Construction Photos

Locomotive Construction Photos

The following series of images cover the construction of our first scratch built locomotive.  Generally the older EMD models specifically the switcher models and the newer GE models are the most common in the live "diesel" hobby, so we decided to build a model that isn't seen too much.  We decided to build a General Electric U-33B.  Of course as with the rest of our personal rolling stock is was going to be painted with a Rock Island scheme of some type.  Picking a B makes life a little easier with only having to make two axle trucks which at that point in time were supplied by ALCO.  So far the locomotive has been under construction for about 2-1/2 years from beginning the design.  The design was created from the ground up using a 3-D solid modeling package.  The majority of the body parts were laser cut or fabricated from standard shapes.  There was some old fashioned bandsawing and belt sanding for on the fly modifications.  The main truck frames were completely welded together from parts machined out of bar stock and laser cut.  About half of the brake rigging was laser cut and the rest are custom investment castings that we now carry in our detail part section.  Unfortunately, just like little kids we get very excited as the major subassemblies come together and when major visual progress is made.  This of course means that we forgot to take many pictures of most of the assembly procedures.  Luckily, we have parts for two more locomotives so we have two more chances.   These pictures are by no means in any particular order   

Click images to enlarge

The internal frame of the fuel tank was assembled from a series of laser cut baffles that were slotted to slide together like an egg crate.  In the first picture you can see the baffles within the center section.  The interior baffles are 1/16" thick while the ends are 1/8".  Two side pieces were formed and the functioning filler tubes and dummy fuel level gauge were welded or brazed in place.  Notice how the filler neck lines up with the notch in the frame skirting, that's the advantage of designing in 3-D with a computer first.   At this point there is not bottom or top and the parts have just been MIG welded in place.

From Train Mountain 2006 Triennial Meet

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