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7th Street Shops Auxiliary Services
Stanton Drive Installations
7th Street Shops has been installing NorthWest Short Line Stanton Drives since they first became available in 2010. They were developed to replace the poor power trains found in 4-axle plastic diesels. Almost immediately we were installing them in brass as well as plastic and die cast models. The range of models that benefited from the product include HO RDCs Bud cars, Doodlebugs, non revenue rail cars, motor units, trolleys, electrics and even a refrigerator car used as a consist assist unit. The possibilities are extraordinary; limited only by imagination and innovation.
7th Street Shops no longer accepts plastic and only a few select die cast models such as the MDC Box Cab. We still install in brass models with 2 axle trucks. (A 3-axle version of the Stanton drive has never been released but there are O scale 2-axle versions available from NWSL.)
Gallery
Model Die Cast Box Cab
One of the most suited models for Stanton Drive is the old HO MDC Ingersoll Rand box cab. Typically, it is a challenge to get the stock model to run nicely. But the Stanton Drive is nearly a drop-in fit. The video below shares 2 Stanton box cabs running together.
Stanton Drive Brass Trucks
7th Street Shops has equipped scores of brass models with Stanton Drives. Though the power units were made for plastic models, with a little ingenuity we find ways to make them work.
Bachmann's Doodlebug and Stanton Drive
It is relatively easy to install the Stanton Drive into the Bachmann Doodlebug. In fact, 7th Street Shops played a big part in developing the Kit offered by NWSL. In particular the plastic side frames of the model easily glue in place to the Stanton shell.
NorthWest Short Line Kit
The NWSL Stanton kit for the Bachmann Doodlebug comes with parts designed to overcome certain installation problems. The brass mounting adapter shown here extends the truck king pin so that it can be mounted properly under the cab.
Bachmann Switcher
This model was done for the former owner of Litchfield Station as a demo. The model was equipped with a pair of powered Stantons and when place on our test track performed at an astonishing 2.5 inches a minute. The scale next to the track was the proof.
OMI Milwaukee Road ES-1 Electric Switcher
The common failure of this model is the complex drive train of an other wise beautiful model. We have
re-quipped at least half a dozen of these models and they always turn out great. It is an expensive project but with no readily available replacement parts the only option to the proprietary system is the Stanton Drive.
7th Street Shops also painted this model.
NJ Custom Brass D&RGW Pioneer Set
The otherwise nicely done Bud set that replicates the Rio Grande's "Pioneer" name trains typically fails as an excellent runner in HO Scale. Once again the Stanton Drive puts a nice model back on the rails. This two car set is serviced by a single Stanton unit. Many of the models shown here are also DCC equipped and even in pairs the Stantons perform well with DCC.
World Craft 1928 Ginza Line Subway Cars
This pair of Japanese Commuter cars are quite rare in the U.S. They are a testimony that Japanese craftsmanship is ever top quality in brass models - except that the pitiful power trains in the commuter cars were more representative than practical. You must be willing to alter an excellent model to install the Stanton Drive. In this case 2 power units were installed in one car because the owner had a total of 4 cars.
Bogatuk's Die Cast Cow and Calf set
Well, we dug up photos of the calf anyway. The point is still made - the Stanton Drives work well even in Railroad bovines (a total of 4 drives were install and with the excellent TSU Tsunami2 are reported to run well on George's KMT pike.
Walthers Express Reefer
Though this is perhaps the most unusual use of a Stanton powered unit that we have performed it was also one of the easiest. The client wanted a unit to assist his passenger train so we set up a pair of Stanton drives in a Walthers express refrigerator.
L.V. DRS4 No. 200 Stanton Installation
Incorporated into this custom rebuild of the one off Leigh Valley 200 were 2 powered Stanton Drives. The model was a combination of a PSM LV DRS4 and a Hallmark LV AS16. Much like C&S 58 on our "About" page, this was a complete rebuild to develop an accurate model of the Prototype. The finished project included a Tsunami2, a pair of powered Stanton drives and a custom mixed Scale Coat I paint job. A striking model that performs and sounds as good as it looks.