Locomotive drawings

[John David]

I have owned and operateda PRT,and aPR Alpha for the last 9 years and have been mostly in the backround of this forum ever since. I have posted a few things and answered a few post but never got fully involved even thogh I have been onhere and read every post almost every day. So here I go with my first thread and I hope people are interested.

I am going to build a 1/8 scale train for my front yard and for the grandkids and others to ride. I'm looking for some good DXF files. This train will be mostly constructed on the PRT I have and The Haas and water jet, Bridgeport and lathe. It will be electric powered. I believe this will be a Great NEXT winter project,( because riding season is among us almost) but I wanted to get started finding stuff I need now. If anyone has or could direct me to scale drawings or pictures I would really appreciate it.

Maybe if people are interested we could do this together and have multiple minds working to come up with a good idea. I think an old locomotive like the one in Back to the future, with a large Steam stack would be cool.

I have not done any train stuff since I was pretty young (40 years or so) and I dont know anything about it. I have spent about 3 weeks on the net and have got some good info but no drawings. It would be mucheasier if I didnt have to try and guess what the dimensions were from a picture.

[navigator7]

I'd investigate Live Steam Magazine.
http://www.amazon.com/Live-Steam-and-Outdoor-Railroading/dp/B000B5NL9G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=magazines&qid=1268592781&sr=1-1

I was a Live Steamer when 14K modums were a hot item.
There have been quote a few spinoff mags since I was in the hobby: ...Home Shop Machinist and Garden Railway are some examples.

http://www.livesteam.com/fulton/fultonfulllocomotive_nobackground.jpg
I think every kids should be exposed to the steam hobby.
Pretty cool stuff.

[pontus_moller]

Hello John,

I was myself looking for a drawing for a Charger -69 and found a website with blueprints. Maybe they have what you are looking for, follow the link for an example: Baldwin Class 56. (http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints/trains/trains-a-b/6498/view/baldwin_class_56/)

Best regards
Pontus

[dana_swift]

John, just curious, are you planning on 7 1/2" gage or 7 1/4" gage?

D

[John David]

Chuck
That is the train I was thinking of, I will check out the link Thanks to you and
Pontus for the links.
Dana, I was thinking 7 1/2 but I am not yet positive of the difference. I may end up with a combination as I am not looking for any quality awards.

In a previous life I made PROPS and did special effects for TV and Movies, I have a good idea of how to cheat if it can be done


John

[chiloquinruss]

Generaly speaking in the US and Canada 7 1/4 is northeast coast and 7 1/2 is everything else. Most of the rest of the world is 7 1/4. However if all you are going to do is run in your own yard and not go a visitin', then make it what ever is good for you. As far as battery powered stuff try these two spots.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/livediesel/

http://www.electricscooterparts.com/

The diesel group is very much like this group and you can gets lots of help from them. The Scooter store ships quick, has good prices, and you can email with questions and they usually get back to you within 24 hours. As far as drawings are concerned try some of the suppliers on:

http://www.discoverlivesteam.com/

Russ