NYC Railroad Class R electric engine

[Carey Williams]

Hello all
You might enjoy seeing a NYC class R electric in action .
Believe made by Fred Icken ...as it has an Icken drive...same basic construction as the Icken / Alexander box cabs ..from early mid 1930's .
Please see link for video

https://youtu.be/Aqgbm1uDK2w

Cheers Carey

[bob turner]

Those seem to run quite smoothly! I still get intrigued by all the stuff in the background - you must do a compendium.

You have seen all of my models before - here is an Icken:



or two:



I have two of these - I think they came from the Watty House collection in New England. Power is Pittman/CLW, with a tooth belt. Wonder if they still run?

[steamaheadstephen59]

Well the model is kind of charming, but subway models are hard to do. I guess you could do a cut away tunnel type layout? It looks great running!

[webenda]

Fascinating, the one motor driving both NYC class R electrics.
Thank you, Carey, for showing and describing those interesting electrics.

I don't think this has been run in many, many, many decades, dates back probably mid30s.

Did you clean and lubricate the motors and drive trains before running them?

[Carey Williams]

Thank you for your kind words
Nice Ickens Bob.....Ickens always run..

This piece had a rough life ...and ran many many miles ...lots of wear on the sweeps ...but drive is tight ..and no play ..runs great after some rewiring and sweep adjustments.
Normal cleaning of 80 years of assorted crud...
Auction house broke up the pair ...selling separately.....could not have that ....so bid the pair to keep them together.

I did remove about 8 pounds of lead blocks from within ....they are plenty heavy without extra lead .

Cheers Carey

[SWrailroader]

The parts including the trucks for the NY&NH boxcab are still obtainable from Bob Stevenson. The quality of the castings are really nice from him.

I have a couple Icken modified USH locos. The gearbox really is impressive.

[Carey Williams]

Thank you for posting your Icken drive gears ...active till 1970! .... impressive..
Cheers Carey

[steamaheadstephen59]

The truth is Id love to build an Iken style drive, theres plenty of slot car, and R/C gears out there that could be used. These would be more plentiful than our worm gear drives. Its just me thinking! out loud!