Loco rewiring and conversion specialist

[rockershovel]

I’m looking for someone to carry out some wiring conversion work, to a K Line Hudson loco. I’d like to take this loco to the NAROGG running days, running in 12v DC, but I don’t want to damage the electronics and I need to isolate the tender whistle and bell (so it doesn’t sound continuously). I also would much prefer to keep the ability to switch between 20v AC and 12v DC. 

 

The loco is presently in original condition, with 3-Rail current collection, 20v AC. It has a can type motor in the loco, and a rectifier in the tender, linked by a wire tether which appears to have 4 wires. I don’t have a wiring diagram, and can’t locate one. 

 

There is a smoke unit in the loco, powered by traction current, with an on/off switch on the loco. 

 

The tender contains a proprietary sound unit, powered by traction current derived from centre rail collection rollers under the tender. The sound unit is in two phases - (1) various sounds (particularly a “chuffing” sound) controlled by an on/off switch under the tender (2) electronic bell and whistle, controlled by DC offsets in the traction current. 

 

There is an electronic reverser in the tender, actuated by momentary interruptions in the traction current. There is a switch under the tender to turn it on and off. 

 

As far as as I can understand it, if I could source a plug or bypass for the wire tether, switching the tender out of circuit and connecting the “power to rectifier” and “power from rectifier” wires, the loco would run on 12v DC quite happily, and reverse from the transformer. I’m unclear whether the loco and tender have a common traction current connection, there is no reason to isolate them, after all. 

 

So, the task is (1) install a plug, or underbody switch to bypass the tether (2) install an underbody switch to isolate the centre collection rollers on the tender from the whistle, bell and sound units 

 

there are a couple of secondary tasks worth investigating (1) the whistle and loco sounds are, to be charitable, “Old technology” and running them on 50Hz, instead of 60Hz does them no favours. A better sound suite would be nice. (2) I assume that the tender and loco are electrically connected via the drawbar, but don’t know if the collection rollers are connnected. It would improve connection if they were connected. 

 

I suspect that this isn’t a particularly difficult job, to someone with suitable experience, a multi-meter and soldering iron. So, I’m open to suggestions, offers or recommendations for this?