EM-1 Transformation into AC-9

[carlso]

After seeing threads placed on TRW by Max, Mike, Jason, and many other builders, I am hesitant to place this one. Don't expect to see professional posts or pictures but rather I will post my jpegs as I go. I really appreciate the professionalism shown on TRW and it has inspired me to tackle this project and quite frankly with keeping the thread updated it should keep me motivated to the end. So here goes.

My intention, obviously, is to use Jason's castings for the AC-9. They are nice. I am going to gut the B'mann decoder and stuff out of the tender and install an ESU Loksound Select Micro with SP Cabforward sounds along with a Knowles Dumbo speaker. I think there is more than plenty of room. Why ESU? Because motor control, for the most part, is better than Tsunami. It also has some sounds such as open petcocks that Tsunami does not have. Having said all that, here are some pics of the casting that I received from Jason last week. I have not touched them in anyway as far as cleaning flash. I plan to wash with ammonia then spray a thin coat of flat black so when I cut off casted parts I will know exactly where to drill holes for the etched items.









I already have a problem in that I do not know what to use fore side frame on the pony, pilot, truck. Perhaps I'll find something. One other thing is that I read in the SPH&TS Trainline that when the AC-9's were converted to oil burners, it was done at the General Shops in El Paso between April & August 1950. They used " third-hand Alco tenders built for the C&O which the UP had purchased during WW II". " These "new" tenders were somewhat larger than the original design". Maybe the B'mann B&O tender would be close ? ? ?

Let the fun begin.

PS- Jason, sorry no working marker lights.

Carl

[superturbine]

Oh man, I like a SP engine with a UP tender!

Lookin good Carl.  As for the pilot truck frame I will get those cast for you.  I am glad you are doing a build thread!!!

Best,
Jason

[Teditor]

Hoping to do one of these myself, should be one on the way, I look forward to seeing how you do the build.

The Bachmann EM-1 is a great locomotive, should be a doozy as an AC-9, Jason's certainly is!

Getting some ideas as to how to go about doing the transformation will be a real bonus, bring it on!

Ted (Teditor) Freeman
Modelling the SP Down Under

[JMaurer1]

I don't want to watch...it's bad enough that I keep trying to buy a cheap EM-1 on the internet, but a build thread is just one more stumble I will have to avoid. I don't need an AC-9, I don't need an AC-9, I don't need an AC-9, I want an AC-9, no I don't need an AC-9

[Teditor]

Received my castings from Jason today, certainly fine work, I look forward to this build sequence so I can get some ideas of how to go.

Ted (Teditor) Freeman
Modelling the SP Upside down, down under.

[JMaurer1]

Dang it, I knew this was going to happen. EM-1 is on the way and I've just sent Jason a check for the AC-9. Still haven't finished the SP mountain or the GS-2/3 and now I'm starting another project...but how could I not. Jason, I have a love/hate relationship with you (mostly love...as in I love your work).

[superturbine]

With you guys we a have a really good group building AC-9s. Its will really help to share pointers and tips with each other so please share.  I think we are going to be able to accomplish a lot more!

Oh, thanks for the "complements" (correction) on the casting!

[carlso]

It has now been 10 days since I started this project, with nothing to show. I have not quit. I found that I did not have small enough wire drills and I did not have small enough wire, so I ordered both. The wire came in today from Tichy and the drill assortment, from Drill Bit City, also arrived. OMG, these things are tiny. I may need to upgrade my optivisor.

While I was waiting, I worked on the pilot. I mounted a KATO GS-4 ( black ) "cow catcher " with the stripes and also a MT 905 coupler. I put on with canopy glue so I can soak in water and remove for permanent mounting.





I know, I said black pilot but the daylight orange one that I had on hand and I used it to practice fit with. Next are the hand rails and head light. I don't know for sure if I will remount the casted HL or use the one from the EM-1.

Carl

[Teditor]

With you guys we a have a really good group building AC-9s. Its will really help to share pointers and tips with each other so please share.  I think we are going to be able to accomplish a lot more!

Oh, thanks for the complaints on the casting!

Surely you meant 'compliments' Jason.

Ted (Teditor) Freeman

[superturbine]

Surely you meant 'compliments' Jason.

Ted (Teditor) Freeman

HA!  I sure did!!Thanks t"editor"

[JMaurer1]

Since I'm waiting for my engine and boiler to arrive (just ordered it yesterday so it will still be awhile), I decided to start amassing some information for the build. There aren't a lot of pictures out 'there' of the AC-9's but luckily there are some great pictures of HO scale brass locomotives...and they are close up too. Here's photos of a Key coal burning AC-9:

http://www.brasstrains.com/Classic/Product/Detail/032237/HO

And here's the Sunset oil burning AC-9:

http://www.brasstrains.com/classic/Product/Detail/034017/HO-Precision-Scale-PSC-SP-Southern-Pacific-2-8-8-4-AC-9-Yellowstone-3809

There were 12 AC-9s built by Lima in 1939 and were numbered 3800-3811. Between 1939 and 1952, all the twelve AC-9 engines were in service between Tucumcari, New Mexico, El Paso, Texas, and Tucson, Arizona on the Rio Grande Division. Since coal was one of the main products they moved, they were built as coal burners and the SP received a reduced price for the coal from the shipper. They were Southern Pacific's largest and heaviest steam engines, partly a consequence of low quality coal the engines were designed to burn. The AC-9s were partially streamlined (the only articulated steam engines to be so equipped), having "skyline casings" inspired by Lima's GS series of 4-8-4's.

Some time between 1949 and 1953 (sources vary), they were converted to burn oil instead of coal, and in 1953 they were moved to Southern Pacific's Modoc line between Sparks, Nevada, and Alturas, California, where they worked in freight service from 1953 until retirement in 1956 (except 3800, which was used for parts for the remaining locomotives and never made it to California before being scraped).

[carlso]

JM1 and all interested,

I was born, raised and most likely will croak in El Paso. My father was a hoghead on the T&NO. The AC-9's did not run from ELP East towards Houston, but I saw them in person as a child. Big deal, but they were awesome machines.

Having said all that, I have found three sources for AC-9 pictures.

First, go onto the Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society's web page ( www.sphts.org ). You can purchase if not a member. Better yet join and help preserve the SP. They put out a quarterly magazine named " Trainline ". Look for back issues and particularly No.23. This has 4-5 pages of pictures of 3800 as being built and completed. Check it out there are some cool photos from Lima.

Also, Herron Rail Video has two nice DVD's "Southern Pacific Classic Steam with sound". There are two volumes and on, I think, the vol. #2 there are pics of an AC-9 in service.

Greg Scholl Video Production has a DVD "SP Steam Fantrips" that has video of AC-9 3809 in operation. It was working a May 8-9 , 1954 fantrip called "Piute Express" over the Modoc line. A tad bit too much scenery for my liking but there are some nice shots of 3809 working.

I am a member of SPH&TS but in no way have any connection to either of the video producers. Just sharing what I have found.

Carl

[JMaurer1]

Thanks for the info carlso. My DVD collection is rather lacking, especially since I still have dozens of RR videos on VHS...of course no VHS player. Because of that I just haven't bought very many DVD's (and don't know why I would now that DVD's are on their way to the land of steam engines and dinosaurs).

I need to check my references when I get home, but I believe there is more information in at least 2 books.

Cab Forward by Robert Church
The Modoc: Southern Pacific's Backdoor to Oregon by Jack Bowden and Tom Dill

There is also one magazine article in Mainline Modeller Jan 1997 also by Robert Church (and it includes a drawing of 3800). I''l have to see if I have a copy at home as well.

 

[Norway2112]

Carl,

Glad to see you making some progress on your AC-9.  I like what you've done with the GS-4 pilot, I had the same idea.  I was thinking about a way to graft the entire front pilot beam over so you could incorporate the Kato coupler mechanism as well. However, now that I have seen one of Jason's casting sin person I think I will try to carefully drill out a pocket and install the Z scale MTL.

Keep at it!

Phillip

[carlso]

A picture of my effort today. I should say efforts as these are the second set of handrails that I made. The first set was .020 wire, looked too large, so the second set is .010 phosphor bronze wire. Much better looking scale wise. I need to clean up a couple of solder points and add some bracing. Next up will be the stanchions and handrails as well as throttle rod for the boiler. After that some extra piping with Max's pipe hangers. I just hope my eyes and fingers are up to this.


Carl