Minitrains chassis

[gastwo]

I have two ancient Minitrain 0-4-0 chassis' with good motors, but the main center drive cog seems to be slipping on the axle, on both chassis'. Does anyone here have a solution?
I've scoured the web for spares to no avail...

Shaun.

[WALLSHIRTS]

Northwest Shortline used to do replacement gears for these, in fact I have a set myself. You could check with them and see if they still produce them.
Mal.

[gastwo]

Thanks Mal. I'll give them a try.

Shaun.

[B.Meldon]

Hi Shaun

You can also use the Tenshodo worm and gear set; I have lost count of the numbers of 1960

[gastwo]

Many thanks indeed for that Brian!
Lots of food for thought there. I printed it all off for reference.

Shaun.

[Elmgate]

Can I add, as a note of caution, to be very careful when dismantling the chassis, as they are prone to breaking at the weak spots above the axle slots! Having tried to refurbish one, which broke in the course of the work, then fitting a replacement metal chassis part, and have that fail also, I know from experience!  :o However, I did succeed by "splinting" above the slots with 20 thou brass strip. I described more about this on the Narrow Gauge Railway Modelling Forum, and can add some more details here if required.

[WALLSHIRTS]

Haven't even tried to replace the gears on mine, keeping the Loco as a collectors item, but it would be fun to see it run.
Mal.

[B.Meldon]

Haven't even tried to replace the gears on mine, keeping the Loco as a collectors item, but it would be fun to see it run.
Mal.

Even now some 35 years after they stopped making them both the Baldwin steam loco and the Plymouth diesel are very common second hand. So perhaps describing them as collector

[George Surridge]

You're not selling this very well Brian!

[rod335]

Apart from the gears giving up, unless I missed it there is one major fault you have not recorded Brian. The motors ran EXTREMELY hot and the rear armature bearing, being made of nylon, used to soften and distort. This would result in the armature fouling the polepieces and stopping. When the motor cooled down, the rear armature bearing would have set with the armature locked up solid. I HAVE restored some of these motors by replacing the entire rear stretcher with one made from 1.5mm brass, but to be honest, these models are so much 'of their time' that it usually isn't worth bothering with them. If the gears are OK, replace the motor with a 10 series Mashima, if not, regard as a static display model and a curiosity.

[gastwo]

From what you all say, it looks like my two old locos are going to languish next to the engine shed and gradually get covered by undergrowth!

Thanks everyone for your replies,
Regards, Shaun.

[B.Meldon]

Rod is correct the motors can run very hot.


The steam loco It is based on 2 foot 6 inch gauge, Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Co. No5 built by Baldwin of Philadelphia in January 1917. Works No. 44823. The loco was used ain the yard at Trenton Works in Trenton.

Here is the makers photo:



I have done some more research on the company:

In 1920 the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Company and the Dominion Steel Corporation were merged into the British Empire Steel Corporation. In 1928 following a downturn in the business this became Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation. The company was later disolved after the majority of its coal mining and steel mill industrial assets were nationalized in 1968. The effect of the above was that N.S.S.&C.Co. No5 effectively became the property of the Canadian Government.

The loco survives today on display in the Museum of Industry 147 North Foord Street, Stellarton, Nova Scotia, Canada, B0K 1S0.
The cab door has been closed, the windows modified and the cab back is open. It also has an enlarged sand pot and steam dome so today it looks a bit different to the model.



Brian Meldon

[DeadHorse]

I have three of the Baldwin No5 locos. One as is, one mounted on an Atlas 0-6-0 chassis and the third on an old Minitrix-look-a-like 2-6-2 chassis. This last one has an extended smokebox and another sand dome added forward where the funnel/body screw used to be.
So if you dont mind a bit of bodging they can still perform on your layout - albeit with a different chassis.

[B.Meldon]

I also have a couple of modified 1960