Model Railroading > HO Athearn "Hustler" 4 wheel switcher

I just picked up a Hustler switcher the other day with the rubber-band drive. I think years ago, someone made gearing for these engines. Anyone know where a set of gears might be had? Thanks for any answers.

SantaFeRuss

Ernst made the regear set but they are long out of business. Help from TO members or luck on one of the auction sites will be your best shot at the Ernst gears.

NWSL makes Stanton drives which will get you a can motored DCC ready drive if you want to gold plate that Hustler.

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Didn't Athearn gear them later?

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> Didn't Athearn gear them later?

No, it was always rubber band driven.


Chris Toth
NSDash9.com

Since Hustlers go about 300 scale MPH, I always thought it would be fun to jack one up under the cab, add sidepipes and a through the hood blower, and give it a red flame paint job...

Is there any prototype basis for the "Hustler"??

Using the great and powerful Google, I discovered what could be a replacement for the now hard-to-find Ernst repower kit:
http://www.hollywoodfoundry.com/hustler.htm
$100 or so...which seems steep to me...but I guess it's all in what it's worth to you...

As for the Hustler itself, there is no known prototype, although it looks to me like a crude representation of a Whitcomb 35-tonner. Lots of "industrial" locomotive builders like Davenport, Plymouth had similar looking locos, and Industry switchers tended to be "one off" styles--each one a little different than the next. I suppose that's part of their charm.
Google around, you'll find that these engines are pretty popular in the kitbash and On30 crowd for their availability and relative value.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/14 06:49 by DrLoco.

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> Didn't Athearn gear them later?


Someone made a modified rubber band drive, it was geared down to run a shaft at a slower speed. Had one but that was...... well lets just say that I was somewhat younger back then. The rubber band produced a strange happening when suddenly stopped it would stretch and the engine would kind of jerk back and forth after stopping. Some one help out here, didn't Lionel also sell one, possibly one that Athearn made for them?

DrLoco Wrote:
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> Using the great and powerful Google, I discovered
> what could be a replacement for the now
> hard-to-find Ernst repower kit:
>
> $100 or so...which seems steep to me...but I guess
> it's all in what it's worth to you...
>
> As for the Hustler itself, there is no known
> prototype, although it looks to me like a crude
> representation of a Whitcomb 35-tonner. Lots of
> "industrial" locomotive builders like Davenport,
> Plymouth had similar looking locos, and Industry
> switchers tended to be "one off" styles--each one
> a little different than the next. I suppose
> that's part of their charm.
> Google around, you'll find that these engines are
> pretty popular in the kitbash and On30 crowd for
> their availability and relative value.

A live steam club down in CA made several gas powered ones in 1 1/2" scale and run very nice no they don't use fan belts to run them either.

> A live steam club down in CA made several gas
> powered ones in 1 1/2" scale and run very nice no
> they don't use fan belts to run them either.

THAT would end badly if they did!
I think the Tyco version of these critters was prone to catching fire if you foolishly tried to run it at full speed...

Well, there is a 3 axle switcher out there now, saw a pic in the new Model Railroader.
Then, I found this on TO that I missed, don't usually go to Canada much...;)
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?15,3380042,3381879#msg-3381879
Not exactly a Hustler, but it is real! Might try to kitbash one someday!

Jim Montague
IRVINE, CA
Train and Nature photo Art

SantaFeRuss Wrote:
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> I just picked up a Hustler switcher the other day
> with the rubber-band drive. I think years ago,
> someone made gearing for these engines. Anyone
> know where a set of gears might be had? Thanks for
> any answers.
>
> SantaFeRuss


The Lionel units I've purchased are gear-driven. They're out there, usually on e-bay, and sometimes under 30.00.
The motor leaves something to be desired, but it's better than the 300mph RBD Athearn.
I converted an Athearn unit to NWSL power using an Athearn SD40-2 power truck with the center axle removed (wheelbase is very close) using one of NWSL's mini-can motors and modifying the existing sideframes for re-use. There was even room for a Digitrax DH163 inside. Runs like a switch watch. Helluva project though...

We assembled Hustlers under contract to Athearn when I worked at the Cliff Line (1962 to 1964), They sure were fun on the test track!

Cheers,
Jack



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/21/14 22:17 by africansteam.

jburek Wrote:
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> Is there any prototype basis for the "Hustler"??


I have a couple pictures of prototype critters that could be done as an easy beginner's kitbash with a Hustler. I'll post them when I get home if someone else doesn't beat me to it.

There is nothing more fun than a Hustler with rubber band drive.
Why one would want to slow it down is beyond me.....

Here are the critter picks I mentioned. Not claimed as original works.

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Where were prototype photos taken? Wording looks like eastern Europe yet there is a knuckle coupler visible...

The Lionel version was called the "Husky". The one I have had 2 speeds...dead stop and rocket off the table.

WrongWayMurphy Wrote:
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> There is nothing more fun than a Hustler with
> rubber band drive.
> Why one would want to slow it down is beyond
> me.....


ROFLMAO!!!

Always wondered why the wheels never flattened when you shut the power off after a launch. Would slide down the length of our 4x8 layout.

boejoe Wrote:
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> Where were prototype photos taken? Wording looks
> like eastern Europe yet there is a knuckle coupler
> visible...

Language looks like Dutch or maybe Belgian