I received a box with a N scale D&RGW B unit and some Rivarossi stock, but while cleaning the ALCO B unit I can't find an identifier as to who made the piece. The only marks are 2200-F and 2200-R on the trucks but that hasn't helped either. I'd like to find a powered A or I could mate it to a F7 (the stock is a later paint scheme). The weight is lead or at least flexible as lead.
You Mention a B unit but then show a picture of an A unit which is a Con-Cor. Sekisui (Kato) made the original powered A units for Con-Cor and probably the dummy A and B units, too. With Con-Cor, you never know, however, because they sourced their equipment from many makers. Doug
If they're the Sekisui/Kato PAs, they set a quality standard in N Scale that stood unmatched for a decade into the early '80s when Kato's RS-3 was introduced. It's interestiing that you post this, as I just unboxed my Sekisui/Kato/Con-Cor PA's from that era and they still run great. I painted this pair in LV 35+ years ago. LV owned no PBs.
You painted those? Great job! Did you use an Airbrush, etc...? Was an airbrush even a thing 35+ years ago
Yeah Dan, those look great! Are those first or second generation. The second generation has the snap-in plastic fuel tank. If yours are first generation, are they pretty noisy? Doug
Nice paint! About what year were your pair made? Most of what I can find online, for D&RGW Alco PA history, are powered A-B-A units. There is a swap meeting coming up next Saturday so now the search is on for forward power units.
Thanks y'all. Yep, airbrushed with a basic Paasche airbrush I still have, my only one. I can't recall the paint brand I used, decals by Northeast. I didn't know about the generations of these. They have the snap-in fuel tank and run fairly quietly. I haven't lubricated them in many years and need to do that. I bought this pair in Santa Fe passenger colors about '73 or '74. They came with reversing headlights, which was a super neat feature back in the day. Just thinkin' that Kato also manufactured Con-Cor's U-50 (and Turbine) mechanism, which, like the PAs, also runs with watch-like precision and with power enough to pull a house down. Here's my engine terminal, August 1978.
Look at the BOTTOM of the trucks. They are most likely Con-Cor, made by KATO. The bottom of the trucks or fuel tank will have MADE IN JAPAN stamped on them. May even have the KATO CROWN stamped on them. KATO made a run of PA's for Con-Cor and many are still running. KATO showed the N-Scale market that a GOOD and SMOOTH running diesel could be made. Sort of set the standard, that KATO is well known for. And look at some of the 4-6-4 NYC Hudsons, still running like watches.
The first generation of Con-Cor/Sekisui PA's has a longer motor and it fits down into a pit in the main casting and there is a cover over it. The cover positions the bearing blocks/worms/cup gears to keep the motor pinions and cup gears in mesh. This is rather critical and the loco gets pretty noisy if everything isn't just right. This generation is most easily recognized by there being no plastic fuel tank. When you look at the bottom of the loco, the two metal halves of the split lower contacts. are visible The second generation has a shorter motor and it fits into the main casting too except there is no cover. The casting is the upper part so it can be said the motor fits UP into a pit.The lower part of the frame is split for current pickup. Although the general construction is similar to the first, the positioning of the motor pinions and cup gears is better and they are quieter than the first generation PA's. This generation has the plastic snap-in fuel tank bottom and yes, there are indications on both generations that they were made by Sekisui/Kato in Japan. There is a third generation, too, made in China, which is like the second generation except for the motor. Doug