Drive ideas?...

[Cox 1947]

I picked this engine upas a dummy..Just got around to stripping it and got to wonder about powering it..Any ideas on a drive that would fit it without alot of cutting and fitting?...

Jerry

[TinGoat]

Well, it looks a lot like an RSD-17...

[Sumpter250]

Alco, RSD-15 "alligator", N scale.
You might have to do some searching, then again, if the manufacturer is known, you could contact them about a powered chassis. Powering the dummy would require a motor, and the "power" trucks, and the drive components. I'm thinking the expense would not be that far off from a complete powered assembly.
That said, collecting all the necessary parts, and assembling them yourself, would be a great ( even if it is frustrating ) learning curve.

[doctorwayne]

Hah! I failed to notice that it was N scale. I believe Mehano produced the RSD-15 (Alligator) in N scale, while Broadway made an HO scale version.
Not being familiar with the availability of N scale stuff, I'd suggest, if they're available, six-wheel trucks, motor, and drive train from Atlas and a scratchbuilt frame. The running gear/frame from a PA might work for the length and trucks, although you'd probably need to alter the fuel tank.

Wayne

[nachoman]

Not being an N-scale guy, I can't give you specifics. But, just looking at the type of trucks on an RSD-15, they seem to match the trucks on a PA. The PA is of similar length, too, but because it is a wide hood, i doubt the RSD shell would fit over an N-scale PA chassis. You would have to make a new frame. Perhaps you could use the chassis from a GE U-boat, but the truck sideframes would be wrong. But, in the process of searching, I ran across this thread on another forum:

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[Squidbait]

You could try finding an old Atlas RSD-4/5... the wheelbase would be a bit short, but it'd probably work. The trucks would be pretty much bang-on, and it's a good drive.

[eightyeightfan1]

A few years ago, Model Power had an N scale version of this. The rear truck was the only power, though the front trucks had pick-ups. I'll check my old N scale stuff. I might still have it kicking around. Mine was a Conrail unit.