Bachman 3-car 158 - moving the motor

[Rhydgaled]

I've been wondering, if I bought a 3-car 158, how hard would it be to move the motor into one of the end cars? This would allow the unit to be run as a 2-car unit sometimes. Has anyone done this?

[beast66606]

Alternatively just buy a 2 car as they are models of different units

[beast66606]

Or do a "Wessex Trains" (RIP) on a two car and just stick half of another 158 on the front and call it a 3 car

 

Not only Wessex, Central and TPX did the same - on my "to do" list

[br-nse-fan]

I've been wondering, if I bought a 3-car 158, how hard would it be to move the motor into one of the end cars? This would allow the unit to be run as a 2-car unit sometimes. Has anyone done this?

 

I'll check tonight when I get home and see if the chassis can be swapped easily enough.

[John M Upton]

I believe that the actual chassis frames for the centre and driving cars are all but identical. I did a two car Class 158 conversion from a SWT 159 a few years back and apart from some swearing with the head/tail lighting, it was all fairly straightforward.