The Chronicles of Norm #30 - 6755 Rides Again

[@rsquared5156]

Norm, I love seeing your mods of the modern era locomotives. I was "the electronics guy" of the Lionel repair shop that I used to work in years ago (service station #20), and nobody comes close to the level of work that you do. I love watching you tear some locomotives apart, just to put them back together again. Your mechanical/electrical skills are second to none. Outstanding job brother.

[@SidsTrains]

Yet another great install Norm!!! Blunami fits this model very well. That first test on the layout sounded amazing. The dynamic exhaust provides so much variation in the chuff intensity. The bass was on point when setting off from a stand.

[@normstrains]

These are a lot of fun. Trying to decide on my next Blunami project. Maybe a diesel?

[@Audamus]

@@normstrains Amazing video Norm and love seeing more Blunami upgraded engines grace your layout! I highly recommend a diesel road switcher so you can experience local switching ops with Train Brake/Independent Brake from Blunami. Really adds that next layer of immersion that you just can't get from DCS/Legacy/TMCC. Looking forward to your future projects!

[@Mr.Funk92]

Love to see yet another upgrade! Still waiting for someone to do a tutorial on how to make electro couplers work with Bluenami.

[@peterdoel6447]

Thank you for sharing. From someone who never had a model railway, you communicate the hobby so well. I can participate virtually if nothing else!

[@TexasTedS]

Great work as usual Norm! It's evident that Blunami motor control is much, much better than the EOB that was in there at the beginning of the video. Regarding "alternatives"... I would like to see you try a RailPro decoder, or AirWire from CVP Products. Like some others, I'm just not a fan of controlling my trains with a touchscreen device. The physical remotes for the systems I mentioned aren't terribly expensive. And with a "helper circuit" like the one you put in the 6755's tender, a loco with RailPro or AirWire could be operated on any hi-rail layout. Please think about it. Thanks for sharing!!

[@bearowen5480]

Another great one, Norm! I never cease to be amazed by your modeling and electromechanical skills. Your videos are always greatly informative and entertaining to view. I could never do what you do, but it's always fascinating to watch a great master at work. Happy New Year! Bear Owen, Broomfield, Colorado 🐻🇺🇲

[@normstrains]

Happy new year! 🎉

[@roberthoffhines5419]

Living vicariously through your videos. Splendid! I have an old Weaver brass 3768 K4 Torpedo I adore with no sounds. Hmmmmm....

[@tony8074]

Happy New Year Norm. Always love a new vlog, thanks bro.

[@SaturnMist09]

As always absolutely fantastic and another beautiful addition to the layout! Well done and Happy New Year!

[@visionarylocomotiveworks9703]

You can never have too many M1's! It seems like your videos get better with each succeeding one, Norm. The Blunami system sounds awesome in such a big beefy locomotive. My buddy Blake just upgraded one of my locomotives to Blunami, and I've been super impressed with how robust, packed and versatile it is. I've just gotten started with 3rd Rail locomotives, so I might make any future purchases for this system in mind, especially with how Blunami makes it extremely easy to add road-specific sounds.

[@train-addict4656]

Very Cool , Nice meeting @York you were very down to earth …Domenic !

[@markofthenorth8918]

Awesome video thank you for sharing

[@franksmodels29]

Looks fantastic Happy New Year 🎉🎉🎉

[@conrailfan6277]

Awesome work Norm, it's cool decoder manufacturers have come around to building stuff for 3 rail operators!!! That paint job really makes that locomotive pop for sure, Happy New Year to you and yours Norm!!!

[@bigsparky65]

I'm jealous, you have all those beautiful STEAM Locomotives 🚂 ♥️

[@JC-xf5jc]

Great video as usual 👍🏼

[@cstoia]

That turned out amazingly well!

[@xfiles-thetruthisoutthere8038]

Oh so sweet !

[@duanedrouillard2495]

The 123 block is a huge heat sink, soldering on other material will transfer heat much faster

[@normstrains]

Just using it as a current path for the scrap parts I was playing with. I have nice little slab of 1” steel I will use in the future. I was using the low tap on the transformer too.

[@barkonious]

I Use a resistance soldering unti a lot because I have a lot of brass and do work on it. It is such ab ig help can't wait to see you using it more. Also when soldering on castings I like to use soldering tweezers because you can hold the part and soldering more efficiently.

[@normstrains]

I need to get the tweezers!

[@johnmalvasio3720]

Go to micro mark. That's where I purchased my system. Love it for 3rd rail engine repairs. Tried a regular soldering iron and mini torch, but as I repaired a part on my Allegany tender, another part would heat up and fall off. LOL, it was so frustrating. Resistance Soldering is the best way to repair brass.

[@normstrains]

@@johnmalvasio3720 will do. Have you tried a hot air system yet?

[@UncleMattstrains]

Great video man thanks for all the good info I'm really interested in the soldering gun would love to have some more info on that

[@rdgk1se3019]

I have the resistance soldering rig with the tweezer points made by American Beauty, yeah it does cost a bit more......but I did get it on sale from Micro Mark.........it works good for what I do in N and HO scales.

[@CPR2839]

You can also adjust the sensitivity of the intense chuff if you want to happen sooner.

[@marslightmodeling1753]

Awesome. I’ve got to give this Blunami a try

[@OasisPalms]

Very nice! Can you do a quick update running both Blunami units simultaneously? I'm excited to see how they operate together.

[@normstrains]

I hope to someday soon. I just need to find that last cab number M1a!

[@parts323]

Nice. I have the same resistant soldering system I works rather well for the price.

[@TheRambles]

The handwritten text on the yellow tape appears to be in Chinese. While handwriting can sometimes be difficult to interpret, the characters seem to read: • 前 (qián) - meaning “front.” • 后 (hòu) - meaning “back.” This is likely a label indicating orientation, such as “front” and “back,” for assembly or positioning purposes.

[@normstrains]

@@TheRambles interdasting! Thanks for the info!

[@Keystone-Bill]

You out did yourself again brother! Great job! You have me leaning toward Bluenami installs on my 3rd rail engines. Question, antenna installation not necessary and what is the range of its reception?

[@normstrains]

Reception seems to be comparable to TMCC. The app lets you know when you lose communication. Running from upstairs and in my shop was a bit sketchy. I thought brass and diecast shells would give me grief but not really.

[@Keystone-Bill]

@ That’s great I thought it would shield it. Are you doing a double head with the consolidated? I know you don’t use smoke at all but does it have the ability to send a chuff signal to a smoke unit or super chuffer that John Will makes?

[@normstrains]

@@Keystone-Bill I may try a doubleheader soon! No chuff in/out capability. Since I don't run smoke it's not a big deal at this point for me. The tradeoff for not having an input which could give me a crankpin synched chuff is that I don't have to hassle out a chuff switch arrangement.

[@SteamFan42]

Norm. Great video. What other projects do you have on the workbench? Have you ever thought about giving your prototype Q2 #6131 the correct sized front deflectors?

[@normstrains]

Tons of projects! Not sure the Q2s ever had deflectors. I know the sheet metal above the front cylinders went through a lot of changes though.

[@SteamFan42]

@@normstrains That's the stuff, I always thought that sheet metal above the first set of cylinders was to be a deflector of some kind. The #6131 was the prototype and had more metal there than the production ones. I look forward to more videos, thank you!

[@dektold76]

Looks 👍

[@andyoutlaww7494]

I think you should’ve left that locomotive clean. You don’t always need to whether every locomotive I get it looks realistic, but if it was mine, I would’ve left it nice and clean

[@normstrains]

I have a secret fleet of clean engines. 😅

[@shadowmanmc1130]

👍👍👍👍

[@kenmunozatmmrrailroad6853]

Is it just me or are those some seriously stout axles on that tender?

[@normstrains]

Most of our axles are too skinny!

[@honestlyforreal6304]

I thought it was real in the opener!

[@paulwalkowiak1182]

I thought Pennsylvania used as a standard a round hearld instead of a keystone hearld. Whatever I still love it.

[@michaelramsey82]

They used a round herald around the turn of the century. It was later changed to a keystone, and the heralds on all the locomotives were replaced one by one over time.

[@leisureshoot]

Why not 3D print the loco number on the keystone too? Even if you can't get perfect resolution, perhaps you could get partial resolution and then use the decals to refine the look.

[@normstrains]

I am trying to find a drawing of all the numbers!

[@paulwalkowiak1182]

Have you ever installed complete electronics Williams trains?

[@normstrains]

Never had a Williams. Some of their steam seems similar to early Weaver.

[@officialpennsyjoe]

It's a shame TCS has not come up with their own "Blue-WOW" yet because I am sure you would prefer their sound sets more over Soundtraxx. It really does not get more realistic in terms of steam sounds when it comes with TCS. I hope they give you O-gauge guys something at some point because WOW with O-gauge bass speakers will be a match made in heaven!

[@normstrains]

I’d love to have more choices! If someone could offer a chuff input I would be all over it. Right now I’m happy to have this option as it offers an escape path from the 3 rail proprietary systems.

[@officialpennsyjoe]

@normstrains 100% Bluenami works well for the time being.

[@mattboylan8718]

Hi Norm, long time follower/viewer here, have you ever worked on a 3rd rail engine for anyone besides your self? I have a 3rd rail big boy that is in dire need of help

[@normstrains]

Sometimes I help out local pals but with my work schedule I can’t take on the extra responsibility.

[@mattboylan8718]

@ completely understandable, is there any 3rd rail repair guys out there that you know of and feel safe recommending? I’ve tried to contact sunset models via social media but haven’t had much luck on that path.

[@superwarp12]

You had any issues with Bluetooth range? You’ve convinced have convinced me to give it a try. I have a Kline mikado this would be perfect for

[@normstrains]

It can be a bit sketchy from another room or from upstairs but no issues on the layout.

[@penncentral8885]

Ok, I'm confused here, just looked at the website and it says their products are not compatible with 3rail O scale like Lionel or Atlas? Help me understand what's going on here😂

[@normstrains]

@@penncentral8885 where’s it say that? Maybe they don’t want crazy 3 railers besmirching their products! 😂

[@penncentral8885]

@normstrains now I can't find it 😞 can't blame them for not wanting 3railers though 😆 that's valid! My concern is exactly what you mentioned in the video. I figure Lionel will ( and already has to some existent) migrate away from TMCC, I run that primarily, really not looking to buy $3000.00 locomotives that in 3 years or less the electronics aren't supported. So I'm scrambling to find something basic that I can use to replace TMCC when it's gone. I'm not interested in all the fancy stuff, I just want lights and it'd be nice to have the substitute for the EOB on the engines.

[@penncentral8885]

@@normstrains If you are new to SoundTraxx and are unfamiliar with our products, knowing which product is most suited to your needs may seem to be a difficult choice. We can simplify this decision with the following steps: 1. Understand the Basics All SoundTraxx products are DCC-compatible All SoundTraxx products have sounds available for both steam and diesel models. Some SoundTraxx products will also work on DC or ‘analog’ layouts No SoundTraxx products are compatible with 3-rail (AC) layouts such as Lionel or Williams

[@penncentral8885]

I'm learning this technology, sorry, I believe it's referring to the sound boards here.

[@normstrains]

@ the power requirements are here: soundtraxx.com/products/blunami/blu-4408 The bridge rectifier and filter cap across 18vac track power puts the dc voltage at the Blunami around 26vdc, which is within its input voltage range.