Does any one know of a current source of new batteries or somebody who rebuilds them. I don't have any spec's but I know that the cars were purchased from VIA in the late 80's early 90's. When they were last operated in 93' there was a company that could rebuild them. The hope is to get one last shot out of the majority of the batteries before we have to upgrade to some sort of train line or gen. set.

Thanks in Advance

Ben

http://members3.boardhost.com/SteamTrain/
btrue@vt.edu

>Ben,

Any industrial battery should be able to help you get any additional life out of an old set of batteries. We use a local company that primarily works on battery packs for forklifts,and I'm sure you would have no problem finding a similar company in your area.

If your looking to buy new batteries contact:

GNB Technologies (314) 532-1144

Mid-West Battery Service 1-800-969-4240

Rolls Battery Engineering (978) 745-3333

Good Luck
B. Allan



Cvsrkahuna@aol.com

If this is the typical VIA rail car it has 19 very large batteries and 110 VDC electrical system

If it is a typical VIA rail car, a lot of those batteries probably have cracked cases.

If that is the case, then the price to rebuild or replace those batteries will be over half of the cost of a nice new Stadco Diesel generator. And with that you will not have to go faster than 25 mph to charge those batteries.

Something to think about.

Steve Zuiderveen

> Any industrial battery should be able to
> help you get any additional life out of an
> old set of batteries. We use a local company
> that primarily works on battery packs for
> forklifts,and I'm sure you would have no
> problem finding a similar company in your
> area.

> If your looking to buy new batteries
> contact:

> GNB Technologies (314) 532-1144

> Mid-West Battery Service 1-800-969-4240

> Rolls Battery Engineering (978) 745-3333

> Good Luck
> B. Allan


SZuidervee@aol.com

And with that you will not
> have to go faster than 25 mph to charge
> those batteries.

> Something to think about.

> Steve Zuiderveen

Perhaps Steve or someone else might know, but the belt driven generators that are under 1930's era commuter coaches like Erie Stillwells apparently charged the batteries directly at a certain speed. Is this approximately 25mph? Is it possible to change the pulley size to charge at 15-20mph? Has anyone tried this?

David Farlow
Whitewater Valley RR

hudson.industries@worldnet.att.net

Withing the limitations of the diameter of the whelset this is theoreticaly possible. But you would have to fund a pullthat would fit on the axel. Also, if you ever went fast with the car after converting, you would rish the possibility of throwing the commutator due to excess speed on the generator. Also, I believe that if the pulley was too large you would rick belt slippage and possible bearing failure on the side mounted generator.

Steve Zuiderveen

> Perhaps Steve or someone else might know,
> but the belt driven generators that are
> under 1930's era commuter coaches like Erie
> Stillwells apparently charged the batteries
> directly at a certain speed. Is this
> approximately 25mph? Is it possible to
> change the pulley size to charge at
> 15-20mph? Has anyone tried this?

> David Farlow
> Whitewater Valley RR


SZuidervee@aol.com