I have a Bachmann Union Pacific  2-4-2 Columbia (1989-1993) and the idler gear, which is between the motor's worm and the driver axle gear, has become chewed up and so the motor just runs without moving the engine. So far I have not had any luck in finding just the replacement gear that is needed, but I did find something on the parts catalog here: http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_69_691&products_id=9852

The gears and setup are different from mine, would I still be able to make this work on my engine if I gutted out everything and replaced it with this?

Thanks

Hello everyone, I am currently planning on purchasing a Bachmann Big Haulers Union Pacific #19 2-4-2 Columbia (red wood burner). I have wanted one of these for about over 20 years as I remember first seeing it in a manual in 1994. Now, I have done research and have found out that these were first made in 1989, one came as a starter set, The Prairie Flyer (90014) and the other as just the engine and tender (91101). Unfortunately the one I'm planning to buy does not seem to have a box, so I do not know if it was once part of a Prairie Flyer set (90014) or by itself (91101).

What I am wondering is if the 91101 (engine & tender) was released after the 90014 which was a whole starter set, and also up until what year were these in production? I imagine quite a few years being that since they were apparently still available in the mid-90's as I remember. I wish Bachmann would have stamped an exact year of manufacture on their products as it is important to me mostly for nostalgic reasons.  I believe this was common in most Bachmann Big Hauler items, they would continue to be produced and released years after it was initially introduced. One example is the Royal Blue, however I find that this makes it extremely difficult to determine the exact age of a Bachmann product when buying it decades later second hand.

Any and all info is greatly appreciated.