| Robert Dollar No. 3 | June, 2010 |
| ©2010 Daniel Cortopassi
| Please do not redistribute without permission. Usage Info |
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Oriental Limited 2-6-2T, Robert Dollar No. 3
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Overview
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I found this locomotive on eBay for a good price and couldn't resist. I was amazed that any manufacturer had ever modeled the Robert Dollar No. 3, a locomotive I have seen many times on the Niles Canyon Railway in Fremont, California. Of all the steam engines operating on the NCRY, No. 3 is special to me because I got to ride on it during the filming of Steamfest 2007. That video features some footage I shot over the roof of No. 3 as it was in motion.
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This model is made by Ajin and was imported by Oriental Limited in 1981. The eBay seller was honest in stating that the locomotive did not run, so I was not surprised when I put it on a test track and nothing happened. A little investigating revealed that while the Sagami motor works, the gearbox is bad. It has plastic gears and at least one of them is cracked.
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I removed the motor and gearbox and the good news is that the mechanism is otherwise sound with no binding. A couple of things need to be straightened out for better appearance.
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Cosmetic Changes
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Ajin modeled this locomotive "as built", which differs in a few details from how the No. 3 appears today. Most notably, the fuel bunker was extended and the locomotive was converted to an oil burner. The rear headlight was also moved. I will have to modify my model to reflect these changes, as it want it to look like No. 3 does today. The fuel bunker extension will be the hardest. The good news is that when I fabricate an oil tank to sit inside the fuel bunker it can double as a speaker enclosure.
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Electronics
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It's a little early to be thinking too much about electronics at this point, but I will want DCC and sound in this locomotive, plus the headlights will have to operate.
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When I get around to working on this thing, the first order of business will be to fit a new gearbox and probably a new motor. This will require re-quartering the drivers, a thing that I have done before but am not looking forward to, as it has to be perfect or the locomotive will never run right.
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Also, the electrical pickup situation needs to be addressed. Right now the locomotive will short out my DCC layout, and is designed to pick up power from only three wheels on one side and two on the other. For reliable operation a locomotive, especially one as small as this, needs to get power from all its wheels.
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Review
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Since this model is not yet operable I can only comment on the appearance. I have not taken a ruler and measured anything, but aside from the differences in the fuel bunker it looks to closely match the photos I have taken of the real No. 3. I may need to add the odd detail here and there, like the antlers on the present-day No. 3!
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Fortunately the lettering on No. 3 is very basic, and can probably be reproduced using simple alphabet decals. Spelling out the name on the side will be tedious, but it's only one model. I don't know when I will get around to working on this thing, but I think it will be a neat little model when it's done!
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