[Harpman19]

Where does one buy new power bands?(If that is what they are called). Have a set of 4, 3 powered. They are quite neat with how they power up.

 

[DonR]

The terminology you use is not familiar to
many of us here on the Forum.

Could this be the 'car' that you refer to?

Replacing Rubber Band Drive and Motor in Old Athearn Train

I obtained a beautiful, very old model of BART (the San Francisco Bay Area's electric commuter train) from Athearn. The powered car uses a motor with rubber drive belts (rubber bands connecting the drive shafts to the axles). To put it bluntly, this old train barely runs. I'm not too thrilled...

www.modeltrainforum.com

If not, post a photo of what you have?

Don

 

[Harpman19]

The terminology you use is not familiar to
many of us here on the Forum.

Could this be the 'car' that you refer to?

Replacing Rubber Band Drive and Motor in Old Athearn Train

I obtained a beautiful, very old model of BART (the San Francisco Bay Area's electric commuter train) from Athearn. The powered car uses a motor with rubber drive belts (rubber bands connecting the drive shafts to the axles). To put it bluntly, this old train barely runs. I'm not too thrilled...

www.modeltrainforum.com

If not, post a photo of what you have?

Don

Actually it's a set of 4 New Haven silver cars. The Railway Post Office and 2 others are powered and the fourth is a dummy. I'm glad it's just rubber bands. I'll replace them all.
Thank you so much.

 

[prrfan]

These are called RDCs. Rail Diesel Cars. You can use rubber bands but they won’t last long. There are synthetic bands made for them that last years.
www.scalerailroader.com
Found them on eBay. If you can’t locate them PM me and I will send you a set.
Dan

 

[J.Albert1949]

This is off-topic, but...

... if you like RDC's, then you ought to be taking a look at the "Proto 1000" versions of these units.

These are no longer manufactured, but many still available either as used or as "new-old-stock".

ebay is the place to find them.

 

[prrfan]

This is off-topic, but...

... if you like RDC's, then you ought to be taking a look at the "Proto 1000" versions of these units.

These are no longer manufactured, but many still available either as used or as "new-old-stock".

ebay is the place to find them.

Great tip, J. Albert. 👍 Not off topic at all. We were talking about RDCs.

 

[Gramps]

This is off-topic, but...

... if you like RDC's, then you ought to be taking a look at the "Proto 1000" versions of these units.

These are no longer manufactured, but many still available either as used or as "new-old-stock".

ebay is the place to find them.

I have one and absolutely no complaints.

 

[Chops]

I find them a bit tedious to replace. Everyone I've ever seen have zinc trucks, and these are quite brittle, requiring the pilot screws underneath the bogies to be removed to release the wheels. Make sure the bands are both set to revolve in the same direction before fully reassembling the lot.