Rebuilding a Roundhouse Boxcab

[sailormatlac]

I was just working on a Bachmann GE 44 ton to get it working again and possible use the drive for a boxcab. One of the axles was split and I needed a replacement. I borrowed the four axles from a Bachmann GE 70 ton and they fit perfect even they have a larger diameter of 10.5 mm vs 9.5 mm. That might solve one problem ( "wheels are too small (33" vs 38")" ).

The noise of the GE 44 to drive is hard to define. Bachmann has very little quality control with those old models. You should try to test several and buy the most silent runner. The more silent runners work together with a sound decoder fine. The sound, even at a very low volume, will predominate the drive noise.
I have one behind me in the very quite room (1:48 am) and the volume of the Loksound is set to 15 out of 64. The drive sound is virtually not noticeable.

Unfortunately, I don't have anymore the occasion to try my locomotives before buying them. The remaining LHS is notorious for selling is model railroading item at blown up prices and he probably doesn't carry this model. I'm not eager to travel 500 km to the next one that would have them in store!

I have a GE 44-Ton (which isn't meant to to bashed). It is quite noisy even if relatively new. I'm also thinking the noise would be overpowered by the sound decoder under normal circumstances (at least, at some point).

Good to know 36" inches wheel replacements are available. 2 inches discrepancy is more tolerable (0.5 mm)!!! The next question is to find out if the frame can be shortened by 6.5mm.

Matt