@harmonyards posted:Test run, …..almost ready to pull the Croton local on a solo run, …..can’t wait to get this thing up to 60-65 mph and watch her cruise,……😀
Pat
You've even made one of my least-favorite Hudsons (the C&O part, not the Lionel) something I want. Wow.
When you get Pat to make you one of those, you might want to install the Vision Line Hudson backhead with this lighting. 
The ship has sailed on those backheads John.
Pete
@harmonyards posted:Those old Pulmor locomotives are built like tanks, ….So with some upgrades, not only can you make a very fine model, you also get indestructibility,……the gearing in these engines look like they could propel a solid die cast G scale model, let alone an O scale one….I swear they used tool steel wire to make the locomotive’s axles!…..
Pat
Yup, built like tanks indeed. I am still looking to find another 18009 to do that other modification you had told me about, L2D I think it was?
The 18009 is usually readily available at York.
@romiller49 posted:The 18009 is usually readily available at York.
I usually don't see it there, but I do keep an eye on a few places on the web. Just have to get past the folks who have it overpriced by $300-500 or more.
I’ve made some killer L3a’s from Lionel’s old Pulmor 18009, ….and a L3b, and a L2d Mohawk,…..oh, and a class R1 L&HR 4-8-2 ….😄
Pat
@Norton posted:The ship has sailed on those backheads John.
Pete
I got a gray one during last September's 1/2 price sale. Part of was bent. Asked for a replacement, Out Of Stock. Asked for a black one instead, Out Of Stock. So the ship has sailed, hit an ice berg and sunk.
@harmonyards posted:I’ve made some killer L3a’s from Lionel’s old Pulmor 18009, ….and a L3b, and a L2d Mohawk,…..oh, and a class R1 L&HR 4-8-2 ….😄
Pat
I'm beginning to believe you and Pete can make anything out of anything else.
@harmonyards posted:I’ve made some killer L3a’s from Lionel’s old Pulmor 18009, ….and a L3b, and a L2d Mohawk,…..oh, and a class R1 L&HR 4-8-2 ….😄
Pat
You need to buy some more of these up, rework them and flip them.
When do I need to get my preorder in by?😉
@Norton posted:The ship has sailed on those backheads John.
Pete
Well, I still have a black one and a grey one, as well as one that Pat put into a customer's yellowbelly. So, I guess I'll assemble enough PCB's for them and be done with it.
@coach joe posted:I'm beginning to believe you and Pete can make anything out of anything else.
@RickO posted:You need to buy some more of these up, rework them and flip them.
When do I need to get my preorder in by?😉
Pat had shared a photo with me of his L2D conversion of the L3a #3000 and I told him right then in there, I may need to find one. I did manage to get a second 18064 #3005 to do a second one as Pat has my original one. I did get that upgraded before getting to know Pat with the standard ERR bits for the old motor and such. When we get to that one, that is yet another great project yet to come.
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:Pat had shared a photo with me of his L2D conversion of the L3a #3000 and I told him right then in there, I may need to find one. I did manage to get a second 18064 #3005 to do a second one as Pat has my original one. I did get that upgraded before getting to know Pat with the standard ERR bits for the old motor and such. When we get to that one, that is yet another great project yet to come.
That L2d class Mohawk was fun to build. Probably the easiest swap I’ve done,….I used an L2a Lionel chassis with an L3a Lionel boiler & cylinders. One of my favorite runners, …that thing runs like a watch!….
Pat 
Dave, I saw two of the 18009 at Allentown today. 450 and 500 dollar was the prices.
Ahh, to have a MTH 2 rail Mohawk.....
someday?
carry on.
@romiller49 posted:Dave, I saw two of the 18009 at Allentown today. 450 and 500 dollar was the prices.
Usually you can find them under that. Around $250-$350 is what I would say should be reasonable. I do realize that at a show they could be higher, but I won't bite on that. After all, it is conventional.
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:Usually you can find them under that. Around $250-$350 is what I would say should be reasonable. I do realize that at a show they could be higher, but I won't bite on that. After all, it is conventional.
Agreed, or even less if you can help it, …..this gives you plenty of room for upgrades, and cosmetic improvements,…..you really can bring the 18009, or the 18064 Mohawks up to model status. Get one cheap enough, and skies the limit, and you can still stay well under the cost of a high end legacy or PS3 model.
Pat
I remember when the 18009 Mohawk first came out it was sort of lost in the shadow of the much anticipated reissue of the 700E with the Lionel crowd. I had both of them in the main showcase of my hobby shop and most 'regular' people would exclaim with "ooh's & aah's" over the big 4-8-2 rather than the venerated Hudson. Looking back, at the time I didn't notice the lack of detail on the Mohawk but the sheer size and the 4 drivers per side gave it a presence that compared favorably against the Hudson.
The detail on this one of yours Pat is exceptional - what a beauty!
@harmonyards posted:Agreed, or even less if you can help it, …..this gives you plenty of room for upgrades, and cosmetic improvements,…..you really can bring the 18009, or the 18064 Mohawks up to model status. Get one cheap enough, and skies the limit, and you can still stay well under the cost of a high end legacy or PS3 model.
Pat
100% I think the the second 18064 I got I probably paid a little over what I should have, but not like the listing I saw this morning at over $1000. Even the 38053 Mohawk is reasonably priced compared to that $1k. I think the 53 was listed at or around $600. Truthfully, the L2's usually are listed around $700 or more, but you usually can find some folks around the mid $500's. Just have to be at the right time.
@c.sam posted:I remember when the 18009 Mohawk first came out it was sort of lost in the shadow of the much anticipated reissue of the 700E with the Lionel crowd. I had both of them in the main showcase of my hobby shop and most 'regular' people would exclaim with "ooh's & aah's" over the big 4-8-2 rather than the venerated Hudson. Looking back, at the time I didn't notice the lack of detail on the Mohawk but the sheer size and the 4 drivers per side gave it a presence that compared favorably against the Hudson.
The detail on this one of yours Pat is exceptional - what a beauty!
At my local train store, the owner showed me the 18005(or is it 18002 black?) He had in a display case. Someone sold it to him with extra details added on. Still conventional but popping.
Pat,
This is beautiful! It makes me want to work on mine, especially the lighting. 
One thing I didn't see is if you added rollers. My engine pauses on some switches as the 3rd rail pickup is only on the engine. I added more rollers to the tender using unused pickups from William's Heavyweights. Adding the two stopped the loss issue.
Have you had any issues with this one over switches?
Hey Allan, I know Pat has been incredibly busy doing non-related train activity, what sort of switches were you running the engine through if I may ask?
Hey Dave,
It was happening on the Ross #175 Double Crossover. I double checked the switch track continuity which was fine (Voltage on all pieces). I did not try it on other switches as that was the track I had it on. Once I added the pickups to the tender, it worked fine.
@C&O Allan posted:Hey Dave,
It was happening on the Ross #175 Double Crossover. I double checked the switch track continuity which was fine (Voltage on all pieces). I did not try it on other switches as that was the track I had it on. Once I added the pickups to the tender, it worked fine.
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:Hey Allan, I know Pat has been incredibly busy doing non-related train activity, what sort of switches were you running the engine through if I may ask?
@C&O Allan posted:Pat,
This is beautiful! It makes me want to work on mine, especially the lighting.
One thing I didn't see is if you added rollers. My engine pauses on some switches as the 3rd rail pickup is only on the engine. I added more rollers to the tender using unused pickups from William's Heavyweights. Adding the two stopped the loss issue.
Have you had any issues with this one over switches?
I had no issues on my layout, but since Allan brought this to our attention, for Dave’s locomotive I’ll gladly add some rollers to the tender,…..no doubt it’ll improve performance!….thanks Allan & Dave!!
Pat
Awesome Pat. I had thought about this a day or two racking my brain on the spacing of the rollers being it has been a bit since I've seen them. Couldn't remember how far apart they were so figured I'd ask what switch type was in play.
Pat/Dave,
Just so y'all can see, here is how I did mine.
The Williams Pickups are perfect as they are more vertical than horizontal for the length. They also have the mounting screw hole. I just used styrene to build a platform so the pickup has plenty of play and built in insulated from the truck. They fit perfectly on the platforms the trucks already have.
Here are a couple of pictures.
That is pretty darn cool Allan. I want to say that I had seen someone else do an upgrade a few years ago where they added extra rollers onto the tender of the engine, think it was a Weaver engine they did on YouTube. I think the Tennesseen, is that right? Green streamlined engine?
Yes, the Southern Tennessean is green.
My next upgrade (ERR Cruise Commander) is my Weaver 49er and I'll have to do the same thing with the tender on that one.
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