MOD: Santa Fe Super Chief EMD-B Unit PF

[kyphur]

Anyone who has read my threads here knows that of all of my LEGO Trains the Santa Fe Super Chief is my favorite Train.

After having previously converted my 10020-1 Santa Fe Super Chief Locomotive to Power Functions I found the 9v Train Motor struggling to get the full train (Loco, EMD-B Unit, 1 each of the Santa Fe Cars which totals 7 Units) moving from a dead stop.

Eventually I want to add at least a "Pleasure Dome" Car to My Chief and that would make the issue even more noticeable.

My solution to the problem: remove the PF from the Locomotive and convert the EMD-B Unit to run 2 PF Train Motors in sync.

Here is the beginning of the process:

At this point I have not undone the original PF Conversion of my Locomotive, just removed the PF stuff.

I EMD-B Unit PF Conversion is complete, Dual PF Train Motors driven by a single IR Receiver and powered by a single LiPo Battery Box. I do need to clean-up a few details like the Side Decorative pieces on the rear Train Motor, tiles around the IR Receiver on the roof, a few missing parts for the Mechanical Undercarriage and a few parts in the correct color. BrickLink orders have been placed so next week he should be done!

EMD-B Unit Interior:

PF LiPo Battery Box in the front end.

IR Receiver at the rearr.

PF Switch is used to reverse direction of the front PF Train Motor.

There is plenty of space for all of the wires.

Here is the Set on Flickr

[Tearloch33]

Is there a reason you just didn't add the second motor to the A unit? Looks great though.

[kyphur]

Is there a reason you just didn't add the second motor to the A unit? Looks great though.

That was my first thought but I nixxed it because:

• The Train Motor is longer than the Brick Build Trucks, I would have to re-engineer the front truck and the mechanical undercarriage for it to fit properly.
  
• The interior of the Locomotive (A-Unit) is already crowded with the Engineer's Cab and PF so the reversing switch wouldn't fit.
  

Of course the first point holds true for the B-Unit conversion also.

My second thought was just add a single PF Train Motor to the B-Unit but the downsides of that would be:

• Using 2 each Battery Box and IR Receiver.
  
• If Line of Sight is inturrupted for either receiver then their speed settings would get out of sync.
  

So in the end it just seemed to make more sense to double-up the motors on the B-Unit. I think I'm going to leave the light in the Locomotive but add an on/off switch and use the 9v Battery to PF adapter I have for power.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

I love this American beauty and I like your clever MOD!

Very good work!

[Tearloch33]

That was my first thought but I nixxed it because:

• The Train Motor is longer than the Brick Build Trucks, I would have to re-engineer the front truck and the mechanical undercarriage for it to fit properly.
  
• The interior of the Locomotive (A-Unit) is already crowded with the Engineer's Cab and PF so the reversing switch wouldn't fit.
  

Of course the first point holds true for the B-Unit conversion also.

My second thought was just add a single PF Train Motor to the B-Unit but the downsides of that would be:

• Using 2 each Battery Box and IR Receiver.
  
• If Line of Sight is inturrupted for either receiver then their speed settings would get out of sync.
  

So in the end it just seemed to make more sense to double-up the motors on the B-Unit. I think I'm going to leave the light in the Locomotive but add an on/off switch and use the 9v Battery to PF adapter I have for power.

Makes sense. I don't have a Santa Fe myself, so I didn't realize the truck sizing. I am still working on a BNSF conversion to PF, and I have it completed with 2 motors (still have to make decals to cover battery box and IR reciever. The wiring barely fits inside, and I had to "alter" the couplers to mate up with the motors and added in steps.

I also would be interested in seeing your designs for the passenger cars. I am thinking of making a BN E9 passenger train (green with the white hockey stick design). Still looking for good designs for the passenger cars, but what I saw on your Flickr looked very nice.

I need to post my BNSF MOD pics, even though I haven't finished the decals (can't get the colors matched to my satisfaction yet).

I second your opinion on putting motors in 2 seperate engines...too many possible problems.

Edited October 20, 2011 by Tearloch33

[kyphur]

I am still working on a BNSF conversion to PF, and I have it completed with 2 motors (still have to make decals to cover battery box and IR reciever. The wiring barely fits inside, and I had to "alter" the couplers to mate up with the motors and added in steps.

How did you handle reversing the front Train Motor?

Instead of stickering the Battery Box and IR Receiver have you thought about maybe tiling the side with plates ala Maersk? That's the route I have been contemplating for my own BNSF pf conversion (now that I finally received the 10 PF Train Motors I had on backorder with TLG).

I also would be interested in seeing your designs for the passenger cars. I am thinking of making a BN E9 passenger train (green with the white hockey stick design). Still looking for good designs for the passenger cars, but what I saw on your Flickr looked very nice.

The cars on my Santa Fe Super Chief are the standard LEGO Stock designs.

My big project for next year will be a Complete 8-Wide Santa Fe Super Chief Train (Locomotive, B-Unit & one of each Car including what ever "Pleasure Dome" Car I decide on for the 6-Wide Train). I need to decide if I want to make the 8-Wide taller or not before I even begin designing that one.

[Tearloch33]

How did you handle reversing the front Train Motor?

Instead of stickering the Battery Box and IR Receiver have you thought about maybe tiling the side with plates ala Maersk? That's the route I have been contemplating for my own BNSF pf conversion (now that I finally received the 10 PF Train Motors I had on backorder with TLG).

The cars on my Santa Fe Super Chief are the standard LEGO Stock designs.

My big project for next year will be a Complete 8-Wide Santa Fe Super Chief Train (Locomotive, B-Unit & one of each Car including what ever "Pleasure Dome" Car I decide on for the 6-Wide Train). I need to decide if I want to make the 8-Wide taller or not before I even begin designing that one.

There was just enough room to get the battery box (as far aft as possible) and the lego polarity switch inside the body behind where the body has the 2X4 brick section that sticks out behind the cab. The IR receiver sits just in front of that section, with the wires connecting inside the cab.

I did think about doing it like the Maersk, but I could not get the striping correct that way, either, without using decals (the yellow "1 plate" stripes).

I'll try to post some pictures this weekend.

[Dan-147]

After having previously converted my 10020-1 Santa Fe Super Chief Locomotive to Power Functions I found the 9v Train Motor struggling to get the full train (Loco, EMD-B Unit, 1 each of the Santa Fe Cars which totals 7 Units) moving from a dead stop.

Eventually I want to add at least a "Pleasure Dome" Car to My Chief and that would make the issue even more noticeable.

I was wondering about that. I'm presently gathering the pieces to make my own version of the locomotive and the cars but in VIA Rail colors (Canada's passenger train service, similar to AmTrak). The big advantage is that VIA Rail's colors (blue and black with yellow stripes) make the parts easier and cheaper to get.

I would also like to add a "Pleasure Dome" so the locomotive's pulling power is a major concern. From what you wrote it seems that 2 motors is a minimum but is it enough? I haven't committed to a "B-unit" yet and your experience will probably settle it for me.

When I get all the pieces, I'll put it together and post some pictures.

Dan-147

[kyphur]

I would also like to add a "Pleasure Dome" so the locomotive's pulling power is a major concern. From what you wrote it seems that 2 motors is a minimum but is it enough? I haven't committed to a "B-unit" yet and your experience will probably settle it for me.

I wouldn't say 2 motors is the minimum, I'd bet one PF Motor would pull the train with six cars (each original SF Car and a Pleasure Dome) especially without a B-Unit but even with the B-Unit. Like I said the one 9v Train Motor was pulling the whole train it just wouldn't get moving from a dead stop on speed 1.

With the 2 PF Train Motors it started moving on speed 1 even with the Locomotive and tail car both sitting in curves! It moves pretty good at higher speeds also, I think I almost derailed in a curve a couple of times (the B-Unit is unstable in curves at high speed because it's top heavy).

If you don't want to do a B-Unit you can use the techniques from my B-Unit on your Locomotive but the interior will be extremely crowded.

When I get all the pieces, I'll put it together and post some pictures.

Why wait until you have it all done? Show us the progress as you build it...

[medib]

Pleasure Dome... have you seen my Sante Fe Super Chief Club Car conversion?

If I wanted to do this conversion today, I wouldn't do it due to the high cost of parts.

I hope you enjoy the picture. I can't believe that the PF motor is like that with only

7 units.

That's why I like the older 9v motors. I have one 9v motor in the "A" unit only, with

1 "B" unit, 1 baggage car, 1 mail RPO, 2 sleepers, 2 diner cars, 1 observation, and 1

Club Car. I'll have to set up the track and test the drivers to see the performance,

but if I remember correctly, I don't think it was too bad.

[kyphur]

I can't believe that the PF motor is like that with only

7 units.

That's why I like the older 9v motors. I have one 9v motor in the "A" unit only, with

1 "B" unit, 1 baggage car, 1 mail RPO, 2 sleepers, 2 diner cars, 1 observation, and 1

Club Car. I'll have to set up the track and test the drivers to see the performance,

but if I remember correctly, I don't think it was too bad.

I've been using a 9v Train Motor in the Locomotive, once up to speed it seems okay but getting going from a dead stop took effort.

A single PF Train Motor was slightly better but still didn't like to get it moving at speed setting 1.

2 PF Train Motors will get it going on Speed 1 even with the front & rear both sitting on curves.

BTW, your Club Car Conversion looks nice. I'm slowly gathering the parts needed to build mine in old gray.

[medib]

BTW, your Club Car Conversion looks nice. I'm slowly gathering the parts needed to build mine in old gray.

Thanks.

I was very fortunate to buy like 4 10002 Club Cars when they came out from Shop@Home for $37.50, versus $100.00

I paid for just 1 4547 original (off Ebay) before it got re-released.

[Snapshot]

I've been using a 9v Train Motor in the Locomotive, once up to speed it seems okay but getting going from a dead stop took effort.

A single PF Train Motor was slightly better but still didn't like to get it moving at speed setting 1.

2 PF Train Motors will get it going on Speed 1 even with the front & rear both sitting on curves.

BTW, your Club Car Conversion looks nice. I'm slowly gathering the parts needed to build mine in old gray.

I've now put dual PF motors into a (red) 7939 loco and my 7938/7939 hybrid. I made a 'Y' extension cable for the former as it was just too tight squeezing in a reversing cable as well as lights. The latter had to be stretched by four studs to get the motors in and I just about squeezed the reversing switch in. At STEAM, it was pulling seven carriages and freight wagons plus a dummy loco on the back and was positively lively, hardly slowing at all for the corners.

[medib]

I took a spin with my Superchief tonight and was quite shocked at the results, the smallish oval track wasnt able to

adequately power the track to give the train too much steam. When I took a few cars off the track, the train went quicker.

I might eventually have to do up another A and B untis, with the A untit 9V motorized.

Just looking at one of my track pieces, a bit of minor corrosion, so I switched it out.

Still surprised at how much weight 12 or so cars are one 9v train motor.

Edited October 28, 2011 by medib