Mail Call

In the mail the past couple of days were two new to me Marklin Z scale locos, one USRA Mikado that was missing some pieces (motor brushes, pony truck, a couple of screws and its tender) and a Mogul that was complete. My plans are to make some Nn3 locos out of them.

I have discovered the USRA Mikado is essentially the same mechanism as the 8827 German BR41 loco which I use to make Nn3 EBT locos, the only difference is the pilot (it has an American style cow catcher) and the wheel center color (black instead of red). By happy coincidence it has a 5 pole motor so I won't have to swap them out. I had been led to believe the drivers were different sizes but I was glad to see they are not.

The USRA chassis is, in short, a much better starting point for my East Broad Top locos than the German style locos. I have a few of the 8827 chassis that I may sell off and then I'll purchase some USRA chassis instead. There are a handful right now on the auction site that don't have tenders but I'm balking at the listed prices, I think it's too high for what is essentially half the package.

As for the second loco, I have one already that I have converted into an Nn3 loco, I had to change the motors from a 3 pole to a 5 pole on that one. Much to my happy surprise the new loco is already a 5 pole. I have an RLW kit ready to put on this loco but I might change it up a bit instead of building it as delivered.

I also ordered some 5 pole motors for the three 8827 chassis I have that have three polers. I may not need them if I decide to get the USRA chassis instead, but I'll hold on to them just in case.