|
|
This is Overland Models OMI1727.1 (factory painted) released in
1988. I was a brand new S Scaler at that time completely obsessed with all
things PRR. All train money I had was going to buying PRR rolling stock so
this loco was never purchased. As an ironic side story by the time the 1992
NASG in Cleveland happened the brass dealers had a stock of the A that was not
selling. At that convention they started dumping them brand new for $300.00
each – as many as you wanted to buy. And still at that time I did not buy
one. I did have a PRR brass buying binge like never before or since. Still
for over 30 years the A remained 1 of the “I want 1” locos because it is
N&W. I told myself many times I would buy 1 if it “fell at my feet for
CHEAP” – about $300.00 figuring that would never really happen. These are a collection of really excellent photos from various
train photo websites. I hope the photographers won’t mind I borrowed them!
|
|
In May 2025 I had the opportunity to buy an A for a really great
price but it was sold as it “needed work”. This is how everything looked when I
bought it on 6-1-25. The paint was in pretty good condition just some touch up
needed.
1218 was perfect for me as it could be running in “modern” excursion
service next to my Norfolk Southern locos even though the real 1218 loco has
not run since 1991. Call it modeler’s license. My “modern” time period already is
rather liberal anyway.
Drive
Issues
The axle gear on the front drive stripped. The previous owner got
a new gear replaced which was a BIG job to do. That in itself
helped me greatly. I have never taken a driver off an axle to change a gear and
put it back on correctly quartered. But the new gear was spinning on the axle. Understandably
that is when he had enough. That is when he decided to get out of it and sell
at a significant loss.
The gear needed is a NWSL 2231-6
All was good except the gear bore is 2MM. The axle is
4MM. That is possibly where the issue happened was boring out
the gear to fit the axle with a very
slightly too big drill. It could have been a matter of .002 too big. I
center punched the axle to disturb the metal and give the gear something to
bite on. I also used red Loctite. I am not completely confident this is a permanent
fix but it did work so good enough for now. Gears are
rated in size by “MOD”. This is a MOD3 system. It is much too small for this
loco. NWSL recommends at least a MOD4 for S Scale use.
There were 2 fiber washers between the gear and brass bushings I removed.
I could not get the gearbox on.
I say rubber or plastic tubing is for fish tanks not model train drives. I remove it wherever possible especially for motor to gearbox couplings. There is NO chance the shafts are perfectly aligned as you see in the photos. That is robbing power and good operation. I decided to leave some tubing in place deep in the frame. That looked like it could be a big problem to try anything else.
Front
Coupler
I liked the hideaway front coupler but all of my steam locos must
have a working coupler on the pilot. I removed the useless brass coupler and
added a very chopped at Kadee coupler head. It all JUST fits and still swings
closed.
Completed
6-10-25
Completed might not be the best word to use here. I have worked
on this pretty steadily for 10 days straight fixing a list of issues. Aesthetically
it is as good as I can make it. It does LOOK good. In
spite of my best efforts it is still not running well especially at slow
speeds. It also does not like running in reverse. I am just done with it and
feeling slightly defeated here. So I am stopping working on it now for another
day when I am recharged and ready to take it apart – again – and hopefully fix
the running issues.
I found the replaced original axle gear in the loco box. It was
brass. I don’t know why it was stripped. My current thoughts are to get more
brass gears made at NWSL if possible and restore the drive to original specs. That
would be the easiest thing to do. I might have more confidence in the longevity
of the MOD3 drive with a brass gear. Given the history I don’t plan on seeing what
it CAN pull. It will have a lighter duty at least when running by itself.
A complete replacement of the gearboxes maybe with something MOD4
has not been ruled out either. It does run forward at a medium speed. If I run
it until it will not run at all that will force additional work. This is all
just speculation at this point.
Other work I did to the loco tender and auxiliary tender was add pickups
to the insulated wheels side and installed a decoder just to run the lighting. I
was running out on patience by this point and did not take any photos.
Note
the backup lighting on the tenders
The
A is posing with my American Flyer Y3.
It is 1 of about 20 locos custom machined with scale wheels.
Merica!
Ole Glory shown with Norfolk & Western steam and my short custom painted
N&W passenger train like it is in Norfolk Southern business service or “modern”
tourist service. Ironically no N&W passenger cars were ever commercially made
by S Helper Service or American Models.
All
photos and content © Lanes Trains 2005-2026