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July 2001 Well, I can't help thinking the Lego designers brains were out to lunch when they designed the 9V train motor. Here's my list of things which could be improved: - Position the wheels so they're not 1/2 stud offset from the pivot point;
- Have just studs on top, and make the "bogie plate" removable;
- Don't have the motor hard-wired to the power pick-ups on the wheels.
There's probably others, but these are my main beefs. Number 3 can only be overcome by modifying the motor. I may do this one day, but not yet. 1 & 2 make it very difficult (if not impossible) to make an un-powered, drop-in replacement. However, it's fairly easy to get close, many people probably have already, but here's my version anyhow. 
Here's the LDraw file. This is my first serious attempt at using MLCad, too. It's not a direct replacement - it's 1 plate higher than the motor, but that can be worked around by putting an extra technic plate under the end with the motor. The plate for attaching a coupler is also 1 plate higher - this is not worked around so easily, however I've found it still connects fairly reliably to "standard height" couplers. Anyway, here's a picture of the real thing, and another one alongside a motor.
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