Trucks for Red Caboose GP9 kits?

I don't know about the P&D 40" wheel sets, but I would think finding some of the old Roco-built Atlas F9s (which were the source of those trucks) shouldn't be too hard. I can almost guarantee that you'll need to replace the wheel sets on those, as the axle gears are usually split. NWSL has 'em...

Mark in Oregon

at one time there were Blomberg sideframes (ones used on EMD GP units) made in engineering plastic that fit into the same plastic truck bolster the AAR B sideframes (used on Alcos) via the mount stud.

it may that Pat Mucci at P&D may have a few left over in a bin somewhere. its worth a call to him.

and yes, the 40" non-geared wheelsets will fit the FA trucks.

Talk to Pat at P&D (he is the P) and ask him if you have just looked on site.   If he does not have trucks, he may have a Weaver GP38 that is not running that the price might be reasonable.    He sometimes has  used stuf or other parts that do not make it onto the website.   Remember he is a business not a charity, so he won't give it away.

The brass trucks which are very nice, are also expensive as  you say.

I also think the wheel sets will work in your trucks.   I think they are the same with out gears installed.

The old Roco F9 mechanisms are identical to what the RC GP9 was built with.    The mech is a drop in fit if the GP9 frame is still intact.    These are light weight mechanisms than the weaver ones however.      I had a pair I built and ran for awhile.   they do OK on a home layout.    If  you like the way the F9 runs and pulls, the GP9s will do the same.

I have a complete running Weaver GP38 ( I think I still do) that has been for sale.   contact me off list if y ou want to talk about that.

@prrjim posted:

The old Roco F9 mechanisms are identical to what the RC GP9 was built with.    The mech is a drop in fit if the GP9 frame is still intact.    These are light weight mechanisms than the weaver ones however.      I had a pair I built and ran for awhile.   they do OK on a home layout.    If  you like the way the F9 runs and pulls, the GP9s will do the same.

FWIW:

Original Atlas on the left, Red Caboose on the right. Other than a few very minor details, they look to be the same.

Mark in Oregon

I installed the mechs from Atlas ROCO F9s in my RC GP9s.    There were I think, some little tabs on the truck sides that had to be clipped off, but other than that they dropped in without modifcation.    I had purchased a few of the Red Caboose "kits in a bag" that became available when they sold of inventory.    these came without mechanisms or trucks but had all the detail parts and had the frames.    I had a stash of the old Atlas  units to use for conversion.

Thanks for the suggestions! 

I had ordered 4 of these $5 each from Lionel a while back, now looking closely at them they look very close to the brass P&D brass truck complete drive that I have, the Lionel side frames are very well detailed.

if you plug in the following to goggle search you can see in images a blown up photo of these;

6208388681 SIDE FRAME lionel

P&D brass truck image;

https://www.pdhobbyshop.com/St....php?products_id=660

I am now thinking that I might order some more of the Lionel side frames and build the middle bolster that clears the drive shaft, and hold some wheel wipers like the Weaver style to pick up the power, in order to fit the Weaver chain drive and gear boxes. 

I do have a few of the old Atlas F9 bodies with plastic drives to use for the dummy trucks on the other GP9 and some F9 repaints. 

But hoping to use the Weaver drives perhaps with the Lionel side frames. Will need to add some axle bushings to the Lionel side frames as the hole is a lot larger then the Weaver wheels that I have.  Trying to keep my costs down. 

Incidentally Trainworld has some Lionel LionChief FT B powered units with LionChief Plus with smoke and speed control you can use a LionChief universal remote to run these for $99.99.

https://www.trainworld.com/man...wered-b-unit-diesel/

https://www.trainworld.com/man...wered-b-unit-diesel/

I have picked up some of these and repainted them with old Atlas  F9 A bodies removing the drive gears. They are little bit shorter but have looked ok for running some of the my 3 rail they are really good power units and the speed control works very well. If I had an easy way to convert these to 2 rail for the price I would use them with the GP9 Red Caboose kits. Also mounted a scale F3 B body one of these drives just slightly to short.

While the 3 rail side frames are very detailed, they are not designed to carry the axles and support the weight of the loco.   All the rail drives I have seen with the 2 motor mechs, have inside bearings and the sideframes are just hung on the truck but are not mechanically part of the mechanism.    

If you want to use these with a single motor Weaver type drive where the truck sideframe actually supports the loco, you must have the axle bearing holes accurately bored.    The ones of these I am familiar with, do not even have holes for the axles.     IF the lionel ones you have do have holes, make sure they are located accurately the same on both sides.    When the truck is assembled, it must be square - both axles must be perpendicular to the rail, and parallel to each other and the bolster.    In other words the axles and the sideframes should form a box with accurate 90 degree angles at each corner.   If one axle is cockeyed in the truck, it will lead to derailments.     Or if both axles are cockeyed, even if parallel, it will lead to derailments.  

Yes the Lionel frames have holes drilled but they are to large perhaps can fit in some sort of bushing to hold the axle ends. They are metal and solid so should hold the weight. The difficult part will be building the bolster to clear the drive shaft and get all the sizes correct. 

Whereas the original Atlas/Roco side frames are merely for show...if that matters.

Mark in Oregon