Model Railroading > Factory Direct Trains Trackmobile Goes Under The Lights

Got my Factory Direct Trains Trackmobile this morning. All I can say is WOW! These guys went all out on this, the weight to size ratio is amazing, lots of heavy metal parts inside. I took it down to the layout to test it out. The gearing is such that it will make a great switcher, lots of throttle = slow smooth acceleration. It is a little noisy, but that can be expected when the motor is the size of a jelly bean. All the parts fit together very well and the combination of cast metal, finely molded plastic, and etched metal parts will definitely make the expensive Overland Models Inc. brass equivalent depreciate in value a lot. I plan on super detailing this baby, but for right now here are the photos...


30 detail & tear down photos here -> http://www.pbase.com/mrmrl/fdt_trackmobile&page=all


Mr. MRL

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Pull Limit that I tested was 7 Athearn RTR coal gons on straight level track. I would probably stick to between 4 & 5 cars for normal operations.

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A few selected tear down photos to see what is inside...

* the black block I removed below is an additional weight inside the unit. It is still heavy without the weight, if you wanted to operate without it.

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Couple more.,

including the factory installed DCC decoder.


Mr. MRL

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Nice shots. Here are some shots of the Overland model from their website. You can get the DC version of the Factory Direct trackmobile for $69.00 and the DC Overland for $307.00. They did a nice job on the Factory Direct ones.

Bruce

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Any way to get a DCC decoder in there?

rdb3 Wrote:
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> Any way to get a DCC decoder in there?


Already in the FDT version, I don't know bout the OMI one...

see above...


Mr. MRL

You can buy the Factory Direct unit with or without a decoder installed so obviously if you need DCC, order it that way. MRL's pictures show the decoder. I wonder who makes the decoder? MRL, can you see any of the DCC manufacturers names on the decoder board? If not, you can use decoder pro to get a manufacturer's ID off the decoder also to ID it. MRL, there is a real video on UTube what appears to be a MRL Trackmobile in Laurel, Montana. See link below. Hmmm.

Bruce

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBgfxoU-2_I



rdb3 Wrote:
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> Any way to get a DCC decoder in there?

Sounds like something to kick around the cars with at the big grain elevator...

Can the tires on these be moved to the "down" position? I've been thinking of grabbing one, but would like to be able to display it on its tires next to the grain elevator it serves when not in use.

Joe

brfriedm Wrote:
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> MRL, can you see any of the DCC manufacturers names on
> the decoder board? If not, you can use decoder pro
> to get a manufacturer's ID off the decoder also to
> ID it.

The FDT paperwork included in the box indicates that the DCC board was "custom-designed by NCE" (Decoder Version 3.6). Factory address is 03.

From the book,

The DCC version is equipped with EPF (extended packet format) supporting:
• Silent Running™ motor drive, torque compensation for ultra smooth low speed performance
• Programable start, mid, and max speed works for all speed modes
• Motor rating 1.3 Amp continuous, 2 Amp peak (stall)
• All three function outputs have lighting effects
• Select from 15 different lighting effects (Mars, strobes, beacons, flicker, etc)
• Function outputs cam be mapped to different functions
• Two or Four digit addressing
• Uploadable speed table interpolated to 128 speed steps
• 28 and 128 Speed model operation (always works internally at 256 steps)
• Support for all forms of DCC programming
• Decorer programming lock mechanism
• Brake on DC feature assists automatic train control


I guess it is possible to add lights to this thing?




> MRL, there is a real video on UTube what
> appears to be a MRL Trackmobile in Laurel,
> Montana. See link below. Hmmm.

Bruce that is the trackmobile used at the BNSF Welded Rail facility along the south side of MRL's Laurel Yard. Last time I was up there I was amazed how much rail they had laying around. Picture 50' long sections of rail placed in rows of 60-70 across, then crisscross stacked about 10 high, then imagine about 25 of those stacks, THAT is a lot of rail!


Mr. MRL - over 140 miles of rail, or 70 miles of track...

That is one beautiful little model! From "tear down" photo #4, it appears that this model is single axle drive; is this correct?

lynnpowell Wrote:
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> That is one beautiful little model! From "tear
> down" photo #4, it appears that this model is
> single axle drive; is this correct?


Correct, both axles pick up power off the rail, but only one axle is geared to the driveshaft.


Mr. MRL

I don't suppose it's a dual mode decoder?

Here's the CANDO version in real life.

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TheCurator Wrote:
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> I don't suppose it's a dual mode decoder?



Works for DC & DCC on my layout. Think that is dual mode.

Mr. MRL

My DC version of the "Wee Beastie" arrived here in Scotland on 1st April - Absolutely awesome! quiet, slow running - I cobbled up a 3-2-2 Inglenook with some old, un-cleaned track and a couple of PECO dead-frog Setrack turnouts, and hitched up a Bachmann trainset controller (if you are going to try it - do it under the worst conditions rather than the best!) - and away she went! It will run happily at a scale walking pace - top speed looks to be about 30mph, but I can't imagine anyone is going to run it at that speed! The only stall was caused by a loose fishplate, quickly cured!. Dimensions:
Length: 50mm. Length over coupler: 58mm; Width: 36mm; Height above rail: 39mm; Wheelbase: 40mm. Weight 4oz (1/4 lb). The coupler at the cab end is a dummy - the platform end has a Kadee-type. The wheels are movable since the arms are attatched by screws - I'm inclined to leave it sitting at the end of a track when not in use, though.
I am really impressed and pleased with this product - FDT are to be congratulated.
Jack

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In the last photo that was attached, why does it look like the rubber tires are crooked? And the one seems to be off the rim partly? Do the rubber tires move around that much? Just curious as my brain is thinking about something.....

Glad to hear the DCC works on DC. I want to get one, but don't know if/when
I'll ever get a layout, and would like to get the DCC version, but would like
it to run on DC too. I plan on using it in a car shop. CSX has some of these
around their system, although I don't know the exact model, I do know they're
trackmobiles. Even if it's not right, it's probably as close as I'll get :)

The tires are fairly loose on the wheel - It may be that they are intended to still move if the tires ground on a hardstanding...

That is one awesome little switcher!!!

Checked out the website. Hope they have permission to use the Beach Boys song, or the surfer dudes will move up to sue them pronto!!!

Reasonably priced--$69.95 for DC and $99.95 for DCC. . . I think Mr. MRL needs to M.U. about two-dozen of them up to use as his Mullan Pass helpers!!!