Welcome To The 7th Street Shops

"We CARE about brass; it may be your Hobby but it is our Business"

We are now an authorized TCS Installation Dealer

We are now an authorized Soundtraxx Installation Dealer

7th Street Shops Policies Please Read Before Placing Order

The photo below shows two Tsunami Medium Steam decoders prepared for installation into two Tenshodo built Great Northern locomotives. We work almost exclusively with Brass Steam Engines and we build value into our installs. In this case the client did not want lamp functions so those wires were clipped and insulated. (See details below on our new econo install rates). Take a minute to study the photo. Every decoder has its own “Stay-Alive” circuit to help reduce stalling over rough or dirty track. While this doesn’t mean all stalls are eliminated we have proven the Stay-Alive circuit does reduce stalls under normal operating conditions. Also note that our wires have been harnessed and that there is a 4-way disconnect plug to allow the engine and tender to be easily separated. A 1 amp self-resetting circuit breaker (not shown) is also added as protection to the decoder’s motor circuit. We believe our installs are among the best available.

This pair of D&RGW C-19s belong to Lanny Allbaugh. The engines were equipped with sound, lights, and DCC. Lanny also requested that the power pick up be split.

The stock frame of the engine.

Wipers installed for Fireman side pickup.

The stock tender frame.

Tender truck wipers from Mikes Narrow Gauge {http://www.nyrs.com/specialitems.htm} installed and the polarity of the rear truck swapped (note the red dots to indicate hot wheels).

The effect of this feature spreads the pick up from the rails to most of the length of the locomotive on both sides. It is helpful in preventing stalls on smaller engines but its benefit to larger engines isn't quite as much. Small engines do not weigh as much and often need all the help they can get.

Standard DCC Installation includes all lamps provided for in a model. In other words if we don't have to drill holes we will light all lamps on the model. In this case a PBL C-19 was lit with two different types of luminaries. The headlamp is a standard 1.5v incandescent bulb and the markers are surface mount LEDs.

The cab light is also a 1.5v incandescent bulb while the fire box flicker light is a 14v incandescent light. The functions for these lights are controlled by a TCS FL4 and either a TCS VR 1.5 or a 4700 ohm resistor.

This view shows how our harness and plug assembly from the engine connects to the tender. Removal of the front truck is recommended to easily access the plug. Note how the cable is snaked around parts and under bolsters. This helps keep it from fouling the front truck.

Here the front truck has been replaced and the locomotive is ready to be put on the track. Note the red dots; these help indicate the polarity of the trucks and the plugs. In this case the locomotive has not had split power pick up installed so both trucks should be polarized to the fireman side.

Derrell Poole's Overland 69, backdated to 1909 stands behind Keith Hayes' Overland 71 as a stock model. Note that both sets of markers have been lit. C&S markers are some of the smallest found on Sn3 engines and they must be cored in order to take a very small light source, in this case surface mount LEDs. Both engines are fully lit and close examination of the photo shows a reddish cast under 69's firebox - the flicker lamp in the engine's firebox. The 69 also possesses a turned polished headlamp reflector that has been focused.

This pair of P-B-L C-18s are DCC equipped with Soundtraxx Tsunami TSU750s and Train Control Systems TSC FL-4 decoders. Each has functioning headlamp, Marker Lamps, Cab Light and Fire Box Flickers. 319 also has a Backup Lamp. The QSI 1.1" speakers produce a rich ton from the tenders. The entire installation is clean and orderly and the tenders break away from the engines easily. Installations like these start at around 150.00 each and price depends on number of lamps and other services offered. Each locomotive has our basic programming applied.

There appears to be a lot of activity in an undisclosed yard near the 7th Street Shops. We count as many as seven locomotives as well as a number of other interesting pieces of equipment. Note the marker lamp installed in the cupola of old C&S caboose No. 308.

One can imagine the amount of hissing and huffing in this evening view where every lamp is lit. The only thing missing is the aromatic smell of smoke only a true rail fan can appreciate. In reality these engines are in a testing stage of our installation of DCC.

Split Power Pickup

One of our services is available and beneficial to both DC and DCC equipped locomotives. We call it Split Power Pickup. It isn’t a new idea but we do it well and it’s benefit is that it spreads both the Engineer side driver pickup in the engine and the Fireman side tender wheels in the tender over the majority length of the entire locomotive. Here’s how it works:

we install wipers inside or underneath the Engine frame to collect power from the Fireman side drivers. As you probably know these are the insulated drivers.

we flip the polarity of one of the tender trucks so that one set of wheels will pick up on the Engineers side.

The result is that the length of pickup on the Engineer’s side is at least 1 ½ times what it was before and the Fireman’s side as much as twice the original length. Pickup from both rails is now available from both units of the locomotive. While drawbars are fairly reliable this insures that connection isn’t the only means of getting power picked up by the tender or engine to the motor – or decoder. Overall the locomotive becomes substantially more reliable with fewer stalls thru rough or dirty track. We can’t guarantee all stalls will be eliminated but we do see a true reduction in our own equipment.

This service requires a number of parts that we create here at 7^th Street Shops and are not available separately.

Price ranges between $100.00 and $200.00 depending on Scale and type of engine. Most medium sized HO locomotives can be converted for $100.00 Please request “Split Power Pickup” when 7^th Street Shops does other work on your equipment.

We also use tender truck wipers from Mikes Narrow Gauge {http://www.nyrs.com/specialitems.htm} on the insulated truck where they can be adapted. We can add a wiper to the other truck at your request.

Our standard Sound Decoder Installation Service includes the following:

Tsunami TSU sound / mobile decoder
TCS Function decoder as required
Up to 3 micro plugs as required
Dedicated 1.2v Voltage regulators per function as required
Motor Stay-Alive Circuit
Motor Isolation
New lamps for each lamp holder that is already cored
High Base Speaker with enclosure
Wire to existing Mechanical Exhaust Cam
Premium wire and materials
Harnessed wires for a neat and orderly install
“Break away” tender install
90 Day labor and material Guarantee (excludes decoders)

$400.00 - any steam engine HO – On3*

Our ECONO 1 (no lamps) Sound Decoder Installation Service includes the following:

Tsunami TSU sound / mobile decoder
One micro plug
Motor Stay-Alive Circuit
Motor Isolation
High Base Speaker with enclosure
Wire to existing Mechanical Exhaust Cam
Premium wire and materials
Harnessed wires for a neat and orderly install
“Break away” tender install
90 Day labor and material Guarantee (excludes decoders)

$300.00 - any steam engine HO – On3*

Our ECONO 2 (headlamp only) Sound Decoder Installation Service includes the following:

Tsunami TSU sound / mobile decoder
Two micro plugs as required
Dedicated 1.2v Voltage regulators per function as required
Motor Stay-Alive Circuit
Motor Isolation
New lamp
High Base Speaker with enclosure
Wire to existing Mechanical Exhaust Cam
Premium wire and materials
Harnessed wires for a neat and orderly install
“Break away” tender install
90 Day labor and material Guarantee (excludes decoders)

$340.00 - any steam engine HO – On3*

Additional Services

Split Power Pick-up – 100.00

Lamp holder Coring – 35.00 per hour

LEDs – 35.00 per function plus parts

Mechanical Exhaust Cam & Wiper installation – 50.00 plus parts

* Call for other scales. Naturally it must be possible for the decoder and speaker and other part to fit into the engine. When working with larger engines the motor stall current must not exceed 1.5 amps and we prefer for it to be substantially lower.

We reserve the right to refuse any job. This description is subject to change as we find necessary. PLEASE read and understand it before each order is placed. We don't want you to be unhappy with our work.

Please note the following;

Please review our New Scheduling Policy concerning our backlog of work.
When sending your model we ask for a 50% of the forecasted fee, plus postage (our Zip Code is 59840).

**Floating Drivers Explained

Manufacturers routinely install axle springs that are too strong for the weight of the engine. This often prevents some of the drivers from contacting the rail. In particular we see the two center drivers on a 2-8-0 in this condition. A little thought reveals that if two of your drivers are not contacting the rail you are only benefiting from 50% of your engine’s potential pick up ability and tractive effort. Floating drivers cause stalls especially after DCC has been installed. The fix is simple - replace the springs. We can replace springs at $40.00 a chassis. The benefit will be more reliable pick up and better traction.

New Scheduling Policy

Due to our backlog of work we have initiated a new policy that we hope will be beneficial to everyone. We hate to have stacks of other peoples’ models on our shelves and we loath to be classified with those folk who keep models for months and months and years and years. So we have devised a means to not take your model until we are actually ready to do the work.

We keep a physical schedule board and update it as often as we need to in order to keep track of our work and to observe progress. In the past we did not schedule a job until the model was in hand and a 50% deposit was received. This deposit was important to both our ability to keep 7^th Street Shops fluid and to insure the earnest intent of our clients. But our backlog has gotten to the point that we feel it is unfair to you to have to wait for your model while it simply sets on our shelves waiting its turn on the schedule. What seems to be fair to both our valued clients and 7^th Street Shops is to schedule the model for work but not take possession of the model until its turn actually comes up on our board. In order to do this we still require some sort of earnest on the part of the client. Therefore we ask that upon commitment by the client to 7^th Street Shops that an earnest fee of 75.00 per order (any number of models that would be completed at one time) is provided by the client. This fee is to be applied to the actual work when completed and will be deducted from the final bill. WE will still ask a 50% deposit based on the presumed charge for the work at the time you send in the model. In this way we will know that you fully intend to have the work done by us as soon as your turn comes up and we will be able to put you models on our schedule as if we had them in hand. In the meantime you can continue to enjoy the model and hopefully when it is sent away it won’t be gone for long. Thanks!

All Scales HO & Larger - Contact Us for Quotes