Skip to main content

Some background. I purchased a used Atlas SD-38 at York in October of 2018. The engine is equipped with TMCC, sounds and electro-couplers. But no cruse control. There in lies the problem. When negotiating the 0-36 turnouts on my layout the engine stalls at low speed. I can get the engine to go through the turnouts only by raising the speed to a unacceptable level. Plus engine does slow some going through the curves on my layout no matter the diameter.

 

So my dilemma is. Should I upgrade the engine with a ERR board to get the low speed control and constant speed control? And can I use the sound board that is already in the engine instead of purchasing a new one? Or should I just sell this engine off and by a new one? I would probably have the same amount of money invested in the engine either way. Purchase price plus upgrades vs the cost of a new MTH or Lionel engine. 

 

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Dave

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I have the SD35 too.  It would be pretty easy to pull out the TMCC board and replace it with a Cruise Commander.  When you look in the engine, if the sound board is separate than the TMCC board, you should be able to use it with no issues as mine is a Railsounds 4.0 board and I have several engines with this combination (Cruise Commander and RS 4.0 Board).

I haven’t checked that particular section of curved track since it’s in a tunnel. And I’ve checked the other curves too. They all read around 18V. My other engines without cruse control don’t seem to have this problem in the curves.  I will test it to see. BTW I did clean my track to see if that made any difference. It didn’t seem to. But I wanted to eliminate that possibility. 

A different perspective- upgrading, you know your current engine is sound. 

But, based on recent experience (by myself and others) the chances MIGHT be that a different locomotive (NOS or used) might not run as well as the one you have.  Then you would have TWO unsatisfactory engines, and far less money than the cost of the ERR upgrade.

Is it an SD-35? What is the product number? Doesn't it have the TAS EOB system factory installed?

http://archive.atlasrr.com/OLoco/arc-osd35.htm 

TMCC Features:

  • EOB™ Speed control technology
  • Lionel TrainMaster Command Equipped featuring RailSounds™ digital sound system (including horn, bell diesel-roar sounds, etc.); Crew Talk (in command and more...
  • RailSounds™ operates in both conventional and command modes in 3-Rail.
  • Operating electro-couplers
Last edited by BobbyD
C&O Allie posted:
BobbyD posted:

Is it an SD-35? What is the product number? Doesn't it have the TAS EOB system factory installed?

http://archive.atlasrr.com/OLoco/arc-osd35.htm

It depends on the model.  My SD35 (the Chessie version) had a simple TMCC board in it and no EOB.

As Marty always said "Give us the product number!!"  

Our Williams and MTH Protosound equipment have no cruise and run pretty constant speed wise.

Last edited by BobbyD

Per Atlas' Website, this Engine has EOB.  You can make sure that the Cruise Control is enabled to see if that helps.  I don't remember the keystrokes to enter off the top of my head, but I can get them for you when I get home as I have their manual in my trainroom.  But I am wondering if the website is wrong because I did not think EOB yet existed in 2000.

Last edited by C&O Allan

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×