Restoring an old Athearn Blue Box switcher...

[John M Upton]

Hello

 

I can't resist a challenge and made a casual bid last week for an old Athearn Blue Box switcher on Ebay.  Astounded, I won and this is what arrived a few days later:

 

 

Described by the seller as a SW1500 (that was what was on the box so I don't blame them) it most definitely isn't.  Not entirely sure for certain but I think it may be an NW2.

 

 

The pictures in the auction listing in fact did not do it justice.  I was expecting this to be a paint stripper and complete respray job but when I unpacked it, what I found was in fact a pretty impressive repaint and weathering effort, probably done some considerable time ago.

 

It has had some work done, front middle cab windows plated/filled, sun shields on side and rear cab windows and home made flush glazing:

 

 

Plus a really impressive horn for such a small loco!

 

The only cosmetic issues are a missing bell on the hood, one window is missing and the lettering/numbers are pretty scrappy (also inaccurate for anything SP related, they did have NW2's but not in this condition).

 

 

So, the paint job stays, it just needs some restoration.

 

On test it moved, sort of...  The wheels are absolutely filthy!!!

 

Time to get the top off.  Unclips very easily and reveals the chassis, at the same time locating the missing window too!

 

 

I am assuming at this point this is a very old version of Athearn's standard switcher chassis?

 

So, the plan...

 

Replace/renew lettering and numbering sympathetically with the existing paint finish.

Reinstate the window and a bell on the hood (may swap places with the horn)

Full mechanical overhaul of the chassis, if I can work out how to get it apart.

 

I like a challenge....

Edited April 3, 2022 by John M Upton

[F-UnitMad]

3 hours ago, John M Upton said:

I am assuming at this point this is a very old version of Athearn's standard switcher chassis?

 

I'd agree with that, although the soldered wires are probably the work of whoever also detailed it.

[davknigh]

The soldered wires are a replacement for a strip of spring brass that used to transfer power from the bogies to the motor that was always a source of trouble and dodgy contact. You may be able to get replacement bits from Athearn should the need arise http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?CatId=THCR

The horn(s) are not original.

 

Cheers,

 

David

[mdvle]

6 hours ago, John M Upton said:

Described by the seller as a SW1500 (that was what was on the box so I don't blame them) it most definitely isn't.  Not entirely sure for certain but I think it may be an NW2.

 

Athearn has tooled 2 models that they have called a SW1500, and only one of them is actually a SW1500.

 

The correct one was tooled in the early 90s.

 

The incorrect one tooled back in the 60s, a quick google around and it is closer to being a SW7 though Athearn sold it as a SW1500 for 20+ years.

Edited November 11, 2021 by mdvle

[John M Upton]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a exploded diagram for this old type chassis please?  Failing that, can anyone tell me how to get it apart so I can take the wheel sets out?  I am well versed with the more modern Blue Box type and they way they fall apart/go together but this solidly built beast has got me stumped!!

[2E Sub Shed]

For diagram look here

 

SW1500 diagram

 

Not sure if you have tried the loco on a test track, but the motor looks like one of the early style of Athearn motors. 

 

In a unit I had with one of these motors  the current drawn was over 1 amp, enough to trip a Bachmann dc controller. 

 

Hoseeker web site has lots of information for older US models from a number of manufacturers

 

hoseeker home page

[John M Upton]

Ooooh, that is a useful website, many thanks.

 

The correct sheet for my old relic appears to be this one:

https://hoseeker.org/assemblyexplosionAthearn/Assembly Explosion Athearn SW1500 1966.jpg

 

Once again, many thanks!

[John M Upton]

A few developments, the chassis is running but the current draw is so great, it is causing the controller to cut out.

 

Can anyone suggest a simple off the shelf drop in replacement please?

 

Meanwhile, the erroneous markings have been patched out (more noticeable in photos than in person), the ridiculously over specified Nathan P5 horn has been taken off (there is a larger loco in the workshop queue in need of one) and the window is fixed.

 

 

EDIT - PICTURES LOST IN THE GREAT MARCH 2022 RMWeb SERVER FIASCO - UNABLE TO LOCATE THE ORIGINALS

 

Just need to sort out the motor and new markings.

Edited April 3, 2022 by John M Upton

[John M Upton]

Excuse me, mysterious duplicate post!!

Edited November 23, 2021 by John M Upton

[John M Upton]

After some trail and error with the mechanicals, the SW7 is now in local MoW switcher service:

 

It still cuts out the controller from time to time so if a later manufactured spares/repair blue box with a working small motor comes my way, it will still get a heart transplant.

 

I am glad I kept the original finish, I estimate it probably had not been out of its box for very many years before I acquired it.  It is patched now for the 'Central & Western' which I have decided would have been the original name of the CenterWest shortline I run on my US HO projects and 1001 would have been their first loco, plucked from a deadline somewhere and patched before it was put to work on some abandoned branch of the old Espee empire.

Edited April 3, 2022 by John M Upton
Restoring Pictures