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 Posted - September 16 2006 : 10:31:23 PM
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I AM CURRENTLY MODIFYING AN TYCO GOLDEN EAGLE TO FIT ONTO A ATHEARN SD4O POWERED CHASSIS. IT WILL WORK WITH SOME MINOR MODS TO ATHEARN FRAME. TEST FITTING DOES NOT LOOK BAD WITH SD40 CHASSIS-LOOKS BETTER THAN ORIGINAL TYCO TRUCKS WHILE I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT PROTOTYPICAL AT ALL. THE ORIGINAL MOTOR POURED OUT MORE SMOKE THAN A STEAMER BEFORE QUITTING. SO I STARTED LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT POWER THAT WAS CHEAP AND RUNS GOOD==ATHEARN IS THE SUITER. I PURCHASED SEVERAL UNDECORATED POWERED CHASSIS AT A SHOW SEVERAL YEARS AGO CHEAP NEW IN BOX. IF THIS WORKS WELL WHICH IT SHOULD-THIS COULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE REPOWER FOR ALL OTHERS WHO WANT TO KEEP THAT TYCO ROLLING. I AM ALSO GOING TO ORDER A POWER CHASSIS FROM STEWART WHICH STILL MAKES AN ALCO 630 POWER CHASSIS BUT THEY ARE NOT CHEAP-TO TRY AS WELL. I HAVE ALSO MADE A TEMPLATE TO FABRICATE A FRAME TO TRY AND MOUNT A MOTOR USING ORIGINAL TYCO TRUCKS AND FUEL TANK. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS WILL WORK AS ORIGINAL POWER TRUCK HAS TO BE MODIFIED TO ACCEPT AN DRIVELINE TO TURN GEARS FOR WHEELS. AT THIS TIME THE ATHEARN MOD IS MORE PROMISING AND ONLY THING CLOSE I HAVE TO WHEEL BASE OF ALCO. WILL POST PICTURES SHORTLY. COMMENTS SUGGESTIONS WELCOME
 Attachment: IMG_0016.zip ( 83704bytes )
Edited by - Brianstyco on September 17 2006 12:31:48 AM
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jlong
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Posted - September 16 2006 : 10:51:19 PM
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For more realism, I wonder if Athearn Alco PA truck sideframes can be hacked to fit the SD-40 power frames. Look forward to seeing pics. High nose 630's rule.
John Long
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Posted - September 16 2006 : 11:10:12 PM
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I think it was the NW that had high hood C 630s with FM trainmaster trucks.
I repowered one of mine with AHM trimount trucks from a U25C. I scrapped it to rebuild another U25C and plan to build another frame to the Athearn FM trucks.
I also have a L/L C628 that I may use to power one.
Ray
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Posted - September 17 2006 : 12:46:36 AM
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The only way i can post photos is to compress to a zip folder. if i try other way it says file to large try with an extension? i do not know what that means. Here is another photo. I also emailed IHC to suggest they look into a power chassis for older tyco engines as there is a market for a manufacturer to produce and sell quality replacement power drives. will let you know if i get a response. i offered to send some old shells to them to make this a reality since they have most of tycos molds. here is another photo attachment-----
Attachment: IMG_0014.zip ( 102057bytes )
Edited by - Brianstyco on September 17 2006 12:49:18 AM
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jlong
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Posted - September 17 2006 : 01:18:50 AM
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Wow, on second thought, I like the SD-40 trucks. The 628 looks like she's dancing.
John Long
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Posted - September 17 2006 : 5:25:38 PM
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Hey,
A couple of thought on putting new power in a TYCO Super630...
My first suggestion would be to use one of the recently ran IHC Alco Century 628s. I'd have to look over mine, but if they have a frame that could be extracted and fit under the TYCO 630 shell, that would provide a decent and inexpensive power option. The IHC trucks are good and bascially prototypically correct examples of the ALCO c-truck that most big centuries rode on and the IHC trucks are talgo equipped so you would not have to work on making a coupler pocket on the TYCO shell.
If money is no object, the Stewart-Bowser c-truck Century power frame would be ideal, provided again you could get it tucked inside the TYCO shell without problems.
Another suggestion is the Bachmann Spectrum E33 electric. I bought one recently on eBay for $36. It has truck sideframes very similar to those, if not the same, as ALCO's. It runs great and if the length is close it might serve as good power for a TYCO C630 shell. These Spectrum E33 models seem to have found an insufficient amount of buyers and they routinely appear on eBay these days NIB and go for around $40 or less...
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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Posted - September 17 2006 : 5:31:26 PM
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Hey,
Just happened to wander over the Stewart-Bowser website and found this shot of the NW C630 high nose....
I don't know if Bowser sells parts, seems like few manufacturers do anymore, but that drive should fit under a TYCO C630 with only minor effort.
Makes one wanna drop the $135 for one of these and paint the trucks silver and put it under a Spirit of '76 TYCO C630. Would look great and be an excellent runner!!
Here's the link to the Alco Centuries page of the Stewart-Bowser site...
http://www.stewarthobbies.com/Catalog.htm#AC
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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Posted - September 17 2006 : 8:34:54 PM
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Thank you Tony for the info. I have found a dealer that sells the power chassis only for the 630 relativly cheaper than anyone but is still up there. I am going to order one and fit it to a spirit of 76 630 i have. if it works well i am going to order another for another golden eagle as i have over 10 in my collection. 5 are new in box never ran i bought off ebay. Here is the modification photos of athearn sd40 chassis. I used the original shell truck mounts trimmed and a shim made from styrene plastic attached to athearn frame with walthers goo. shell snaps onto athearn frame with no problems using tyco's original holes. headlight bracket has been completely removed as i am going to install an led lamp. NOTE only front of athearn frame has to be modified where the step moulds are is what has to be ground off carefully.
Attachment: Copy of IMG_0027.zip ( 73780bytes )
Attachment: IMG_0025.zip ( 70550bytes )
Attachment: IMG_0026.zip ( 81255bytes )
Edited by - Brianstyco on September 17 2006 10:36:32 PM
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jlong
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Posted - September 20 2006 : 6:28:17 PM
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I still like the SD-40 trucks. Maybe add some grills to the sides of the hood out back and we have an Alco tunnel motor.
John Long
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Posted - September 21 2006 : 11:34:57 PM
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| Thank you Tony and John for your comments and suggestions--Greatly appreciated. Would like to see other modifications of tyco engines from others and pictures posted. Do not forget to check out going in circlz mod of tyco shark nose if you haven't. I only have 2 rules for my railroad-RULE # 1= This is my railroad and i choose what i run on it. RULE#2= If you do not like or agree with what i run-consult rule # 1
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jlong
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Posted - September 22 2006 : 06:00:37 AM
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quote: I only have 2 rules for my railroad-RULE # 1= This is my railroad and i choose what i run on it. RULE#2= If you do not like or agree with what i run-consult rule # 1
Originally posted by Brianstyco - September 22 2006 : 04:34:57 AM
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Railroads applied the same rule and there is a prototpe for everything. Like many of us they did a lot of bashing with boneyard equipment and didn't worry if it looked prototypical or not. Artist liscence applied. Some looked rather obscure. I have a Pentrex video, Classic RR in St Louis. There is a short segment with Alco RS-3's re-fitted with EMD engines and GP-9 long hoods retaining the Alco short hoods and trucks. Another video shows Santa-Fe F-7's rebuilt into hood units...The famous Santa-Fe CF-7's they were called. I will check out the sharknose mods.
John Long
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Posted - September 22 2006 : 8:52:08 PM
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| Thanks John. I like and enjoyed your post on "my rules". I do run prototype equipment also as i model the csx and all its predecessors. Very informative-enlightning-Brian
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Posted - September 23 2006 : 02:00:45 AM
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Nice to see another 'modder' on the forum! What else is the PowerTorque generation to do?
I might have to try that SD40/630 combo sometime. Amazingly though, I don;t have a 630 right now. I used to have the SF version but I cut up the shell to strip the grills and grates for detailing parts. I always wished they'd made a low-hood version.
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Posted - September 30 2006 : 11:14:47 AM
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I had great success dropping the C630 shell on an old AHM C628 frame. It only required minor work on the plastic shell. That should be easier then altering the metal Athearn chassis. I did replace the original AHM motor with a can motor and twin flywheels. My C630 runs smoothly and quietly now! I also stripped the old I.C. paint and sprayed on the colors of my freelance road.
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Posted - September 30 2006 : 11:30:09 AM
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Guys,
I like Tyco trains.
I had an interesting idea. What about retro-fitting Atlas and Athearn, etc. to Tyco running gear. I know they're more expensive but this is for the cause! To think that they essentially have the earliest monocoque chassis!
Alco Fan
Edited by - Alco Fan on September 30 2006 11:33:20 AM
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Posted - October 09 2006 : 12:29:08 AM
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Here are some photos of my C630 conversion. I cut a Tyco C630 shell to fit onto an AHM chassie. This was my first chop job, so it does have some rough spots. The hand rails were replaced with bent brass rod and Athearn stantions.
OK, how do you add photos to a post?
Edited by - Hypoponera on October 09 2006 09:59:36 AM
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