I am looking for any comments on the Spectrum Richmond 4-4-0 American Modern (items #83401 to #83409) in terms of performance, durability, and general quality. I am not particularly interested in the historical accuracy or the fine details of the model, to my eye, she looks beautiful. So if the tender is wrong or the stack is too big, I don't really care.
I'm looking for a steam engine that looks good to me and that will pull 8-10 cars on a flat surface or slight grade and negotiate 18 inch curves.
Does anyone own one? Are you happy with it? I've read that the decoder that is installed is of questionable quality. I see that Bachmann is going to release a new version with sound included, but I also see that the price jump will be significant. Does anyone have a recommendation of another 4-4-0 manufacturer that you would put above the Spectrum? Or do you have recommendations of other steam loco's that will negotiate 18 inch curves without too much trouble?
I don't have DCC yet, but am planning on it in the future and would like to set myself up for an easy conversion, so DCC ready at least is an additional consideration for me.
Thanks for the continued help/information.
Parker
I've had my Spectrum Richmond eight-wheeler only about a month, and I am perfectly pleased with her. (Just for the record, I got the unlettered, "Russia iron and pinstripes," wood-cab version with slide valves.) I am running her on DC, and she works fine. She looks fine and has no difficulty on 18"-radius curves.
Owing to the extremely small size of my current layout (49-1/2 by 36 inches), I have used her to pull no more than five cars (all Mantua or Mantua Classic "1860" freight cars and an "1890" combine), but I feel confident she would have no problem with at least eight small, free-rolling cars.
I don't own a Spectrum 4-6-0, so I won't speak to that, but the old Mantua 4-6-0 and 4-4-0 "General" will work fine on 18"-radius curves. Actually, I'm pretty sure just about any eight-wheeler or ten-wheeler would work OK on an 18"-radius curve. Any 0-4-0, 0-6-0, 2-6-0, or 2-6-2 should also be fine. I don't own any 2-8-0s, but I have one old Mantua 4-8-0, and even that works fine on 18"-radius. You can run a Mantua 4-6-2 on 18"-radius, and it will work OK, but with an engine that size you start to get "overhang" on curves that doesn't look so hot.
Hope this helps some. :)
Jeff
I have been admiring the Richmond for over a year, just can't decide which one I want. I want something flashy for my excursion set up, which might fit into the 1880 to 1890 era.
The catalog doesn't say but I assume it is 4 wheel pickup. Did the Russia Iron come with a user applied top railing for the tender? It shows one in the catalog.
A 1900 build date is inferred, did Richmond make an earlier model?
Bob
I have a couple of these units and would recommend them highly.
I run one on a DC track and the other on DCC. Both engines run well, each unit automatically detects what the power source is and responds accordingly.
Regarding the DCC unit, the low speed control is acceptable to me. However the DCC unit is indeed limited in programing capabilities.
As an alternative for this era I suggest you also look at the Spectrum 4-6-0's (either the low or high boiler versions) these are DCC ready so will need a DCC unit added. They do however have full working valve gear which adds to watching them run.
The Richmond 4-4-0 is pretty typcial of the type being built from about 1890 into the early 1900's (the prototypes were built in 1901). It might be a bit too modern for the 1880's, though. Ma & Pa 4, 5 and 6 ran into the 1930's, when No. 4 was retired. No. 5 was retired in about the mid-1940's, while No. 6 lasted until the end of 1950. No. 6 was the only one of the three to get modernized with the piston valves and steel cab. The model will likely pull up to 8 small, free-rolling freight cars on level track, thought that is probably its limit.
Quote from: Yampa Bob on March 25, 2008, 12:38:52 PM
Jeff
I have been admiring the Richmond for over a year, just can't decide which one I want. I want something flashy for my excursion set up, which might fit into the 1880 to 1890 era.
I know the feeling. I'm thinking about getting a second one myself, a "modernized" version with piston valves and a steel cab.
QuoteThe catalog doesn't say but I assume it is 4 wheel pickup. Did the Russia Iron come with a user applied top railing for the tender? It shows one in the catalog.
Well, I was surprized when I opened the box to find an "alternative fuel load" included. Mine included a "wood load" that has a railing around it. I'm assuming that's what you mean, and it's a part of the wood load piece. I didn't even try to swap the fuel loads because I wasn't interested in running my engine as a wood-burner; it hasn't got a wood-burner stack.
QuoteA 1900 build date is inferred, did Richmond make an earlier model?
Bob
I really don't know much of anything about the Richmond Locomotive Works, when or how long it was in business, only that it became part of ALCO. These engines are modeled on three built for the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad in 1901--but you know that already.
Jeff
I just like the large drivers on the Richmond, and it does have a sorta 1800's look to it. The Southern is a bit more flashy, but I don't want a lettered version for my excursions.
Actually, I would prefer a wood burning "onion" stack, it would fit the era better. They should include both types, like they do on the ON30 outside frame.
Jeff, could you take some pictures of your Russia Iron and send to me?
Thanks
Bob
Quote from: Yampa Bob on March 25, 2008, 12:38:52 PM
Jeff
I have been admiring the Richmond for over a year, just can't decide which one I want. I want something flashy for my excursion set up, which might fit into the 1880 to 1890 era.
The catalog doesn't say but I assume it is 4 wheel pickup. Did the Russia Iron come with a user applied top railing for the tender? It shows one in the catalog.
A 1900 build date is inferred, did Richmond make an earlier model?
Bob
I have the undecorated one with wood cab and slide valves, the wood load with railing for the tender comes with the loco. I do not have the pin stripe one.
The loco picks up from the four drivers each side.
The tender picks up from the trucks on only one side, i.e., front truck, right side, rear truck left side.
The tender is ready for a one inch speaker.
I see them going for about $80.00 with $12.00 shipping charge, DCC for power only.
The loco is the 1905 era from what I have seen. If you ever look at a lot of photos of steam engines built in 1890, you will see the air pump on the engineer's side, not the fireman's side, plus there are other differences.
For about $120.00 inluding speaker, you can install a SoundTraxx Micro-Tsunami decoder. It is a superb decoder for power and sound.
I use the Micros.
This loco would look nice pulling two or three period passenger cars.
Roundhouse sells some really nice Overland passenger cars. I have seen them up close.
Cabbose Hobbies has good prices for the cars.
Rem's Railroad Models has 40 foot, open excursion car kits. You will need a lot of figures to make it look like a reason for an excursion train. A train with no crew and passengers does not seem prototypical.
Rich
Quote from: Yampa Bob on March 25, 2008, 01:18:55 PM
Jeff, could you take some pictures of your Russia Iron and send to me?
Thanks
Bob
Unfortunately that's beyond my technical capabilities; I don't even have a proper camera for that sort of picture. Sorry about that! :(
At least as it appears on my monitor, the picture of the unlettered, Russian iron and pinstripes version here on the web site is close enough to my engine for government work. (The Russia iron version seems to be the last of the Richmond 4-4-0s listed in the steam locomotive section.) The boiler has a sort of greenish-bluish cast to it, and the striping is very nicely done, on the drivers, cylinders, domes, and tender.
It comes with "your choice" of pilots. That scared heck out of me. I was convinced I would break the cowcatcher trying to install it, but it went right into its mounting holes in the pilot beam just as nicely as you please.
RichG
Curious about where you got the $80 price, the retail is $275.
Bob
Quote from: Yampa Bob on March 25, 2008, 01:52:32 PM
RichG
Curious about where you got the $80 price, the retail is $275.
Bob
Ebay. If you have a ebay subscription, go to HO scale, log in and check Completed Listings for the HO Spectrum 4-4-0. You will see what the engines went for. Check the sellers ratings.
They are DCC power only.
Micro Mark has a couple 4-4-0 with DCC & sound, pre order for $208.00.
Micro Marks usual price for DCC only is around $138.00.
It looks like they are going to have a good size Spectrum sale.
The Spectrum three truck Shay DCC/sound is coming up with a pre order offer of $208.00.
Rich
Quote from: Yampa Bob on March 25, 2008, 01:52:32 PM
RichG
Curious about where you got the $80 price, the retail is $275.
Bob
I never buy a Spectrum without first checking this site.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=350039026732&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=022
The vendor is an authorized dealer. This is why I have two of the units.
The Spectrum 4-4-0 is an OUTSTANDING locomotive from a looks and operational standpoint; however, it struggles pull two 80' coaches on a flat grade, so you should be close with 5 cars.
There is nothing even in this engine's league with other 4-4-0 offerings from anyone, and it really is sweet sitting next to a couple of Spectrum
4-6-0's.
Matt
http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=1701
Review of the spectrum 4-4-0
Quote from: drhone on March 25, 2008, 06:03:30 PM
http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=1701
Review of the spectrum 4-4-0
I found that link erlier but you can only read the review if you are a Model Railroader subscriber.
Go ahead and subscribe and give us the review.
Rich
Copied from the Model Railroader review
Steam fans now have a superdetailed American-type to add to their HO scale rosters. Bachmann's Spectrum modernized 4-4-0 American comes equipped with a factory-installed dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder, so the model is ready to run on DC or DCC layouts. American Standard. By the latter half of the 1800s, locomotives with a 4-4-0 wheel arrangement were so prevalent in the U.S. that they were classified as the American Standard or American type. A surge in new locomotive designs in the early 20th century quickly made the 4-4-0 obsolete, and few new Americans were built after 1900. Many 4-4-0s remained in service on Class 1 railroads through the 1920s and on short lines into the 1950s. A "modernized" American. The prototype for the Bachmann 4-4-0 is Maryland & Pennsylvania no. 6. American Locomotive Co.'s Richmond Works delivered this engine along with two identical locomotives, nos. 4 and 5, to the Ma & Pa in 1901. These 4-4-0s were similar to other modernized American-type engines built for several other railroads around the country.
The model's dimensions match drawings of Ma & Pa no. 6 published in the March 1965 issue of Model Railroader. Cab style, stack and dome arrangement, piping and other details also match prototype photos of no. 6.
The drawings show no. 6 with piston-valve cylinders that were added to the locomotive in 1924. Some of the Bachmann 4-4-0s also have these cylinders. The sample we reviewed has the earlier slide-valve type but has other features of a modernized 4-4-0, such as a steel cab, and an electric headlight.
Roadname-specific details. Our sample came decorated and detailed as Maine Central no. 84. The Bachmann engine has a tapered boiler and dome and stack arrangements similar to modernized 4-4-0s found on the MEC as well as other roads. The model has roadname-specific details, such as the cab type (wood or steel) and the headlight type (with or without visor), and bell, headlight, and classification light arrangements.
Our MEC sample has a factory-installed solid pilot and coal bunker. Two different types of user-installed spoked pilots as well as a footboard pilot and wood and oil bunkers are included.
Model construction. Most of the Bachmann engine is made of die-cast metal. The quality of the boiler casting is excellent with sharp cast-in details, including rivets and boiler bands. Other detail parts, such as the bell, whistle, air compressor, and piping, are metal.
The cab has a detailed molded-in backhead with a separately applied throttle, painted figures, and window glazing, including open wind deflectors. Another neat detail is the hinged cab apron.
The tender has a plastic tank with well-defined rivet detail. The metal archbar trucks include safety chains. These rattle a bit when the locomotive is under way, but they sure look cool.
Paint coverage is smooth and all lettering is crisp and opaque. The railroad roman font looks close to that used by the MEC. The Alco/Manchester builder's plate is legible and shows a built date of July 1905 and construction number 37754.
Drive train. Inside the boiler, a five-pole can motor and brass flywheel are enclosed in a metal housing. A cogged belt connected to the motor drives a worm shaft that runs below the motor. This shaft drives a worm gear on the front axle driver. This arrangement is the same as on other Bachmann HO steamers.
The model picks up power from both sets of drivers and all the tender wheels. Inside the tender, the DCC decoder is plugged into an 8-pin socket on a printed circuit (PC) board. Two sets of wires connect the PC board in the tender to a two-pin and a four-pin socket, each located under the rear of the engine's cab.
DCC on board. The model has a factory-installed dual-mode two-function one-amp decoder that operated correctly. I found I could turn the headlight on and off by pressing function 0 and dim the headlight (for Rule 17 lighting) by pressing function 1.
The decoder supports some configuration variable (CV) programming. A printed instruction manual for the decoder wasn't included, but you can find programming information for E-Z Command decoders on Bachmann's Web site.
HO scale 4-4-0Price: $240.00
Manufacturer
Bachmann Industries Inc.
1400 E. Erie St.
Philadelphia, PA 19124
www.bachmanntrains.com
Description: Metal and plastic ready-to-run steam locomotive with dual-mode DCC
Road names: Maine Central; Maryland & Pennsylvania nos. 4 and 5, each with wood cab; Ma & Pa no. 6 with steel cab; Seaboard; Southern (green); painted/unlettered with steel cab, or painted/unlettered with wood cab, or undecorated Russia iron jacket with pinstripes and wood cab
Performance. The 4-4-0 can run on DC or DCC layouts. In both DC and DCC the engine's speed range allowed for realistic performance, but its top speed was a bit high for a model based on a prototype with only 62" drivers.
In DC the model began moving at 3.8 scale miles per hour, and its headlight shone dimly. The headlight reached full brightness at 3 volts with the engine running at 10 mph. The model's top speed at 12 volts was 108 scale miles per hour. Real 4-4-0s of the same size and type had a maximum speed of between 60 and 70 mph.
The model's decoder supports 28 speed steps. We tested DCC performance using an MRC Prodigy Advance system that delivers 16.4 volts to the track. In DCC, the 4-4-0 began moving in speed step 6 at 4.2 scale miles per hour and accelerated to 59 mph in step 14 and to a top speed of 98 mph in step 28.
Initially, our sample had a noticeable lurch when starting in DCC. Increasing the value of CV 2 (starting voltage) slightly to 15 and adding some acceleration and deceleration (I set CVs 3 and 4 to a value of 5) made the lurch disappear and let the model run more realistically at slow speeds.
I ran the model through a 15"-radius curve of Atlas track, but the
4-4-0 looked better rounding the wider-radius curves of our Black River Junction project layout. It ran through that layout's no. 4 turnouts without any derailments.
The model's pulling power is below average but is enough for trains appropriate to a locomotive of its size. On straight and level track the 4-4-0's drawbar pull equaled 34 HO scale freight cars.
The Bachmann modernized 4-4-0's excellent level of detail and factory-equipped DCC control make it a standout locomotive for a steam
Excellant. I have heard bits and pieces about the loco but never saw this review.
Rich
Okay, that pretty much seals it for me. Thanks for the heads up on the ebay seller, those look like terrific deals. At that sort of price, you can afford to put in a new decoder if you don't like the one it comes with and still be way ahead.
Thanks drhone,
It's a must have for me, probably the Russia Iron.
Bob
Quote from: Matt Bumgarner on March 25, 2008, 05:16:07 PM
The Spectrum 4-4-0 is an OUTSTANDING locomotive from a looks and operational standpoint; however, it struggles pull two 80' coaches on a flat grade, so you should be close with 5 cars.
There is nothing even in this engine's league with other 4-4-0 offerings from anyone, and it really is sweet sitting next to a couple of Spectrum
4-6-0's.
Matt
I'll disagree with you if that is all your 4-4-0 will pull. My Roundhouse 4-4-0 has not trouble at all with my 4 fifty foot B&M coaches and a 2% grade around an 18" radius.
Quote from: sparkyjay31 on March 26, 2008, 09:22:53 AM
Quote from: Matt Bumgarner on March 25, 2008, 05:16:07 PM
The Spectrum 4-4-0 is an OUTSTANDING locomotive from a looks and operational standpoint; however, it struggles pull two 80' coaches on a flat grade, so you should be close with 5 cars.
There is nothing even in this engine's league with other 4-4-0 offerings from anyone, and it really is sweet sitting next to a couple of Spectrum
4-6-0's.
Matt
I'll disagree with you if that is all your 4-4-0 will pull. My Roundhouse 4-4-0 has not trouble at all with my 4 fifty foot B&M coaches and a 2% grade around an 18" radius.
Maybe it's the coaches, not the locomotive. Are those 80-foot coaches Bachmann Spectrums? They're pretty heavy. My Mantua Atlantic with a can motor really struggles to pull four of them. Are those B&M 50-foot coaches Roundhouse cars? I have a couple of them myself and don't think they're particularly heavy.
Quote from: Johnson Bar Jeff on March 26, 2008, 09:57:40 AM
Quote from: sparkyjay31 on March 26, 2008, 09:22:53 AM
Quote from: Matt Bumgarner on March 25, 2008, 05:16:07 PM
The Spectrum 4-4-0 is an OUTSTANDING locomotive from a looks and operational standpoint; however, it struggles pull two 80' coaches on a flat grade, so you should be close with 5 cars.
There is nothing even in this engine's league with other 4-4-0 offerings from anyone, and it really is sweet sitting next to a couple of Spectrum
4-6-0's.
Matt
I'll disagree with you if that is all your 4-4-0 will pull. My Roundhouse 4-4-0 has not trouble at all with my 4 fifty foot B&M coaches and a 2% grade around an 18" radius.
Maybe it's the coaches, not the locomotive. Are those 80-foot coaches Bachmann Spectrums? They're pretty heavy. My Mantua Atlantic with a can motor really struggles to pull four of them. Are those B&M 50-foot coaches Roundhouse cars? I have a couple of them myself and don't think they're particularly heavy.
Mine are indeed the Roundhouse 50' cars. Not very heavy at all. Maybe you are right and that is the difference. My apoligies as I did not think of the different manufacturers and car weight. Rookie mistake.
I have the Roundhouse 4-4-0 and it pull a little more than the Spectrum as they have two drivers with rubber tires. I have tried this with the same rolling stock for both locos. Same grade, same curves.
The Spectrum loco by itself, weighs 7 oz. The tender weighs 2.3 oz.
The Roundhouse loco by itself weighs 8.5 oz. The tender weighs 2 oz.
I picked up a small scale good to about 10 oz from ebay a couple years ago. It was about $20.00 and perfect for weighing model trains.
The Spectrum is still a better looking loco.
Rich
Quote from: ebtnut on March 25, 2008, 01:11:30 PM
The Richmond 4-4-0 is pretty typcial of the type being built from about 1890 into the early 1900's (the prototypes were built in 1901). It might be a bit too modern for the 1880's, though. Ma & Pa 4, 5 and 6 ran into the 1930's, when No. 4 was retired. No. 5 was retired in about the mid-1940's, while No. 6 lasted until the end of 1950. No. 6 was the only one of the three to get modernized with the piston valves and steel cab. The model will likely pull up to 8 small, free-rolling freight cars on level track, thought that is probably its limit.
Accually #6 lasted into '52 and it even got a superheater, #5 was retired around '36 but did get a steel cab before retirement (I heard it was wrecked - not too bad but not worth fixing in the Depression) and #4 was retired in '47 and kept her wood cab to the end.
I can't help it - Ma&Pa is sacred in our family. By the way, the Bachmann #6 is such a good runner it has displaced my brass #6.
Wade
Quote from: sparkyjay31 on March 26, 2008, 10:32:17 AM
Quote from: Johnson Bar Jeff on March 26, 2008, 09:57:40 AM
Quote from: sparkyjay31 on March 26, 2008, 09:22:53 AM
Quote from: Matt Bumgarner on March 25, 2008, 05:16:07 PM
The Spectrum 4-4-0 is an OUTSTANDING locomotive from a looks and operational standpoint; however, it struggles pull two 80' coaches on a flat grade, so you should be close with 5 cars.
There is nothing even in this engine's league with other 4-4-0 offerings from anyone, and it really is sweet sitting next to a couple of Spectrum
4-6-0's.
Matt
I'll disagree with you if that is all your 4-4-0 will pull. My Roundhouse 4-4-0 has not trouble at all with my 4 fifty foot B&M coaches and a 2% grade around an 18" radius.
Maybe it's the coaches, not the locomotive. Are those 80-foot coaches Bachmann Spectrums? They're pretty heavy. My Mantua Atlantic with a can motor really struggles to pull four of them. Are those B&M 50-foot coaches Roundhouse cars? I have a couple of them myself and don't think they're particularly heavy.
Mine are indeed the Roundhouse 50' cars. Not very heavy at all. Maybe you are right and that is the difference. My apoligies as I did not think of the different manufacturers and car weight. Rookie mistake.
Note the following specs from the review.
The model's pulling power is below average but is enough for trains appropriate to a locomotive of its size. On straight and level track the 4-4-0's drawbar pull equaled 34 HO scale freight cars.
I think there may be an axle or wheel problem.
I pull either 3 of the new Rapido cars or 4 of the 60' Riverossi coaches.
Quote from: sparkyjay31 on March 26, 2008, 10:32:17 AM
Quote from: Johnson Bar Jeff on March 26, 2008, 09:57:40 AM
Quote from: sparkyjay31 on March 26, 2008, 09:22:53 AM
Quote from: Matt Bumgarner on March 25, 2008, 05:16:07 PM
The Spectrum 4-4-0 is an OUTSTANDING locomotive from a looks and operational standpoint; however, it struggles pull two 80' coaches on a flat grade, so you should be close with 5 cars.
There is nothing even in this engine's league with other 4-4-0 offerings from anyone, and it really is sweet sitting next to a couple of Spectrum
4-6-0's.
Matt
I'll disagree with you if that is all your 4-4-0 will pull. My Roundhouse 4-4-0 has not trouble at all with my 4 fifty foot B&M coaches and a 2% grade around an 18" radius.
Maybe it's the coaches, not the locomotive. Are those 80-foot coaches Bachmann Spectrums? They're pretty heavy. My Mantua Atlantic with a can motor really struggles to pull four of them. Are those B&M 50-foot coaches Roundhouse cars? I have a couple of them myself and don't think they're particularly heavy.
Mine are indeed the Roundhouse 50' cars. Not very heavy at all. Maybe you are right and that is the difference. My apoligies as I did not think of the different manufacturers and car weight. Rookie mistake.
Fuggedaboudit. ;) It occurs to me now that how free-rolling the wheels are on the coaches probably also affects the performance of the locomotive.
And I'm glad for drhone's follow-up. Sent me back to read the review again. I'd been wondering whether the Richmond 4-4-0 would take a 15"-radius curve. Apparently it will, but it won't look very good doing it (few locomotives do). I'd missed that in the review.
I don't get this. Am I understanding correctly that the review says that the loco has enough pulling power for 34 freight cars, yet drhone, in real world conditions, can only pull 4 Riverossi Coaches? Am I to assume that a 60' Riverossi coach weighs about the same as 8 or 9 40' freight cars?
What am I missing?
As I said, my 4-4-0 struggles with a couple of 80' coaches, and yes, they have stock wheelsets, not some $12 precision crafted laser-honed doo-hickies. I wish they did, but they don't.
I'm ok with it because I generally pull a small combine and two shorter coaches; or, 4 to 6 forty foot cars. I don't see anyway/anyhow that MR found it to have the tractive effort to pull 34 cars. Or 24 for that matter. Or even 14.
That being said, it is a *GREAT* locomotive, and given my model roster and the real life one I model, the 4-4-0 was the weakest of the bunch anyway. That's why it was/and is assigned to my branchline short passenger train.
Matt
Quote from: Beatthe9ers on March 26, 2008, 03:51:32 PM
I don't get this. Am I understanding correctly that the review says that the loco has enough pulling power for 34 freight cars, yet drhone, in real world conditions, can only pull 4 Riverossi Coaches? Am I to assume that a 60' Riverossi coach weighs about the same as 8 or 9 40' freight cars?
What am I missing?
Something does seem a little goofy there, doesn't it?
Quote from: Matt Bumgarner on March 26, 2008, 05:14:23 PM
I'm ok with it because I generally pull a small combine and two shorter coaches; or, 4 to 6 forty foot cars. I don't see anyway/anyhow that MR found it to have the tractive effort to pull 34 cars. Or 24 for that matter. Or even 14.
And I guess a combine and a couple of coaches, or six freight cars, is prototypical for a circa-1900 eight-wheeler anyway.
Remember that MR's pulling test is on "straight and level" track. Your mileage may vary greatly.
Gene
Quote from: SteamGene on March 27, 2008, 11:06:00 AM
Remember that MR's pulling test is on "straight and level" track. Your mileage may vary greatly.
Gene
"Objects in the mirror may not be as large as they appear"? ;)
It's all academic now anyway. Thanks to the wonderful ebay tip, I just won an auction for $69.99 plus $12 shipping.
The best price I could find anywhere else was $139, plus unknown shipping. What a deal!!
I'll let you know how much I can pull with it later.
I have serious doubts about that "34 freight cars". In any event, locos like the Richmond were usually good for only about 6-8 freight cars on any kind of typical railroad that wasn't dead flat (and virtually none were). The Ma & Pa used their almost exclusively in passenger service. Normal train at least from the 1930's on was one of the baggage-RPO's and one or two coaches. In the model world, in general one passenger car is equivalent to 2 or 3 standard freight cars in terms of "drag" on the motive power. As noted, a lot depends on car weights and rolling quality of the trucks.
Quote from: Beatthe9ers on March 27, 2008, 12:16:48 PM
It's all academic now anyway. Thanks to the wonderful ebay tip, I just won an auction for $69.99 plus $12 shipping.
The best price I could find anywhere else was $139, plus unknown shipping. What a deal!!
I'll let you know how much I can pull with it later.
Yeehaw! Congratulations! You did better than I did! :D
I think this matter of how many cars it will pull is perhaps academic also. 30 frieght cars properly weighted amounts to about 8 pounds total weight. That is equivalent to about 2,000 tons in full scale. With metal wheels the friction is very little.
Realistically you will probably never have more than 10 or 12 cars on at the most. Just as with real trains, it takes a bit to overcome inertia and get up to speed. It's called "realism".
Except for some loss of traction due to only having 4 drivers, there is no reason why a steam loco shouldn't perform as well as a diesel. My GP35 can pull 30 cars at over 75 mph.
Bob
Okay, she arrived yesterday and I took her for a quick spin last night.
First of all, I should acknowledge that my disbelief in the low pulling power of the loco that was being reported here truly was born out of ignorance. This is the first steam loco I have purchased and just the third loco overall. I have the one that came with a basic set and an RSD-15 diesel. That was my point of reference. So when I opened the box, I was a bit surprised at how small the loco is, and immediately thought, 'Ahhh, that's why some are reporting that it will only pull 3 or 4 passenger cars'. So my apologize for questioning anyone here on what they were saying. It all makes more sense now.
She looks great. I had some trouble getting her started (attaching the tender and such) but things went pretty well after a little work. I hooked up 6 40' reefers to her after running her solo for a while and she pulled them just fine. They are pretty free rolling cars. At least I think they are, I don't have too much to compare them to.
Bottom line is that after 3 hours with her, I am so far happy with the purchase.
I have some questions about storage and handling and what is normal operation and such, but I will start another thread with those at a later date.
Parker
Quote from: Beatthe9ers on April 04, 2008, 10:45:14 AM
She looks great. I had some trouble getting her started (attaching the tender and such) but things went pretty well after a little work. I hooked up 6 40' reefers to her after running her solo for a while and she pulled them just fine. They are pretty free rolling cars. At least I think they are, I don't have too much to compare them to.
Bottom line is that after 3 hours with her, I am so far happy with the purchase.
Sounds like you're as happy with yours as I am with mine. Glad to hear it. :)
I had a little trouble attaching the tender, too. I've been in this model train thing for almost all of my 50 years, but those little plug thingies were new to me. ;D
Quote from: Johnson Bar Jeff on April 04, 2008, 11:05:10 AM
Quote from: Beatthe9ers on April 04, 2008, 10:45:14 AM
She looks great. I had some trouble getting her started (attaching the tender and such) but things went pretty well after a little work. I hooked up 6 40' reefers to her after running her solo for a while and she pulled them just fine. They are pretty free rolling cars. At least I think they are, I don't have too much to compare them to.
Bottom line is that after 3 hours with her, I am so far happy with the purchase.
Sounds like you're as happy with yours as I am with mine. Glad to hear it. :)
I had a little trouble attaching the tender, too. I've been in this model train thing for almost all of my 50 years, but those little plug thingies were new to me. ;D
When you want to disconnect those little plugs, DO NOT PULL ON THE WIRES.
Use a jewelers screwdriver to pry the plug out. A few clueless have pulled on the wires to remove the plug and broke one or two wires. Small usually means delicate. The good news is Bachmann has the replacement harness and plugs for a little under $10.00.
Rich
Quote from: Beatthe9ers on March 25, 2008, 10:25:44 AM
I am looking for any comments on the Spectrum Richmond 4-4-0 American Modern (items #83401 to #83409) in terms of performance, durability, and general quality. I am not particularly interested in the historical accuracy or the fine details of the model, to my eye, she looks beautiful. So if the tender is wrong or the stack is too big, I don't really care.
I'm looking for a steam engine that looks good to me and that will pull 8-10 cars on a flat surface or slight grade and negotiate 18 inch curves.
Does anyone own one? Are you happy with it? I've read that the decoder that is installed is of questionable quality. I see that Bachmann is going to release a new version with sound included, but I also see that the price jump will be significant. Does anyone have a recommendation of another 4-4-0 manufacturer that you would put above the Spectrum? Or do you have recommendations of other steam loco's that will negotiate 18 inch curves without too much trouble?
I don't have DCC yet, but am planning on it in the future and would like to set myself up for an easy conversion, so DCC ready at least is an additional consideration for me.
Thanks for the continued help/information.
Parker
Glad that it all worked out well for you. Yes this engine is in my opinion one of the best models available. That may well be the reason that I have a couple of these and some Spectrum 4-6-0's and a few Spectrum 2-8-0's.
I have downsized my steam roster and mothballed, for the time being, all the larger steamers. They will come back to the layout after the second level has been added to my layout.