With the production of Bachmann large scale Diesels I am wondering if any of you run diesel and steam or just diesel or still steam only?
In my own case I do run both diesel and steam. I keep them separated, since my steam is all narrow gauge. The diesels I run are all 1st generation units GP-9, RS-3, FA, PA, and F3 units.
So far I have not been into the all the late model GE and EMD units on the market. My son also run a mix the same way I do except he is in the mid range of diesel like Sd40-2.
The market seems to be changing and has become more diesel oriented. What do you think Bachmann should produce more narrow gauge, modern steam, more early diesel, more mid range diesel, or more late model modern diesel?
Jump in and let the group know what you run and what you would like to see in the way of motive power.
Be Safe,
Loco Bill
Just steam. Not interested in those modern dismals.
Both, but mostly stay in the transition era, to run both, so only older diesels, and later steamers.
mikado, pacific, consolidation, mallet, 0-6-0 switchers, etc.
diesels, everything up to about the early Geeps, although I do indeed have a NS Dash 9 to go with a NS high hood SD45. (the Dash was a present from Scott Polk).
A fun time to model, with a lot of unique looking locos... I do class 1 railroads, so no logging and all is 1:29.
Greg
I run narrow gauge steam only. As a "late-comer" to large scale I do not have as large a collection of narrow gauge equipment [locos] as I would like, and I have been a bit reluctant to venture into the used equipment market at Ebay.
Ted Wilton
Spanis Springs, Nevada
I run mostly narrow gauge steam. I do have some standard gauge steam, two diesels freight hauling locos (MoPac) and a few gasoline/diesel powered two axle locos. More that likely I have more engines that I should but it is hard not to get a new narrow gauge steam engine when it comes out.
James
Hi Ted,
Thanks for your post, I tend to agree with you with respect to Ebay, seems especially true with steam. Swap meets and members of local clubs are the best source, but all too often have very little for sale in our scale. I have seen some nice layouts in the Las Vegas area!
Cheers, Bill
Hi James,
I could not agree with you more about having more engines than you should, I certainly do especially in my wife's opinion. I still like every one that I have and have a wife that supports me fully in spite of her opinion. I am 83 years old now and still have engines I bought when I was 7 years old. They are in HO scale tho. Bachmann hooked me when they first came out with the 4-6-0 Big Hauler, and USA Trains hooked me with their GP-7.
Cheers, Bill
Bill,
I run whatever I like, be it steam, live steam or diesels. I too have MANY more locos than I need, upward of 20. I own half a dozen 4-6-0s, a couple of Porters, two Indy moguls, two Davenports, a 44 tonner, two Barry Olsen conversions (a 4-6-0 and a 2-8-0) a few Aristo diesels and a couple of USA engines, both diesel and steam. ;D
My railroad, my rules!
Good to hear from you Joe! We model railroaders indeed can make our own rules. Sometimes I think the real railroads are jealous of us.
You need more locos, I know I do ;D 8)
All the best!
Bill
Steam only here, though that does include a little live steam as well, all narrow gauge 1/20.3 - 1/22.5 scale.
I am amazed and eternally grateful for all that Bachmann has produced over the years, while of course saddened that so little of these great items are produced nowadays, but at least I was able to get what I got back when!!!
Should probably add that I doubt the diesel bug will ever bite me in large scale, but I do understand the attraction for many if not most of those in the hobby.
Steam. Not attracted to the dark side. They are evil.
Just kidding.....I'm sure some are really nice.
Mickey,
My dark side dismal that I would love to see is the Alco RSD15 I love the brutish look of this monster for its day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALCO_RSD-15
Keep on playing with Trains!
Cheers & Beers,
Bill
For me, I have a wide range of engines and interests. For practicality, I run engines that run the best for me. It might sound OCD but I do what works. Always a heavy steam engine (mallet or aristo mikado) to clear the lines for a day of running. This includes pushing a track cleaning caboose for one or two laps until gunk is cleaned off the railheads. Then, we switch out to whatever we decide to do that day. Some days it is steam engines; others FAs and RS-3s or even the E8. Occassionally, we pull out the heavy USAT GG1 but that engine's gearing make it problematic (too slow for this fast freight and passenger line). We did acquire a new Dash 9 to help support Bachmann's efforts in the 1:29 line and I am actually thrilled to see that new single dome tank cars are being planned.
On the smaller side, the Bachmann Eggliners are a big hit here. I am also eyeing the blue/cream streetcar as the Hershey's one I have works great on the temporary holiday layout I put in my front yard last year. I am thinking about adding dedicated streetcar lines to the main railroad too, but for now, I am focused on getting my major expansion projects completed in the next three weeks! Wish me luck!
https://www.facebook.com/millersvillanova/ (https://www.facebook.com/millersvillanova/)
Mark, the GG1 came with a programmed in speed restriction. Change the max speed CV in it, it will go much faster. Been there, done that.
Greg
Mark,
Thanks for the pictures, the layout looks great! If you speed up the GG1 or put the Dash 9 to work, post some pictures for us please!!! Those eggliners are a hit everywhere I go. Years ago a good friend got sick prior to our club open house and could not get his layout in shape in time. He ended up running six eggliners all at once. He had bought an eggliner for each of his grandkids and thought why not run something. It was a huge hit and the eggliners ran perfectly on his unprepared track, it was fun watching them chase each other around his beautiful layout.
All the Best, Bill
Quote from: Greg Elmassian on August 25, 2023, 05:16:02 PMMark, the GG1 came with a programmed in speed restriction. Change the max speed CV in it, it will go much faster. Been there, done that.
Greg
Hi Greg! Hope you're well! I actually bypassed that QSI board alltogether. I am running directly from the output of a revolution train engineer board. I've got 24 vdc going to those motors (measured at the leads), but your comment has me wondering if the board itself can't handle the amp draw of the gg1 and maybe that's the limiting factor? I think those are rated for 5A. Do you know what the amp draw for a GG1 is supposed to be?
So you don't even have sound? I think you could also control the pantographs.
It's not likely that the voltage would drop under heavy load, it would just overheat the revolution.
The GG-1 can draw current, but this does not sound right. My friend that had one was complaining about the low speed, and the CV setting even affected DC top speed... can you check the voltage while running?
This guy does run Bridgewerks, so he could be running over 24 volts...
Greg
Now that I think about it. I think I've got the QSI board operating in parallel with the motor from the revolution outputs. The motor will start turning at Revolution speed step 1. ANd the engine starts to move. I have never seen any other locomotives start at this low an output. THe QSI board does not start making noise until about 25% output (so that's 6v). It doesn't make the engine movement sounds until 12v and there's no way to trigger the bell or horn so I am planning to remove this entire board and install the phoenix P8 board I have for it. The only thing holding me back is the lighting. I really like the green/red and dim/bright. Not sure that'll be possible with revolution, it's just too basic.
Mark, Would you consider running the DCC Revolution system? Then you could leave the QSI installation alone, reprogram the top speed limitation, run on batteries of your choice (or power of your choice).
You would have all the great sounds and functionality of the QSI, all the functions would be accessable from your remote.
The only downside is you need the DCC Revolution and have to run that loco from that transmitter.
There's a lot of cool functions in that GG-1....
Greg
Hello,
I am steam and Goose only Railroad. I converted this locomotive from A Bachmann C-19 into an Accurate D&RGW C-18 over a period of several years, but this year was a concerted effort to get it done for the NNGC. Voting is now closed, Awards Ceremony is tomorrow night, wish me luck.
Enjoy
https://youtu.be/zVbxdyAeIZY
Maybe The Bachmann will consider this loco going forward. the major modification is in the frame.
Al P.
Hi Al, Nice job on that conversion! Thanks for sharing the video. Good Luck. Bill
I'm in HO but I have to jump in. It's steam-only on my layout, even though I have a few diesels to run elsewhere. I'm 75 years old and saw the very last of steam engines in freight service back home, saw T&NO mikados stomping through on manifest freights, MP 10 wheelers pulling little locals down street trackage, and heard the lonesome whistle scream in the hot summer afternoon drifting in on the wind. I never got over their going away and I still cry for them.
I lost count a long time ago, but I believe I have about 75 steam locomotives. I run about 20 of them all the time but I do like them all and won't sell any. Most of them will never be made again, so I keep them.
An update on my contest entry at the NNGC. the locomotive was awarded the H Lee Riley memorial Award, for excellence in large scale narrow gauge modeling based on a bachman trains product, and was awarded third place in Rod Locomotives. i also entered a type 1 RGS stock car in the contest and was awarded first place.
AL P.
edited to correct award name.
Congratulations Al, Nice going! If you get a chance could you post pictures of the stock car?
All the best, Bill
Bill,
I do not see how to attach an image that is not on the net? if you go over to large scale central there is an image posted there by me of my stock car, under a thread called D&RGW C-18 Build from Bachmann C-19. there will be updates to the thread when i get a spare moment or two.
Al P.
Quote from: Greg Elmassian on September 01, 2023, 01:25:41 PMMark, Would you consider running the DCC Revolution system? Then you could leave the QSI installation alone, reprogram the top speed limitation, run on batteries of your choice (or power of your choice).
You would have all the great sounds and functionality of the QSI, all the functions would be accessable from your remote.
The only downside is you need the DCC Revolution and have to run that loco from that transmitter.
There's a lot of cool functions in that GG-1....
Greg
Hi Greg, I didn't consider trying to run the GG1 with REVO DCC. I think it requires an all new transmitter, right? I'm already feeling hamstrung with the 3 Revo TX's I have when I have multiple iPads/iPhones that could run apps to control the trains...
I checked my railroad and it's got 23.5 vdc in most spots on the line. Maybe I should use the super revo board for controlling the motors if it starts to overload too frequently but the truth is this engine doesn't see much track time. Even the guys at USAT service told me they can't do anything about the top speed and they agree it is slow.
I checked with NWSL about having some gears cut and they suggested to count the teeth, figure out the ratio and then try and do it myself. They just didn't have the manpower to take it on themselves. It's about what I expected them to say.
HEre's a long video a guy made of this past weekend's train show here. I start at about 13 mins or so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnodtkgVlIc&t=1483s
The guys at USAT have had no clue about this issue (it's a setting in the DCC decoder that affects DC), fixed this long ago in Nick S's GG-1
I guess you don't believe me... ok... a single DCC setting... I tried to help.
Hi Mark,
The original Crest Revo Transmitter with the plastic keys that I have seems to work fine with all my Crest and Precision RC Receivers. The TX's with the rubber keys are up-gradable but the ones with the plastic keys are not. Upgrading does require hardware from the new manufacturer tho.
Bill
The loco has a custom sound file, and is DC and DCC compatible with a special setup for the pantographs I believe.
Greg
Anyway...
Back to the original question, I run battery. Just kidding, I run all steam except one Eggliner.
Adam
Just steam.