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DITCH LIGHTS
The neatest innovation on our rebuilt GMD-1 model is the ditch lights. We’re very happy
with the way the ditch lights turned out and we hope you will be too. It is extremely dif-
ficult to make deck-mounted, tall-stalk ditch lights that actually work.
One particular challenge that cannot be easily surmounted is that the real GMD-1 ditch
lights were removable. This means that they could be installed at either end of the real
thing. We checked 100s of photographs and there really was no rhyme or reason, but
we did find that in later years they tended to be left on both ends. Consequently, we
have mounted the ditch light at the respective “front” ends of the 1400s and 1600s, and
we’ve mounted them on both ends of 1430-44.
We will be selling the ditch lights separately if you would like to install ditch lights on
both ends of your 1400s. It was very rare to see ditch lights on the long-hood end of a
1600.
CHECKING AND ADJUSTING YOUR LOCOMOTIVE
We try and make sure that every locomotive is perfectly up to spec before it leaves the
factory, but if the karaoke was particularly good the night before your model was as-
sembled there may be a couple of bugs. Doing a quick pre-service check will solve most
operational glitches.
• Check to see that all wheelsets are correctly in gauge using an NMRA RP-2
Standards Gauge. Should any of the wheelsets be out of gauge, then remove the
affected wheelset from the truck by prying off the bottom lid of the gearbox with a
small flat screwdriver and then spreading apart the sideframes. The wheelset can
be regauged by grabbing each wheel and twisting. Reverse the steps to replace
the wheelset, and ensure the gearbox cover is snapped into place before placing
it on the track.
• Check that all underbody piping and appliances are firmly installed and clear of
the track. Of particular note are the air hoses on the ends of the locomotive and
both coupler trip pins. Bend up any low coupler trip pins so they don’t interfere
with your switches and crossings. We recommend using Kadee part #237 (Trip
Pin Pliers) or Micro-Mark part #80600 (Trip Pin Bending Plier).
• Make sure that the trucks swivel freely and without binding. If they catch on any-
thing, check to ensure that the ends of the trucks don’t bind against the steps. If
they do, see that everything is firmly installed.
