Class 59

[johnco]

Has anyone out there fitted working lights to a Hornby Class 59?
How easy is it and what pitfalls should I look out for?

[SRman]

I have been doing this with a Lima body (same thing!) on a Hornby chassis - the biggest problem is finding a path to run the wires without either being visible through the windscreens or getting hooked up in the cab interior. I have only done one end with headlights and marker lights but no tail lights (since the locomotive will usually be hauling trains I didn't really see the need for those). If I can refine this to make the installation neater, I'll proceed with the other end.

I used the 'lighthouse' tower type LEDs which are just the right diameter for the headlights and marker lights on the 59/0. For WIPAC light clusters on 59/1 and 59/2 locomotives you may have to find alternatives for the marker lights.

I drilled out all of the lights but filled the tail lights with Krystal Klear then tinted them red with Humbrol crimson #23 while the LEDs filled the rest of the apertures, using warm white LEDs. Using DCC I have wired them to the decoder so they are directional.

[SRman]

Adding to the previous post, here are a couple of pics. Sorry they aren't the best.

[trekvet]

And this is the effect you're after...

[img]http://i48.tinypic.com/2posdoj.jpg[/img]

[trekvet]

And this is the effect you're after...

Sorry, but Img seems not working?

Try this..

http://i48.tinypic.com/2posdoj.jpg

[SRman]

At this stage I haven't adjusted the brightness but I think I need to add more resistance to dim the marker lights on mine. While my photos don' show it very well, I think the twin headlights actually worked quite well. I'm really not happy with the over-heavy heat-shrink tubing showing through the windscreens. I'm working on ideas to improve that. More, and better, photos will follow once I have a solution ... if anyone is interested.

[martin_l_jones]

Here is a Hornby Class 59 in Yeoman livery with an Express Model Light set fitted:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGKHh8GRS6M

F0 operated the head and marker lights in the direction of operation, although the head and tail lights are independantly operated by F1 & F2..

if it's parked up both ends can have tail lights on.

[trekvet]

"if it's parked up both ends can have tail lights on."

But I rarely did that when working 59s, as the tail lamps are worked from the switch the other end (back cab). So, imagine the scenario; driver, not having done his job properly, gets into leading cab and switches off the tail lamps and away he goes. Of course the tail lamps are still lit on the front. I would leave it with the marker lamps both ends or if in the yard on a train just the front or in the yard LE, none at all.

[johnco]

As with SRman I will only be fitting the lights to one end for forward train running so will not need the red lights. I think that I will connect then directly to the track pick ups (don't mind the lights being permanently on) as I have done before on steam locos to produce firebox lights.

[nikabd]

Hi,
I have a total of eight Class 59, (4xHornby and 4xLima).
I have fitted headlights, cablight and driver to these locos. With Hornby locos, I used fibreoptics for head and tailghts bidirectional as I was able to avoid interfering with the motor which sits under metal 'housing. With lima, I used fibreoptics for head and tailghts in one direction only because its motor is exposed. Too many fibreoptics will interfere with the motor movement around tight curve.
I used Bachmann decoder36-553 except Hornby Foster Yeoman and Yeoman endeavour where I used Hornby Sapphire to mak use of its four function to independently control the headlights.
The examples are as below.

[nikabd]

Here are some more photos. Unforunately I can't find the photo of hornby Class 59 Yeoman Endeavour.

[johnco]

My Foster Yeoman class 59 has run reasonably well pulling a train of up to 15 hopper wagons on my layout(which is level all the way round) after adding a reasonable amount of lead weight to it. Since then I have bought a EWS class 59 which I have never run on my layout but have added the same weight to it.
This week I took both locos to my MRC and tried to run them with the same train on the club layout which has a slight gradient at one end. What a disaster! Wheel spin and stalling on the slight gradient whilst my other locos and those of other club members sailed up the hill with no botherwith even longer heavier trains. Extra weight was added above the motor bogies to no avail.
On closer inspection the FyY loco is fitted with traction tyres( I will replace them in case they are ineffective) but the EWS loco has smooth wheels with no groove for traction tyres.
I am disappointed as they are both fine looking locos which I would love to run regularly at the club. Other members say that there is no more room to add even more lead and are as puzzled as I am at the loco's inability to go round our layout.
The back to back and the free running of the wagon wheels were ok so there was no additional friction forces on the train.
Please, any suggestions.

[Bigmet]

Buy the cheapest Bach 66 you can find, strip down and transplant the mechanism into the 59 bodyshell, and dress it with the 59 externals: in short the way Hornby should have done the job for a loco that is a heavy drag specialist.

Or, put both the power bogies with no traction tyres into one loco and add as much weight as possible.

The problem with all single power bogie traction is that added weight must also bear to some extent on the unpowered bogie which is a source of drag, especially when it is fitted with wiper pick ups. The unpowered bogie is really part of the train to be pulled, so subtracts from whatever force the powered bogie can exert. Powering both bogies immediately overcomes this, as all the loco weight is acting for traction.

[johnco]

Thanks Bigmet, something to be considered.