Twin-motor locos??

[steamboy]

Hello all,

I was just thinking; is it possible to fit two powered bogies to a single loco chassis(for example a Tri-ang TC Double-ended Diesel R159) and experience added pulling power?Electrically is there any issues?Wouldn't it be neat????:D

[TWICK9]

Back in the early sixties when I modelled in TT, I put two Triang A1A power bogie's in a hand built Deltic body, with some lead to give it extra traction it would pull a house brick with no problem. All you have to do is make sure the two units are connected together so that each bogie's pickups supply power to the other one. Of course two motors will use more power than one but most controllers should cope with ease.

[hairyhandedfool]

I use twin motors on my Hornby 86 and 90s, largely because of the sloep I had to deal with for long trains. So long as you properly account for which wire goes to which 'pick up' you should be fine.

My 86 had an extra weight fitted for more traction and following DCC fitting, internally looks like this:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Hybrid86b.jpg

It is a lot simpler than it looks and the loco manages to do a hill start on a 1:30 gradient with eight Lima Mk3 coaches and a DVT to push with some ease! Something the basic Hornby 86 fails to do miserably. The 90s can do similar results, but don't have the extra weight.

[steamboy]

Let's say we affix the two powered bogies to the chassis, each facing away from each other(there is really no other way to do this)....will then the loco run-or will they pull to opposite sides?What happens when two powered bogies are tried to run on the same track,say, with a single controller feeding the tracks?????

[TWICK9]

They should both run in the same direction no matter which way they are facing, Least that's what happened with my A1A , But to check just put both on the same track couplings facing outward and apply power and see if they go the same way . If they don't you will have to reverse the two wires going to one of the motors.

[hairyhandedfool]

It depends if you're modelling in DC or DCC. Normal DC motors should move in the same direction whichever way they actually face provided they are wired the same. DCC controlled motors have a designated forward and reverse, thus the motors have to be facing the same way or the wires from the decoder to the motor (typically orange and grey) are swapped round on ONE motor.

[nickinwestwales]

As noted above,should all run right-although with the example you quoted (the good `ole Tri-Ang double ended `A` unit) I suspect that with two low geared trucks it will pull your car down the street if required and with two magnadhesion units you will need a crowbar to lift it off of the rails :D-still-should be just right for those ole T.R Budd style cars ,which ,if memory serves,are somewhat primitive around the running gear........:rolleyes:

Good luck-will be interested to hear how you get on
ATB Nick