Best Of The TP56/TP70 Kitbash thread N scale

[randgust]

Using his own printer he's not subject to Shapeways pricing by the micron.   You're seeing a paradigm shift here in case you're not paying attention, a 2X better product for about half the price.

[up1950s]

So who will bash two C switcher shells together and do a BB Centercab ? Or a D Centercab ?

[u18b]

I noticed that the manufacturer released a pretty good video.
Has some good drone shots of the first test unit sold to P&H.   This TP-56 is shorter and has the internal fuel tank.

Worth watching.

More partnerships in building in USA.... unfortunately... in the intervening months.... I haven't see any evidence they have built/sold any more switchers.  (and hope they will).

[u18b]

Hahaha.

And now..... a ride-your-own-train manufacturer named Railpup is making one!

You can put a TP56 is your backyard and haul the grandkids.

https://www.railpupdesign.com/tp56-switcher/

[CRL]

Check out their adaptive riding car. https://www.railpupdesign.com/adaptive-riding-car/

[u18b]

December 2020

Keeping this thread up to date.....

Tractive Power Corporation has released two more critters.

The first one is a TP90.  The number refers to tractive effort- so 90,000 pounds.
This one is 4-axle.    And thus it would be a departure from the build in this thread.
From their website:

[u18b]

And then, I saw in a little tiny photo on their website... a new one in blue.


This sent me on a search of the Net to find more- and info seems scarce.

It is another TP56.






And here is the only good shot I could find for modeling purposes.



You can see two changes.  This TP56 has an exhaust stack- with a rain curl at the top.  Also, the headlight is oriented differently.  But basically the same loco as this build.


It appears to be serving on the outskirts of Quebec.
In the pixelated low rez shot- the full name is:  Westrock

Here is the photo on the TPC page.
http://www.tractivepowercorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/aboutusAA_mini.jpg


http://www.tractivepowercorp.com/

[Mark5]

Ron,

Another pic of that unit here: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=50688.0

Mark

[u18b]

Excellent Mark.
Thanks.   That high shot adds a lot.

If I make another TP56, I'm going to make this one.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

What would be the point of the TP90 over an SW1500? The 1500 is dirt cheap used and the parts are much more plentiful than a bespoke switcher chassis.

I know the TP90 has a skid mounted engine and generator, but is that really worth the added cost of a unique switcher?

[davefoxx]

What would be the point of the TP90 over an SW1500? The 1500 is dirt cheap used and the parts are much more plentiful than a bespoke switcher chassis.

I know the TP90 has a skid mounted engine and generator, but is that really worth the added cost of a unique switcher?

A warranty and manufacturer support, maybe?

DFF

[u18b]

What would be the point of the TP90 over an SW1500? The 1500 is dirt cheap used and the parts are much more plentiful than a bespoke switcher chassis.

I know the TP90 has a skid mounted engine and generator, but is that really worth the added cost of a unique switcher?

Good question.   

But I think you are not simply getting a "used" loco when you buy a TP90.   You are getting a refreshed trucks and the prime mover is new. 

Whereas an old dirt cheap SW1500 is old and not in rebuilt condition.

Whatever the answer, TPC is not exactly selling these locos by the droves.   The market has been very slow.   I think they've sold 4 or 5 in about 5 years.

I've been only mildly interested in the company and prototype.    I'm jazzed about these because it is such a cool critter to add to your layout.  And as I hope people have seen from this thread.... my TP70 is an EXCELLENT running switcher.

[wcfn100]

Not sure if this video is old or new to people, but it showed up on a FB post today.

Go to 35:39 if the link doesn't work.


Jason

[randgust]

The guy that bought mine was the 'engineer' of one down at Curry and had used it.   The "PC Green" one is the one I modelled, it got the striping added later.

Made the comment that one of the big disadvantages was that it took so long to charge up.   

Although it's a hybrid (think Toyota Prius on rails) with an engine, you need to be someplace where it has occasional use as apparently it had trouble with constant in-service switching keeping it at full power.   Not uncommon with gensets - advantage was a really cheap Tier 4 compliance for switchers by using smaller, cleaner engines to charge batteries.

If you look at the dead lines on BNSF at Galveston and UP's about everywhere you'll see a whole lot of parked gensets.    R. J. Corman gave up on theirs, and one of them was converted to a dead-on-disconnected-rails  version south of Conway SC (Red Hill) as more or less a promotional billboard along Rt 501 (RJC 1701).   No remaining value as an actual locomotive, make it a stuffed and mounted display like a park loco.   

So while these are cute as a kitten and fun to model, they aren't necessarily loved.  For a lot of jobs like this, a trackmobile of some kind is the modern default.

[davefoxx]

Can you imagine a TP56 hauling a Piker and an Oscar?   

DFF