Elvas Tower: PE 1556 Freight Motor 1930's Version - Elvas Tower

PACIFIC ELECTRIC RAILWAY 47-TON 1556-1565-CLASS FREIGHT LOCOMOTIVE
1930's ERA SUBURBAN FREIGHT ENGINE.
7.2 Meter Wire Height Only
3D MODELs AND TEXTURES ©2010 By Tim Muir
Cabview by Tim Muir
Sounds, lighting and physics by Chuck Zeiler.
Crew figures by Tom Werb, modified and added using freight animation with his permission.

!!You must have at least Bin Patch v1.7.1022 installed in your MSTS root folder to use this model or you will get engine file errors!!

This is a 1930's version with the main headlight mounted on the cab next to the auxiliary light, painted in the correct SP "Electric Lines Red" dark crimson, mineral red roof and dark yellow lettering. The trucks are painted a faded olive green.

The PE inherited the ten units of the 1556-1565 class in the great Merger of 1911, which were built by predecessor "Old Pacific Electric" Ry in 1909. They were small critters, 32 feet between pulling faces, 18 foot wheel base, and just 12'-2" high to the top of the roof. Four of the ten had 4- 75hp motors and were used for light duties and switching. The remainder were fitted out with 4- 140hp motors and were used on mainline freight duties. The big Westinghouse L4 controllers meant that these units were never MU-capable. They were refurbished somewhat during World War 2, being among the first to receive the new black paint and white stripes and lettering used during the war. They lasted just a couple of years post WW2, and were all gone by 1949, scrapped and burned at Torrance Shops.

Looking at the couple dozen photos I have of these motors, it's apparent that no two were alike. Each had their own specific arrangement of hood doors, roof details, pilot attachments, steps, even windows. The builders must have had a free hand when constructing the bodies, changing things as they produced each unit. Makes it interesting if not a little tedious for making litter-mates. So to make other units in the class will require a different shape and artwork for each, no quick repaints for these guys.

Model built in TSMv1.1© by Abacus®, using official PE 2-view general arrangement drawings. Many railroad-specific parts had to be made by eye-ball "guess-timations". The cab view was built in 3D using Train Sim Modeler, posed, animated and photographed in Shape Viewer. Much help was freely given by Steve Thomas in getting the controller animations sorted out, and I thank him many times.


To reverse the single trolley pole, key Ctrl+NumPad8.

To close left-hand windows, hit: Ctrl+NumPad7.

To close right-hand windows, hit: Ctrl+NumPad9.

Credits:

Tom Werb for allowing me the use of his original TSM files to include the crew members.
Steve Thomas for his assistance in sorting out the controller animations in the cab view.
Jim Bebenroth for testing the original in the sim.
Steve Meyers for testing the original in the sim.
Bernard R. Trubowitz for testing this version.

Thanks, all.

Tim Muir
8-19-12
Railroad Earth Models