Diesel Locomotive

Designed and described by Chris Els
Head End Motor design by Chris Bourne
Photographs by Anthony Els

INTRODUCTION

I decided to build this model because of my fascination with these huge and powerful machines. The model can be built in two ways:

• The full model - with the removable top to display the machinery inside.
• The optional model - the loco is the same except the inside machinery is not built.

There are two parts lists:

• Full list - all the parts needed to build the full model.
• Partial list - all the parts needed to build the loco, excluding the following components (Figure 1): (a) Main motor, (b) Head end motor, (c) Main generator, (d) Head end generator, (e) Air compressors and (f) Power distribution board.

There are no parts listed for the track, you can pretty much do what you like for that.

Features

• This model has been based off pictures and information of the Amtrak Diesel locomotive.
  
  
• The model has a MO motor in each bogie that collects power through the track. The fan radiators on the roof are powered by a M.O. motor in the roof. The top comes off to show the components of a diesel locomotive inside.
  
  
• From the rear is the head end motor, main motor, generator, power distribution, drivers seats and even a toilet in the nose of the loco!!

Statistics

• The loco has a max speed of 177 kph, weighs 270,000-pounds (122,470 kg) and is 54 ft (16.2 m) long.
  
  
• The main motor is a HUGE two-stroke, turbocharged V-12, weighs over 30,000 pounds (13,608 kg) and can make 3,200 horsepower.
  
  
• The main generator weighs 17,700 pounds (8,029 kg) and could supply electricity to 1000 suburban homes! It supplies power to the electric motors in the bogies.
  
  
• The head-end power unit is a four-stroke, twin-turbocharged Caterpillar V-12. The engine itself is more powerful than the engine in almost any semi-truck. It powers a smaller generator to supply power to the carriages.
  
  
• The fuel tanks in the underbelly of the locomotive hold 2,200 gallons (8,328 L) of diesel fuel.
  
  
• The batteries operate on a nominal 64-volt electrical system. The locomotive has eight 8-volt batteries, each weighing over 300 pounds (136 kg). These batteries provide the power needed to start the engine.
  
  
• The bogies are the heaviest things on the train. Each one weighs 37,000 pounds (16,783 kg).

INTRODUCTION

PARTS LIST

CONSTRUCTION:

• Bogies & Chassis
• Bumpers & Undercarriage
• Cabin & Body
• Roof & Fans
• Optional Components
• Mounting the Components & The Track

We have provided the instructions for building this model in several formats for downloading and viewing offline. To download the file(s) you want, either follow the appropriate link(s) below or right click on the link and select "Save target as ..." to save the file to your local drive.

• HTML files (locohtml.zip, 28K) - all of the HTML files containing the instructions for building this model
• Text file (locotext.zip, 10K) - a single text file containing the instructions for building this model
• Illustrations - Figures 1 to 14 (locopic1.zip, 407K)
• Illustrations - Figures 15 to 28 (locopic2.zip, 335K)
• PDF file no 1 - Intro & Parts Lists (loco1.pdf, 150K)
• PDF file no 2 - Constructing the Main Model (loco2.pdf, 537K)
• PDF file no 3 - Constructing the Optional Components & The Track (loco3.pdf, 337K)

HTML Instructions

Download the "HTML" ZIP file and the two "illustrations" ZIP files to a new directory on your local drive. Use your favourite "unzip" program to extract all of the files. You can then open the file "index.htm" in your browser to view these web pages offline. These download pages have been set to black text on a white background to make printing them easier.

Text Instructions

Download the "Text" ZIP file and the two "illustrations" ZIP files to a new directory on your local drive. Use your favourite "unzip" program to extract all of the files. You can then open the "locotext.txt" file and each of the illustrations to view on screen or to print out.

PDF Instructions

Download the three "PDF" files to a directory on your local drive. You can then view and print the instructions with illustrations using the free Acrobat Reader software from Adobe (if you don't already have this installed, you can download it at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html).

These instructions and the accompanying pictures are copyright material, and all rights are reserved. They are made freely available to Meccano modellers on condition that they are not copied and distributed in any form for sale, whether or not the sale is for profit or merely 'at cost'. Nor may they be distributed in incomplete form. Printed copies may however be made freely for personal use.

© 2003, Chris Els (cels@webmail.co.za)
"The Meccano Model Library" is owned and run by Chris Bourne (cfpb@lineone.net)
Website designed and maintained by Donna Smillie (dms@zetnet.co.uk)
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/dms/meccano/loco/index.htm