may be a stupid question in ho scale you can put sound decoders in dummy engines does anyone make dummy locomotives in nscale August
If you were doing UK outline, DAPOL make dummies of several of their diesel locomotives. Regards, Pete Davies
It is a good question that is asked once in a while. Most (almost all) companies don't make dummies because they feel people won't buy them cause too expensive. An Atlas loco might retail for $95 Lower dealer about 70 ebay price sometimes 40s If you bought parts for a loco (everything except motor and worms), you are probably going to spend 30 bucks with no box. And that is usually undec which you have to paint. A painted shell tends to be $18 if Atlas even sells what you want. Is that worth it? Your call. Some people might just watch ebay and shoot for getting what they want for below, say $50. And then just take the motor and worms out of it if you REALLY want a dummy. The motor itself is worth about $25 if you ever needed to buy one. Best wishes.
There was a seller on the auction site that was selling N scale Atlas and Kato locos that were stripped of parts and converted for dummies. I think they were listed for $30 and $40 plus shipping and the original box.
In my experience a dummy loco just wastes pulling power. They are either too light or heavy. When too light they derail like crazy. When too heavy they use the power that could pull another ten freight cars. Besides the motor and drive shafts you need to strip all the gears out and electrical contacts too. The parts can cause as much drag as two ounces of lead. The gears can often jam up and even cause the dummy to pull away from the loco. It's even worse if you place the dummy in front. Most of all a second loco is there for more power in the prototype. Why should you waste the opportunity to get more done? In N the locos do not have power and traction in excess as HO does.
Ok, here I go jumping into the dummy thing again. Back in the day it wasnt unusual to see up to seven engines pulling long trains on the C&O. I really dont need seven powered engines in N scale to pull a long train. Yes, I have dummy engines. That said, there are a few dummy engines out there. Here is a link to some LifeLike sets on ebay. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=dummy&_sacat=19125&_odkw=&_osacat=19125 Also, Bachmann makes some sets with dummy engines although of poor quality. And as stated Broadway Limited made dummy units. Here is a link to there site. http://www.broadway-limited.com/450alcopb2atsfwarbonnet59adummyn.aspx If memory serves me correctly ConCor may have done something also with a sound dummy engine. When you get down to it there is little available in N scale for what you are looking for commercially available. Hope this helps.
Lifelike made some dummies. I have an Alco PB dummy I picked up specifically because I could put a sound decoder into it with room to spare.
IF I were to make a dummy loco, I would definately use a Kato, as they have the best free-rolling trucks out there(from the Atlas/Kato SD7/9, GP30/35 and their own U30C and after)! Talk about precision! As for the fellow that was selling on E-bay, his locos didn't have the brass truck pickup shoes, rendering the truck useless, as it rode too low because the pickup shoes are essential for the mechanical side of operation, not just electrical. Trevor D.
I know you can find some on eBay, Life-Like use to make a set of 2 locas & Caboose, one powered, one dummy. I used a LL F40 for my Rotary Plow. I have picked up old locos at shows and off eBay that are broken in some way, and if they can't be repaired, I gut them for dummy helpers to place mid-train. I have an really old U50 after removing the motor & gearing, that is still so heavy it requiers a powered loco just to move it when added in train. Then there is those POS High Speed locos, I use them for display locos...
I'm sure you figured out that those High Speed models were designed for display and not use as railroad equipment. They may have been produced with long obsoleted molds. I like how you've had fun with them. Also be careful not to use Del Prado locos either. Although they were produced from molds that were used to make running locos. Their chassis design does not ride well on the rails.
