MOC: Stadler GTW 2/6

[dr_spock]

Presenting my interpretation of the GTW 2/6 railcar in LEGO train set style with a nod to old LEGO monorail.

GTW (Gelenktriebwagen) which means articulated railcar is made by Stadler of Switzerland. The notable feature is a power module in the middle connecting the two passenger cars. The design reminds me very much of the LEGO monorail sets like the Airport Shuttle. I wonder if the designers at Stadler were inspired by LEGO monorail.

I chose the German DB colour scheme which looks similar to the LEGO airport shuttle colours.

Stadler GTW by dr_spock_888, on Flickr

My model has a Power Function train motor and AAA battery pack in the power module. The passenger cars are supported by the center power module. The 2/6 designation means six axles with 2 powered axles.

Battery pack on/off switch is reachable through a hole on the roof of the power car module using a toothpick or Technic axle. Alternatively the roof comes off like Horizon Express to access the switch.

Engineer compartment

The brick build dummy coupler can be replaced with LEGO magnet couplers for M.U. hookup or a Technic liftarm can also be used.

All aboard. Next stop, the airport.

EDIT: Add video

Edited July 1, 2014 by dr_spock

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Very neat shape!

Lovely work!

[lightningtiger]

It's modern, but still has that old monorail feel to it.......Brick On 'dr_spock' !

[Ashi Valkoinen]

It's always interesting to see something made by a different person. I like the monorail-style of this train.

This kind of articulation was made to fit all the requirements for the first tender that Stadler participated: requirement was for the vechile to be at least 66% low-floor, with wide doors and low entrance height, that's why they put all the engines to the center part of the train, keeping the other parts low-floor. They didn't stop to use this design, they're still selling GTWs and new FLIRT made for Estonia use something similar solution, but on Jacobs boogies:

http://i49.tinypic.com/2irx7hf.jpg

Here is my LEGO GTW 2/6 designed for narrow-gauge:

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=76007

[bjorkan]

looks great!

[AlmightyArjen]

Nice work! Did you steal my monorail-look-alike-train-idea?

[Man with a hat]

Nice. I really like the coupler. Very clever! Only the cars seem a bit small in length with respect to the power module.

And how does it run with those small train wheels?

[ScotNick]

Very nice train, I like that you used the small train wheels for that train, makes it look better. also the colour scheme is nice as well!

[Asper]

That's wonderful!

[dr_spock]

Thanks everyone for your kind words.

It's always interesting to see something made by a different person. I like the monorail-style of this train.

This kind of articulation was made to fit all the requirements for the first tender that Stadler participated: requirement was for the vechile to be at least 66% low-floor, with wide doors and low entrance height, that's why they put all the engines to the center part of the train, keeping the other parts low-floor. They didn't stop to use this design, they're still selling GTWs and new FLIRT made for Estonia use something similar solution, but on Jacobs boogies:

http://i49.tinypic.com/2irx7hf.jpg

Here is my LEGO GTW 2/6 designed for narrow-gauge:

http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=76007

That's interesting they have it using jacobs boogies. I guess it is one way to put less load on the coupling between the cars and the power unit or add more traction motors. Your narrow gauge GTW looks great.

Nice work! Did you steal my monorail-look-alike-train-idea?

Thanks. I got my inspiration when I saw this picture last year on the Trains Around the World blog. It screamed old Airport Shuttle monorail to me. I sat on the idea for a while until you posted your monorail-like-train. You kick-started my butt into building it.

Nice. I really like the coupler. Very clever! Only the cars seem a bit small in length with respect to the power module.

And how does it run with those small train wheels?

Thanks. I used standard train base for the passenger cars and the boogies were made using a 4x4 plate and 2x2 with pin on top. The length just fits around LEGO standard curves.

It runs pretty well on those small wheels. It can zoom around at full throttle using the AAA battery box with 1.2V rechargeables.

[zephyr1934]

Nice build.