the FM Trainmaster diesel

[seaboardairline]

Has anyone built the Erie-Lackawana FM Trainmaster engine for RW3? Remember having that in the Lionel train set when I was a kid.

[harryadkins]

Would love to have that monster in RW...

[jpetersjr]

Any pictures of it??

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Many, just search for them.

They were big and brutish, in fact the largest of the first generation single engine Diesels.

I believe both the east and west coast roads used their TrainMasters mainly in commuter service. Their opposed piston engines, originally developped for submarine use, probably had the right loading characteristics but proved unreliable under railroad service.

N&W used them in mine service and Southern had them run the whole of the old C&NOTP spliced between a pair of GP35's.

Here is some more infor:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trainmaster
http://www.thedieselshop.us/Data%20FM%20H24-66.HTML
http://www.sessions-station.com/Fairban ... ooklet.htm, where you learn that Lackawanna Railroad had dual control stands in their TrainMasters, making them most suitable for commuter service.

[seaboardairline]

_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha, thanks for the site address for the Lackawanna info, some great old pics there. The Trainmaster engine has been overlooked for RW3 in favor of the "usual suspects".
The Lionel version.

[glenn68]

Pittsburgh and West Virginia used Fairbanks Morris train masters.
Its sad that they exited the market. I really think that EMD/GM had something to do about that, and it is called politics.


Glenn

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Here is something more on Lackwanna's Hoboken, N.J. Hudson river waterfront terminal.
http://www.thebluecomet.com/eldlw1.html

The CNJ/Erie-Lackawanna/B&O mainline from Newark to Hoboken would make a nice small extension of the present North East Corridor, and a change to run TrainMasters when we ever are gong to get them in the game.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Glenn, check out those Fairbanks Morse builder and roster pages. P&WV had other FM roadswitchers, H20-44's, their biggest 4 axle model. There also was a H16-66" Baby TrainMaster" but that model was only sold to C&NW and Milwaukee Road.

Here is a page with many splendid photos of the H24-66 TrainMaster in action.
http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos. ... M%20H24-66
For instance:

Raising dust while bringing papa home to wife, kids and family

Lackawanna is also bringing daddy home

resting in Roanoke

why are the brake lines tied to the rails? Was there a safely plug installed to prevent the engines from 'creeping away' while idling?

This engine, along with the ALCo PA series and the Baldwin Sharknose are my prime choices of first generation Diesels for TS2012.

[Bananarama]

why are the brake lines tied to the rails? Was there a safely plug installed to prevent the engines from 'creeping away' while idling?

Just a guess, but perhaps if the connection is broken, the air is released and brakes set...

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Exactly my thought, a sort of safety device. I believe in those days the engines were left idling as they were parked while waiting between assignments or laying over the night.
If there was personnel working on them, I suppose they would have been blue flagged as well.
No doubt the reason can be found by reading a SP employee timetable or rulebook.

In steam days, many an engine crept out of the roundhouse and fell in the turntable pit due to the throttle not quite being closed.

[seaboardairline]

Lionel also made the Trainmaster in the "Virginian" scheme.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Exact. Here is the prototype, a little worn for wear, ready to be repainted by current owner Norfolk and Western.

Note the trucks covered in dust because of the almost continuous sanding of the rails on those West Virginia coal branches.

I believe the Westinghouse traction motors used by FM could take quite some beating, making these powerful and heavy units excellent pullers up those grades.

[arizonachris]

If y'all like it, that's fine. But to me, that is one ugly diesel. I'm sure it served it's purpose well, tho.

[PapaXpress]

Does anyone have a detailed drawings of its top, front, and sides?

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Yes there are.

Check Model Railroader's Cyclopedia Vol.2 "Diesel Locomotives" by Kalmbach Publishing, page 142.
Can you check that book out from you local library? If not, I can scan the drawing for you. My copy has fallen apart but I'll have to take the book to work where I have access to an A3 scanner as the book is larger than A4. PM me for details.