44's, the lettering and heralds both are unique to the E-44 size and color-wise, so I get why you want to have them custom printed. As an aside, according to Eddie the Virginian scheme was the most popular on the E-33 in terms of orders.

Some day I shall finish my Penn-Erie E44 - aluminum cast, homemade trucks, two 8434 motors, six CLW gearboxes.  Somebody even gave me a pair of Faively pantographs.