What’s an S2 doing in Harmon??…….well, I picked up some locomotives from my buddy Tom Market, and this guy was in the lot,….this is a 3rd Rail S2 that had a few issues when it came to me,…..the original factory electronics were toast, and a couple small mechanical issues,…..so I wanted to see it run, and I popped a rectifier in it to get it going,…..and much to my surprise when I opened it up, factory Pittman power, nice gear ratio, divorced drive line, & twin flywheels,….with the rectifier temporarily wired up, I set it on the tracks,……very impressed with the basic performance!…..I had my doubts, beings I never owned one, and I kinda know the back story about these being former Williams engines,……but this thing is worthy of upgrades!….so here’s where the Pennsy guys & gals can make suggestions, what would the PRR fans like to see on a good solid build? What details are lacking?….or could be added? I’ll start with the obvious I see, but this is for any engine with these toy like features,…all the chrome wheels, ….they need to get blackened, tender wheels, pilot & trailing truck wheels, and driver tires. There’s also no crew, and sparse in cab detail…..I’m also thinking full cruise, fan smoke, ( like a turbine would have) and cool lighting features, …..things I’d like to hear input on are things like the class lights?….light em up?? Ditch them??….and what color?……what about the smoke?….just a nice even steady stream? Or should it billow out ?……I’ll build to the specifications you guys say, ( within reason of course) then, up for sale it goes! right here on the OGR’s F/S forum,…Let’s build an engine together!…ill update the thread with the upgrades suggested by you folks, and call out the upgrade by who suggested it so everyone that came up with doable ideas has some skin in the game!!….
Replies sorted oldest to newest
One lucky S2!
Well now, what is this thing doing at the Harmon Shops? Was it getting ready to be scrapped and one of the New York Central guys said that they could get it running like Doc Brown's futuristic steam train from Back To The Future 3?
Enough of my silly jokes, this is something to behold, that is for sure. What can be done, got me on that Pat. Some of the PRR Scholars will have to weigh in with their overall knowledge, stats, and such to get the right information to you. That is, if they wish to comment.
Perhaps @CAPPilot Ron could offer some insight, or @Bob Bob Bartizek. I'm not sure of other PRR scholars, but I do know that these two usually have very great knowledge quite a bit. If they don't, I'm sure that they could grab some information from a friend about what is supposed to be under the hood.
Dave, I like the challenge, that’s the gas for me,…..I know nothing about an S2, how’s it supposed to look?….what’s the exhaust output supposed to look like?….what never done before feature can possibly be done that sets an S2 apart?…colors? finish? details?….let’s toss it all on the table, and everyone agree on what should be, ……and I’ll build it,….😉
Pat
@Norm Charbonneau modified/upgraded one of the old Lionel TMCC turbines. Maybe he can help regarding sounds/ electronics provided it can be sourced. I"m no Pennsy expert, but to my ears it sounded better than Lionels Legacy version.
Heres Norms video. I will respectfully delete this post if he would prefer to handle it from here:
I don't have much in the way of knowledge about appearance. I assume it made less smoke at speed though since it ran more efficiently at speed. Not sure how that would be programmed though. I know they didn't chuff.
Either way, I'll be taking notes on what you do. There will definitely be some learning opportunity for some of us watching this thread!
@RickO posted:I believe @Norm Charbonneau modified/upgraded one of the old Lionel TMCC turbines. Maybe he can help regarding sounds/ electronics provided it can be sourced. I"m no Pennsy expert, but to my ears it sounded better than Lionels Legacy version.
ERR has a turbine sound set Rick, it don’t sound too bad, ….and that tender looks like it’s got enough room to put a subwoofer in it,.…😛
Pat
@RickO posted:I believe @Norm Charbonneau modified/upgraded one of the old Lionel TMCC turbines. Maybe he can help regarding sounds/ electronics provided it can be sourced. I"m no Pennsy expert, but to my ears it sounded better than Lionels Legacy version.
Ah, I forgot about Norm. Yeah, he is textbook researcher as evident when he is doing his videos saying how he got a new book to help with what he is working on. I'm sure there are several others that can help Pat. Let's see who comes out of the woodwork.
Thought you said S2....🤣🤣
This was purchased with no electronics. A future project to repower and add digital controls.
I'll be watching the steamer rebuild Pat.
Bob
Attachments
At least the road number is correct Pat, that's the easiest thing on the list. If the coal load needs topping of, well, probably. I doubt it is cast in, but hard to see here. The red is probably right, but what do I know. Getting ready to eat leftover roast beef. I'll be back later. Norm, Ron, Bob, and any other PRR scholar, you got the brains.
Thanks for sharing Pat! Did you happen to take any pics with the shell off? I'm curious myself about "what's under the hood!"
@Ted S posted:Thanks for sharing Pat! Did you happen to take any pics with the shell off? I'm curious myself about "what's under the hood!"
No, I didn’t take any pics of the driveline yet, but when we dive in, I sure will,……we’ll start with the basic upgrades, dipping the wheels, etc, so we’ll see what’s in there at that point,…
Pat
You need to make sure it’s really inefficient at low speeds, but runs like a top over 80 mph, just like the real one.
@harmonyards posted:what about the smoke?….just a nice even steady stream? Or should it billow out ?……
Thinking a little more on this, and in reference to my previous comment, I wonder if you could arrange so it billows out at low speeds and thins to a wisp at higher ones.
Maybe @gunrunnerjohn could whip up an “Inverse SuperChuffer” circuit for your project?
Being primary meant for passenger trains, did it have a train phone antenna?
@rplst8 posted:Thinking a little more on this, and in reference to my previous comment, I wonder if you could arrange so it billows out at low speeds and thins to a wisp at higher ones.
Maybe @gunrunnerjohn could whip up an “Inverse SuperChuffer” circuit for your project?
Technically, beings it gonna be command, one could just cut the smoke intensity down via the remote once she gets moving good,……making it automatic might be a bigger challenge then we think…..neat idea though…..
Pat
@Chuck Sartor posted:Being primary meant for passenger trains, did it have a train phone antenna?
That can be added easily Chuck!…..we need the PRR heavy hitters to say yay or nay,…..
Pat
This could be helpful, a bunch of pictures on #6200 from the net.
No Trainphone on the S2. Quite a few good photos are in the video (really a slide show) below. You can pause to see them better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWHnTmNTwAI
Some of the photos show smoke. There are not many videos of the S2 in action, but here is a short one, departing Chicago with smoke.
Voting for that "just out of the paint shop look": https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...2#170922644743520912