Rivarossi Berkshire Restoration

[@cjfauxx6266]

Last week I picked up a vintage one (1973) from the back of my area's local train store. All it needed was a pin to connect the tender (which provides power to motor). So I used a small bolt and nut. For the wiring in the tender to deliver power to the motor, I made a loose wire that can connect to the drawbar. Also, I did reoil the gearboxes and polished the wheels. Now it runs very well and just needs some weights to improve the traction. Can currently pull about 7 - 10 cars.

[@skylitejunction5589]

Very nice restoration. My Rivarossi Cab Forward had the same shafts feel like they’re missed place. But it still runs absolutely fine. Glad you got the engine working again. Whenever you decide to get a tender for it, it’s a Nickel Plate Road one, in case you don’t know. :)

[@Petemonster62]

SMT - That was a creative solution - to use a length of metal tubing to replace the drive shaft!

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

That runs perfectly! Your driveshaft modifications are better than the engine originally was with that proper metal drive shaft. Very nice work! Rivarossi locos are a lot of fun, I have one of their AC-12 Cab Forwards.

[@trainstorm1225]

I have a Riverossi Pere Marquette 1225. (Also a Berkshire) Mine was in really good condition, it just needed some LED changes, DCC decoder, sound, and a good clean. They’re really wonderful locomotives.

[@davidztog9011]

🚂 Rivarossyco? Tycarossi? Way to go Harrison - - Determination and Ingenuity! 👍 Tyco to the rescue. Never underestimate the power of Tyco.

[@yogistanu55]

Ain't NUTHIN like a Rivarossi Berkshire!! Hope you find a matching Tender! Depending on the age they can be Growlers and need to be warmed up to really get the full effect!! Always check constant cleaning...especially those drivers. Check your track as well Dust & Dirt are everywhere!! I have 4 of these beauties and you've made quite a score...Listen to that lonesome whistle calling!! Good job and keep it up!

[@yambo59]

What a great looking engine, love the detail on the smoke box!

[@highspeedboom]

When you said “cut off that part of the frame” I already knew I couldn’t tell you no, don’t do that just turn the gear box around, because this was dated sept 2019. You should try using JB Weld or get a spare frame as these 2-8-4 Rivarossi Berkshire’s need that weight you cut off, and the extra weights you found in there. The last owner added those for much needed traction. I use tungsten for added weight when I can find it. It is HEAVY.! Good video, and hope you get more Rivarossi’s in your collection. And yes the correct tender will help a lot.

[@rosaleal6043]

MATE YOU ARE THE MASTER OF THE BOGE FIELD REPAR. Grate video ceep it up 😉😉

[@WasatchGarandMan]

I enjoyed you're efforts in trying to restore this Berk, You did a good job! One of these days you should try and sand cast a new metal chassie for it. Maybe out of a heavier metal

[@cprmainline1607]

Such a beautiful locomotive. You can buy a tender off eBay for cheap. I just ordered the nickel plate road 765 DCC sound off of eBay for $150

[@RetailThrone]

Nice! I have a nuetral chance on getting a never opened bachmann 765 DCC locomotive. But Im gonna try to get it at least. Berkshires and NKP are amazing.

[@familycat9949]

I have one

[@colbeausabre8842]

Nickle Plate Class S-3 #779 was the last steam locomotive in the US built by a commercial builder (Lima May 1949). The NKP's S series were descended from the Erie's S-4 class, had duplicates on the RF&P and close cousins on the PM, C&O and VGN. They made up the true "Superpower" Berkshires with 69 inch drivers that could pull a mile of freight as fast as anyone cared to go. Their only competition was L&N's class M-1 "Big Emmas" which also had 69 inch drivers.

[@quintinbarnhart]

Excellent! The idea of extra weight in the boiler for any larger rivarossi loco is not necessarily to pull a ton of cars, it’s to be able to pull cars in the first place! They have always been very light on their feet, and a running joke is that they can barely pull their own tender, let alone a car. While I’m sure you don’t need a ton of weight, a few ounces extra won’t stress the mechanism and will allow you to run a 6 car train comfortably. The last rivarossi I worked on, we put tungsten weights into the boiler and upgraded to a can motor with a different gear box. It would pull the side of a house down if you let it!

[@phoenixsmith8148]

You should go to the Brampton train show this October Lots of vendors with fine prices and cool layouts

[@ThomasG2-Chuklenuts]

Amazing video! Came here as I have issues with mine, won't pull a train forward except if I give it maximum power, but it works perfectly fine in reverse. I've dismantled it multiple times to try to fix it without any success...

[@collinnoble1382]

Well done amigo! You definitely have a gift!

[@crsrdash-840b5]

The tender would need to medium to large heavy 6-axle to supply enough fuel to the firebox.

[@EmborFrost]

It would nice if you could put a reference link to the store you got your parts from, if it's online. Sometimes your audience might want references to things you're talking about.

[@SMTMainline]

That's a good idea, I just hope no one thinks they sponsored me or something to talk kindly about their store.

[@EmborFrost]

@@SMTMainline what you'll want to do, is just set up a disclaimer in the video description. Something simple that states you arnt sponsored by any of the places you buy your parts from! I just think it's going to help you grow your channel if you offer viewers links to things you use. Ex. The Oil you use, or where you got the Rivarossi parts. I'll try and give more constructive feedback! Keep up the good work!

[@ciaranburke3243]

The fact it works is amazing 👏 well done 👍

[@tjprptchable]

Great video that berkshire looks beautiful great work

[@philipdove6987]

The NKP Berkshires are the most handsome locos I know of. I have 2 of the Rivarossi ones. I had never realised they used mazac or zamac weights. The problem with this metal rotting is caused when there is a trace of lead in the Alloy. if the ZInc has no contaminents its, fine, if it has lead in it it will "rot" and expand. In the 1970s and 80s I had two Bachmann engines destroyed by zinc rot. one rotted within a year or so of purchase, the other showed no signs for at least a decade. the expansion of the corroding bodies meant they literally tore the plastic bodies apart.

[@samuelbenge524]

Nickel Plate Road 779 is a 2-8-4 or "Berkshire" type steam locomotive built for the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, (reporting mark NKP) completed on May 13th 1949, for use on fast freight trains. It was the last new steam locomotive to be delivered to the Nickel Plate Road, and alongside L&N 1991, another 2-8-4 for the Louisville and Nashville, is the last of 36 steam engines completed by Lima-Hamilton from 1947-1949, and the final 2-8-4 locomotive on standard gauge completed in the world. Upon her retirement in early 1958, the locomotive had logged 677,095 miles.[1] In 1966, she was donated to the City of Lima, Ohio and placed on display in Lincoln Park, where she remains to date.[1]

[@SMTMainline]

Over half a million miles sounds quite impressive

[@casstelles]

I'm from the hometown of where this locomotive is displayed. Mater of fact, it's on display in Lincoln Park on the east side of town in Lima, OH. I've seen this display of NKP 779 many times over the years. As far as owning a model of NKP 779 in HO scale, I don't have one, but I do own a model of NKP 765 in which is quite close to NKP 779.

[@EmborFrost]

Nice video ! Good job getting it to run!

[@whoohaaXL]

Get rid of that huge soldering iron! Never knew how people can actually use those things. Grab a cheapie $5 pointed one. Bought one of these in old Rivarossi box about 10 years ago for $25. Loved it.

[@SMTMainline]

With all due respect, I'm not getting rid of my soldering iron. It's fantastic, it heats up instantly and gets to whatever temperature I need it to. I had one of those pointed ones and it was super weak, and could only melt high leaded solder which would be even worse now since I use unleaded. And yes, rivarossi did a great job with their steam locomotives.

[@whoohaaXL]

@@SMTMainline More power to you then, I s'pose. I just can't possibly do PCB work with something like that. However, using unleaded, I can understand that. Word, old Rivs/AHMs are built like brick shit houses, mechanism wise. Motors are very robust also. However the Zamac, as you've shown, gets very brittle. Seeing this vid reminded me I also had a blue box AHM Heisler, 0-4-0 Dockside with full valve gear (loved the intricacy of that little thing) and 0-8-0 yard goat (I didn't have the version with the front truck booster 😕) that all ran forever.

[@canyonpast]

Great video, I enjoy your work.

[@mwewa1178]

Yay I was hoping for the restoration

[@christineanderson6750]

This is my favorite tipe of locomotive .

[@trainstorm1225]

random dude54 It’s my favorite as well. It’s so iconic. They were the fastest locomotives of their time. The Berkshire was probably popularized by the Polar Express film.

[@southernrailfanner7675]

Its type

[@animalyze7120]

A $3 tube of Mighty Putty would have saved all pain. It's easy to use and sandable so you can make really clean work with it and it hardens like steel. Saved many Diecast trains and other vehicles with that stuff, you can even fill cracked screw holes and then after it hardens re-tap them and life is good. I thin layer all over the bad parts on this train and maybe a good sanding would have made that frame like new. Good Frankenstein repair regardless! Great vid!

[@echucker]

Is the bachmann ez companion controller still available for purchase?

[@ThePeejRR]

Job well done.

[@gopernoperstrains3160]

looks like you have one of the harder to find paint schemes of rivarossi 2-8-4 berks, the RF&P scheme. Trying to find the accurate tender will be hell, but I hope you come across one someday.

[@antonbruce1241]

To replace that plastic shaft....how about using some heat shrink tubing?

[@TheGrover1968]

Basically a form of dissimilar metal corrosion, right? The zinc is giving up electrons to the other substances.

[@mpjopatv401]

cool

[@thatonemk6gti2010]

Think you could restore my rivarossi Challenger?

[@milou7300a]

Hi félicitations, this engine is very very nice model You got it, friendly Jacques Canada

[@sidibill]

Hi First of all, i really like your videos. But I have a question that maybe you can answer. I just bought a Rivarossi Hiester at a train show for $10. It is in really good condition but doesn't run. By pocking around on it I have found that the motor does run but when it is put in connection with the worm gear there is nothing. I think I could figure it out if I could get it apart. But I can't get it apart. There is a screw on the top behind the coal pile that lets the back loose but after that, nothing I undo seems to have any effect. I thought maybe you or one of your viewers would have an answer. Thanks.

[@sort187]

I think the guy that runs Gopernoper's trains would be impressed......wherever he may be.

[@Moltar_Railfan]

I see Berkshire I click!

[@riondoesthings1988]

I love Berkshires

[@chrislastname7736]

I have a couple of trains that need some work, but I dont know how to fix rgem

[@williambeloqueabib5806]

Due to the lack of weight p/n for this steam locomotive would you please be so kind to inform me such an information or how do I get this part brand new?

[@nathandelay]

Awesome video Harrison and I wonder if I can make a tender for your locomotive and I sent you an email and have a very awesome day Harrison hope your day goes awesome.

[@nitrorrat8190]

Awesome job sir

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you!

[@bluel7162]

my bachmann plus (second hand purchase) NYC 4-8-4 has a broken pin holding drive rods, where can I get spares. its so old. and here in UK no parts available.

[@michaellindsay6735]

Great

[@mechatrain150]

hope you find a tender for her soon

[@romanrailfan392]

That’s my favorite type of engine

[@wasatchrangerailway6921]

Hey there young man!!! I'm Shane, I would love to help you out here!!! I've been a model railroader for over 55 years and I would like to be of some help. I love the old Rivarossi's as well. I just bought three 2-10-2 Big Sixes that are gonna get worked over!!! Stay in touch with me!

[@F40Productions]

if you put a coupler on the tyco truck and attached that to the spare parts engine you could have it pull a train

[@Shoehandler1142]

Just bought a Riv Berkshire locomotive, light is busted tho. How do I change that?

[@sptco100]

good job!

[@Ansowhat]

@SMT Mainline I’m sad to tell you that, model trains and slot car shop has closed

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

great video :)

[@garysprandel1817]

Tapping into your inner MacGuyver there with this one. Scary thing is that under AHM/Rivarrasi that 21 bucks was probably close to the original price

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, it wasn't the simplest restoration however at the end of the day it runs. I think you're right about the price being the same over the years when you take inflation into account. The Bank of Canada has an inflation calculator it says that: $21 in 1965 would be around $170 today - which seems around right if it we're being made in Italy today.

[@JusstDexx]

Every new episode smt gets a cooler haircut

[@whisk34productions16]

An idea with that motor so you could run that engine you could build a tender for it

[@varrunningtrains4112]

This is really late as a comment but if you are still having trouble with it, check your valve gear. They may be bent, which in that case a toothpick and a plier can help, or just lubrication. It makes a greater difference then I would think it should.

[@callmebigpapa]

For that zinc rot I would try some aluminum welding rod

[@shnops]

It's like a baby taking it's first steps !

[@boylesterminalshops6841]

Someone needs to do a compilation of him just saying "well folks"

[@MMRails]

Someone did. It’s out there somewhere. I forget the channel name. It’s kinda funny actually.

[@MMRails]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJnZk3V9jcygj8k. (Not quite what you requested, but close enough)

[@milepost856]

I bought use 4 8 8 4 , Previous owner gave up trying restore i notice replace motor , use some type glue motor , warm up glue dont work , also notice it Binding up , motor 1/32 high then transmission it took few month i Figured it out , good luck

[@SuperBuildsInMC]

These videos always make me nervous in always afraid something is gonna screw up beyond repair. Even though I know you know what you are doing.

[@SMTMainline]

I can relate, second hand stress. I used to get nervous taking trains apart but over time it wares off and you become confident that it will turn out okay.

[@verykrabbycoyote8280]

Your stream isn't working

[@johnbirmingham3457]

Nice Job! I have an idea for your 3000th subscriber prize. YOU take a trip to Markham, Ontario and tour the Rapido HQ and do an interview with Jason. Then you post it as a prize for all of us! Let me know what you think. Best of the future. John Birmingham, COO Fort Industry, Vistula & Frogtown RR.

[@GarrettTaylorLeedy]

You remember what I said on Instagram about a tender you'll be getting that soon when you ship me out that box

[@FuzionHyperX]

This is Random but, Nice Hair Cut 😂

[@FuzionHyperX]

I’ve been waiting to see this video

[@bernicecrowchief4413]

I have the same train and it has a train case for it

[@Romin.777]

Smart comment on the too much oil on the commutator side, :)) Improvised repair is something different than a restoration... sigh

[@highspeedboom]

I have a extra Rivarossi 2-8-4 matching cast frame for that if you want me to send it to you

[@edwardjackowski771]

Add some instant glue to cracks to seal up

[@THEWIZARDOFMENLOPARK]

zinc rot is called INTERGRAUNULAR DEGENERATION. zinc is made from lead and tin, any two dissimilar metal immersed in water form a battery. moisture penetrates the zinc and an electric current is produced which begins to break down the zinc. the parts begin to swell and flake into powder. if it were kept in a controlled environment this wouldn't have happened. this is usually the result of a DAMP BASEMENT...

[@THEVICTROLAGUY]

zinc rot is called INTER-GRANULAR DEGENERATION, it is a phenomenon of pot metal. pot metal is made of lead and tin, any two dissimilar metals immersed in a liquid form a battery. over the years moisture will penetrate the metal which causes galvanic action, basically electrolysis. the metal begins to expand and crack, eventually turning to powder. There is no scientific metallurgical standard for pot metal; common metals in pot metal include zinc, lead, copper, tin, magnesium, aluminium, iron, and cadmium.

[@shnops]

The 'baby' is walking !

[@dirtydanstrains1414]

That weight is not zinc. If it was zinc it would be completely rotted away

[@SMTMainline]

Okay then what is it? do you even know?

[@dirtydanstrains1414]

SMT Mainline it’s just a bad casting of a mix of metals most likely aluminum. Sorry for making any trouble. I just wasn’t sure if you knew. Also I’ve seen zinc rot before on rivarossi engines so your not totally wrong

[@SMTMainline]

@@dirtydanstrains1414 That's okay, it's just a bit strange to say it's not zink when the metal clearly has zink pest

[@dirtydanstrains1414]

SMT Mainline that is true although there is no cracks beside the broken stud

[@SMTMainline]

@@dirtydanstrains1414 That's not true, if you look carefully at the back it's full of cracks.

[@haxsa4467]

20 buck w/out a tender?? A few minutes ago I saw a nice up berkshire with a tender & smoke for 13$

[@MMRails]

You fixed that Rivarossi like a bossi.

[@jameskoch9956]

Oh my lord. The polar express (almost). Yushutufukuniganigfafuri!

[@familycat9949]

I have a Bachman 765

[@liam04294]

My grait grandad worked on those

[@daskriegsman7013]

15:59 Mississippi queen won't you keep on showin.

[@SMTMainline]

Yeah keep on shining that light, gonna make everything, gonna make everything alright'

[@douguyehata7062]

You moved the worm Gear from your side to the the other side( far from you) .

[@theinevitablehanger6104]

Hey SMT mainline, so I would like to trade with you, so I have a Bachman BNSF 3001 locomotive that I just did a field disassembly and it has missing parts but it has a working cab light and I believe the only work you need to do on it is clean it but it should run. And if you could give me any random working steam loco than that will be fine. But I just need to know your phone number and address so first I can send it to you and tell you how to disassemble the the shell. Ps I am in New Mexico. And I would like to see an unboxing and restoration video.😄

[@wideworldofrailroads4014]

New York Chicago & St Louis Railroad

[@shanestrains7179]

Hey scrump. I sent u an fr on facebook. Id like to talk to u about possibly repairing a steam loco for me. Im shanez trainz on fb

[@mistertigrou23]

Wait a minute it not the right number and campagnie but its a polar express i just reconize them god

[@crsrdash-840b5]

In short, you had to 'modify a Rivarossi

[@lydaasuncion9883]

This reminds me of the polar express

[@lasagna19.6]

i accidentally did this wrong and broke my whole engine •_•

[@JohnGordon-x7l]

Go back to putting the camera so we can see you work on them. We all know what you look like. But trains are our main interest.

[@SMTMainline]

This was filmed half a decade ago, non of my modern videos are filmed this way. 🙂

[@archangelgaberialpreist2006]

Big boo boo . Use just a little more organization and things like that won't happen that often . We learn from our . Mistakes . Right ?

[@SMTMainline]

That's true