Rivarossi Atlas Chapelon 231E Pacific in Black

[GlenEglise]

I have one of these vintage models.

Sadly due to age there are some issues with the tender drive.

Warping and expansion of the main tender chassis block and an apparent failure of the final drive mechanism although the motor does still run when extracted.The motor fits rather loosely into it's housing.

Traction tyres have expanded and no longer fit wheels.

This locomotive does not seem to have been reproduced by any manufacturer since the 1970's.

Has anyone any positive ideas about resurrecting this vintage item or, like it's life size model, will it be conigned to be a static exhibit in an ("N Gauge") Museum?

GE

[ntpntpntp]

Things like traction tyres aren't a problem (you can always fit some from another brand)

I'm not aware of any stocks of spare chassis blocks like there are for the Peco Jubilee, so if the block has deformed due to mazak rot then it's a gonner unless you can maybe find a cheap spare/repair where the block is still ok?  I do see them on ebay from time to time.

Spur-N-teile do list the chassis block, but not in stock.  You can add yourself to a waitlist I think, but if they do get one it'll no doubt be a recovered part from a scrapped model.
https://spur-n-teile.de/riv-cha-rahte.html

Some years ago I did ressurrect one for someone on here - I think it was @weave - but IIRC the main problem with that one was a broken underframe moulding for which I had to create a brass plate to retain the rear wheels.



Fulgurex have made a 231 in the past, but it seems to be rare and expensive even for a Fulgurex!
https://www.spurweite-n.de/ncontent/ndb/ndb-artdetails.asp?ID=453063011




I have a brown Rivarossi example that's just about hanging on (it originally belonged to a late friend).  It doesn't get run much.  It's posed here next to the black one I repaired.

[Gordon]

The Rivarossi 231E was legendarily a less than brilliant runner - even when the tender mechs were fairly new! For decades it was the only French designed steam locomotive available as a 'general market' N gauge model (as opposed to the 'prestige' brands eg Fulgurex - and being rather specific to the Paris - Amiens - Calais route was never 100% popular with N gaugers in France

I have cobbled together improved running using a  Japanese 'shorty' type chassis in the tender - at the expense of accurate wheelbase and chassis appearance of the tender now

[Roy L S]

The likely reason that there are still plenty of most Jub components around is because there have been three fairly large production runs of the loco, which in spite of it's price was popular with modellers. Also, Peco being ever prudent and "old school" kept a stock of spares from Rivarossi which got sold on to Peters Spares only a few years ago.

The Chapelon Pacific on the other hand as far as I know only ever had one production run in the 1970s and that suggests it wasn't anywhere near as successful commercially. So, any spares there may have been would have been fewer, produced 50 or more years ago and are likely long gone. I had one for a while bought with the broken underframe (for which they were notorious) thinking I could fix it, but I never did. It was a long time ago, but if memory serves (it may not) I seem to recall it ended up with Dorsetmike to use for bits on one of his many Southern projects.

Roy

[ScottishModeller]

Hi Brian,

Just remembered that the tender chassis on this model is the same as on one of the US Pacifics done by rivarossi.

They were a more common model, so may be more likely to be availablle 2nd hand and use as spares.

Phil H

[ntpntpntp]

@ScottishModeller   I'm intrigued.  All the US Rivarossi tender locos I've come across have been loco drive.   I don't see an obvious possibility on spookshow's pages either.

[GlenEglise]

@ScottishModeller  I'm intrigued.  All the US Rivarossi tender locos I've come across have been loco drive.  I don't see an obvious possibility on spookshow's pages either.

I have to agree with @ntpntpntp regarding the drive mechanism being in the US locomotives and not the tender, at least in those I have seen so far.
It would be helpful if anyone can pin down the exact dimensions of traction tyres for the 231E as there are many different sizes of traction tyres out there!

This tender does have some slight expansion due to the dreaded zamac rot but hopefully with some TLC it will run again even just for a short while.

GE

[ntpntpntp]

Measure the diameter, width and depth of the traction tyre groove. 

Mostly I use Fleischmann or Minitrix tyres as replacements on European models.  I keep a few sizes in my spares box ready and waiting for incoming second-hand locos with abused or missing tyres.  I rarely ever have to replace the tyres due to failure on my layouts.

[edit]  I just checked what tyres I used with mine, looks like Fleischmann 00547002.  Not in stock with Gaugemaster but can be ordered (you might find them somewhere else)
https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/fleischmann-fm547002.html

Apparently Fleischmann 948005 are equivalent and are in stock
https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/fleischmann-fm948005.html

[GlenEglise]

Many thanks for the heads up regarding traction tyres.

Now on order.

GE