--- In [email protected], Bob Werre <bob@...> wrote:
>
> SNIP<
>
> However I try to make a point of spending some time each night in the
> train room. Sometimes it's only 15 minutes on some small chore, or an
> hour running one of my yards.
> SNIP<
>
==================================================================
Bob:
I know we have discussed this before, but I am glad you posted the reminder. I
find that the key is consistency - doing something every day even if it is only
15 minutes during a break between family stuff and/or "honey do" chores.
I too have been working on my SWM 4-4-2 since the convention. It was supposed
to be ready for the show, but I could not get the decoders installed in time.
As you know, these engines are notoriously weak pullers. Despite the
limitations of the engine (only 2 sets of drivers), I have significantly
increased the pulling power by stuffing a pound of lead weight into the engine
and balancing the weight over the drivers. I have also reduced the weight in
the tender by 1/2. This engine can now pull 3 SWM brass Harriman cars up the
grade on Ed L's layout (I think they are 1.75% IIRC). When I first acquired
the engine, it could only handle one brass car.
However, the drawback was that I had to put the two decoders (Zimo
motor/Tsunami sound) and two the capacitors (one "stay alive" cap for each
decoder) in the tender which resulted in two four-wire harnesses between the
engine and tender. I wish I did not have to run so many wires between the
units, but (1) I had no room for a decoder in the engine after stuffing (and I
mean stuffing) the weight into the nooks and crannys, (2) I prefer my speaker
mounted in the steam chest, and (3) I converted the engine to all-wheel power
pickup.
It was quite a task and took several of those 15-minute time slots between life
events to plan and install the components, but I am very happy with the end
result.
Cheers,
John Gibson
Rocklin, CA
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