Shop Goat X481 - Part 1

 Conrail Shop Goat X481 - Part 1

Conrail X481 is another small shop switcher or shop goat as some called it. It was used at the Collinwood Shops on the Conrail System. X481 was a battery operated shop goat that was used to move locomotives around the shop area. The top speed of this unit was 3-4 mph. This unit lasted past the Conrail corporate dissolution into CSX and Norfolk Southern. X481 was used a truck from a retired locomotive loaded down with heavy batteries for power. In this 3 part series you can follow along with the building of Conrail X481.

X481 is using the same style of truck that is on Conrail #0. Here we have the frame already glued down onto the truck in the first picture. The second picture shows the top part that will go on top of the frame. This is where all the batteries and components will all be held. 

Here is a better view of the battery compartment. I still need to cut a piece of polystyrene to cover this end of the shell. The other end has other been cut and glued on. Once that piece is glued on, it will be time to paint both ends. Once that is done then, it will be time to work on the top of X481.

Here we have the shell sitting on top of the frame. This gives you a good idea how it will look. This is another piece of equipment that I have done a ton of research on and the shell does in fact sit on the frame how it looks in this picture. There is a small lip all around the unit. The shop goat will be used at the shops in Cresson, Pa as Conrail #0 will be at the Blairsville Shops.

This is the end of Part 1 of the series on the Shop Goat X481. Part 2 will be coming in the following days.