Hi All,

I was just wondering if any of the cheap off brand G Scale trains have metal wheels?
Do you have any experience with metal G Scale wheels off the cheap off brands of G scale items?

While Bachamnn is a leader in G Scale for putting metal wheels on all it's products, the older cars pre 2000 have plastic wheels.  I have some I want to keep, but would put cheap metal wheels on them if it would work.   Will the off brand metal wheels fit the older 1:22.5 Bachmann Rolling stock? Are they any good?

Thanks,

Bill

Hi Tac,

Here are some photos of the Kitbash you asked for pictures of, I finally found them.

The story is that after WWII ended the boys from the Missouri Western shop crews returned home with new ideas.   Management wanted to order a diesel or two, but could not afford it due to poor revenue.  The shop guys, all former navy submariners, said they could build one if management bought a surplus submarine engine, some trucks and wheels, sheetmetal and scraps from behind the shop.    The go ahead given they built the diesel powered #100 with chain drive to the trucks.   I swear the above to be true and I am sticking to my story   .  The result is a flawless runner which is a powerful and very bullet proof locomotive.

Before and after:


Strip off frame and lower bolsters to reduce height:


Cut styrene to make sides and ends and bulkheads add stringers for roof, Use front & rear grills for side vents:


Add roof, window frames, and side & end battens:


Add cab doors from original to the ends, air reservoirs and roof vents & stacks to the roof:

Make & add handrails,add horn & old Big hauler headlights, paint & lettering:


Add glazing, REvolution receiver and Alco sound,  Lift off body allows easy battery changes:


Put her to work on plow train:


Great puller in freight services as well, even here in the rain:


This was a fun kitbash, the hardest part was removing and building new bolsters, and cutting away enough of he underframe to allow for truck swing.  After that I hardwired the motors and she has run great ever since.

Bill

Hi all,  There are 13 new diagrams for the Large Scale C-19. They start here: 


hhttp://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/LS_C-19.boiler_&_cab.pdf

and are broken down conveniently by major components and load quick.  or click on Parts Service & Information above on the red banner then click on product reference and scroll down!!  I learned a couple of new things about my C-19 looking at them. 

Bill

Hi all,  There are six new diagrams for the Large Scale Version Six (metal gears). They start here


http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/LS_4-6-0_Metal_Gears.boiler_&_cab.pdf

and are broken down conveniently by major components and load quick.  or click on Parts Service & Information above on the red banner then click on product reference!!

Bill

Hi everyone,
This is the final part of the Radio Controlled Set History:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q6q8619edom5p0i/A%20Bachamnn%20Radio%20Controlled%20Set%20History%202013%20Part%204%20Final.docx?dl=0

There are a few surprises and a very collectible caboose in this final segment


For those interested links to the other parts are provided for convenience:

Part 1:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/glg09bb4c10swf8/A%20Bachamnn%20Radio%20Controlled%20Set%20History%202013%20Part%201%20%20REV%20Final.docx?dl=0

Part 2:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b3x0u04xdl0hbet/Bachamnn%20Radio%20Controlled%20Set%20History%202013%20part%202%20Final.docx?dl=0

Part 3:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v5alvzv2z7s9vhw/Bachamnn%20Radio%20Controlled%20Sets%20History%20Part%203%20Final.docx?dl=0

Hi everyone, Here is Part 3 of 4 of the R/C Set History:

https://www.dropbox.com/home/Bachamnn%20Radio%20Control%20Set%20History%20Part%201%20Set%2090100?preview=Bachamnn+Radio+Controlled+Sets+History+Part+3+Final.docx
The final part will be posted in a week or two.

For those interested links to part one and two are provided for convenience:

Part 1:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/glg09bb4c10swf8/A%20Bachamnn%20Radio%20Controlled%20Set%20History%202013%20Part%201%20%20REV%20Final.docx


Part 2:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b3x0u04xdl0hbet/Bachamnn%20Radio%20Controlled%20Set%20History%202013%20part%202%20Final.docx

After several delays the C&TS K-27 463 is finally under steam.  Pictures from the test run can be seen at this link:

http://www.coloradonewmexicosteamtrain.org/FriendsForum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=997

Hi All, 

Here is part 2 covering Sets 90101 Green Lightning, 90102 Holiday Express, and 90102F Special Holiday Express Set for Frank's Nursery and Crafts. It includes coverage of the rare gondola in the Frank's Set.

Part 2 of 4 Link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b3x0u04xdl0hbet/Bachamnn%20Radio%20Controlled%20Set%20History%202013%20part%202%20Final.docx

I will post Part 3 in a couple of weeks. 

For your convenience here is the link to part 1:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/glg09bb4c10swf8/A%20Bachamnn%20Radio%20Controlled%20Set%20History%202013%20Part%201%20%20REV%20Final.docx

I am posting a history of the radio controlled set in commemoration of the 25th Anniversay of the Big Hauler line, Set 90100 started it all.  This is Part 1 of what will be four parts.
                           
https://www.dropbox.com/s/glg09bb4c10swf8/A%20Bachamnn%20Radio%20Controlled%20Set%20History%202013%20Part%201%20%20REV%20Final.docx

Hi all,

While I have many documents and photos of early Bachmann Large Scale Sets and Rolling Stock, I can never have too much documentation for the history records. As you know I only report history related information that I can verify, since I find my old memories are often faulty.

One item I really need is a set of the instructions for the old 1988 Radio controlled sets, I once had them but lost it due to flooding while in storage along with all my Garden Railways magazines and many other magazines from 1980 to 1997.  Thanks to Chuck I do have a 1989 set of instructions for the electric sets.

If you have old ads with Bachmann Large Scale Items from 1988, and 1989 to 1994 a copy or scan would be appreciated.  I do have all the catalogs from 1989 to present. Any of the early large scale announcements regarding Large Scale products at the NMRA conventions, NGR conventions, or distributed at toy shows are needed.  Old price lists can also be helpful!

My email is not hidden so feel free to email or private mail me or whatever works for you.  I will gladly pay any costs of copies and postage.  I am always glad to answer history related questions when I can.

Thanks,

Bill   

I am starting this thread on behalf of charon "Chuck"

Chuck says:

I am enclosing a couple of pix of my newly started inside layout that is only 3 feet wide which has caused me to use 15" radius curves on the ends!!  I got the small diameter track that is used to go around the wood barrel planters. As you can see in the photo I am using the big Bachmann Spectrum boxcars, I did have to modify them by using trucks and truck mounted couplers from the Bachmann regular boxcar kits.  The loco is a MTH 8 wheel switcher with a 1/20 scale scratchbuilt cab.
I tried to post these pix on the message board, but couldn't get them to post.


http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh291/sharronbillc/chuck%20charette/IMAG00052.jpg

http://s259.beta.photobucket.com/user/sharronbillc/media/chuck%20charette/a001-1.jpg.html

Chuck

Hi All,

Got to visit my son in Denver for a couple of days over Christmas.  We had a ball with the K-27 and his 1:20.3 goodies then broke out the 1/29th/1/32nd scale trains.  The video is of a long freight coming down hill in full dynamic brakes with me controlling the lead units and him controlling the midtrain units. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXkz9PRJ7Q0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I'm getting a little bored with all the fixit posts, why not show pictures or videos of your layout. 

Lets have some fun!! 

Bill

Hi All,
Recently heard a tune in kind of a storytelling, bluegrass/ country tone that was about an engineer who had a monkey who watched him and learned how to run his loco.  Anyway the monkey steals the locomotive and on the story goes.

I only got to hear part of it.

Anyone ever hear of a song like that?? 

Can you name it??

Thanks, Bill

Will either of you be at the Bachmann Booth this weekend in St Louis?  Hoping to get a chance to visit!!

Loco Bill

Bachamnn has launched a new free electronic magazine.

http://www.bachmannmodelrailroadclub.com/

You will have to register separately for it.  Good story on Doodlebug service was in this first issue. It will be a quarterly thing.

Yardmaster,

Thanks for the link to the C-19 video!!  Lee Riley and Stan outdid themselves on this one.  I especially liked the see thru under the boiler.  Wow What a great model!!!!

Bill

Bachamnn Porter 0-4-0 Side Tank Locomotive History
By Loco Bill Canelos
Tracking the history Bachmann Porter 0-4-0 Side Tank locomotive has always been confusing with seeming duplicate product numbers.  Research to date( July 15th 2012) sheds new light on the 0-4-0's and ways to identify various versions.
Bachamnn made it's big move into Large Scale in 1989 with the release of several locomotive models, freight cars and sets.  Included was the side tank Porter 0-4-0 lettered for the fictional Coal Creek Lumber Company.  These were considered by Bachmann to be 1:22.5 models.
Bachamnn No               Road no     Released          Description
91041               CCL Co    1                 1989           0-4-0 Side Tank Porter Coal Creek Lumber Co
90017               CCL Co    Set              1990          Set with 91014 a log flat car and logging caboose
The loco was modeled after a basic Porter Locomotive Works design.  The model is a dead ringer to the prototype locomotive. In 1989 Bachamnn also offered a flat car and logging caboose also lettered for the Coal Creek Lumber Company as separate items.  In 1990 the three were combined in a set called "The Lumber Jack" Product 90017
Here is a picture of the CCL Co No 1 and the two cars offered in 1989 as separate items:




The locomotive was very nice and had plastic side rods and details.  The set remained in the catalog until 1992.  The locomotive 91041 was in the catalog  from 1989 until 1993.  The locomotive ran fairly well, but as with most short wheelbase locomotives often lost power when going slowly through switches.  Although no longer in the catalog the items continued to be sold until Bachman was out of stock.  All of these items are still seen on Ebay and other resale places and in some cases even as new old stock.
Bachamnn went on to develop new products and the Porters were left behind until 1997.
1997 was a big year for Bachamnn and the Porter Side Tank 0-4-0.  Three new sets were introduced with the 0-4-0 as the locomotive. The 0-4-0 was also offered separately in three different versions.
11396   ETL Co   1   1997   ~ Loco   0-4-0, Ely Thomas Lumber Co.
11397   WLC Co   11   1997   ~ Loco   0-4-0, West Side Lumber Co.
11398    UNDEC   21   1997   ~ Loco   0-4-0,  Painted unlettered

The sets included :
90029 1997 Paul Bunyan Logging Co.  with 0-4-0, a Skeleton log car and Paul Bunyan Logging caboose.
90030 1997 Clementine Mining Co. with 0-4-0,  a Clememtine Wood ore car and Bobber caboose.
90019 1997 Roustabout with an Emmett Kelly JR 0-4-0 Circus Flat car with cages and Bobber caboose.
All of the photos of the 0-4-0's in the 1997 catalog show them with plastic side rods. All were pictured with straight stacks except the Emmett Kelly Jr. 0-4-0 which has a diamond stack.  Even though the 1997 catalog shows all the 0-4-0 Porter side tank locomotive with plastic side rods, I have never seen one live or in hundreds of photos, that in fact have plastic side rods.  All have metal side rods, and were probably never made with the plastic ones.  It is now my belief that the catalog pictures are of the older 1989 version decorated in the new colors so that the catalog could meet printing deadlines. While I have no proof, I believe that the evidence backs this theory up so far, and it is something that Bachmann has done with other items and in one case a complete set, but that is another story.  This theory is further supported by what happened the next year.  
1998 was the the first year Bachamnn listed the new "Spectrum" line of locomotives separately from the Big Hauler line in the catalog, and to our surprise we see the Spectrum G Scale Porter Side Tank Locomotive on page 111, listed as a Spectrum model.  The other interesting fact is they have the same product numbers 11396,  11397, and 11398 as the ones in the 1997 catalog only now they show the premium features including metal siderods. The catalog stated it "returned to the Big Hauler Line" with "Spectrum features".  It seems even Bachmann was unsure of where it fit in the product line.  The picture shows the Clementine version, but all set and separately sold versions were the same except for the diamond stack Emmett Kelly Jr. version.


A close examination of the Porter side tank locomotives from 1989 and 1997 reveals the following visible differences, in 1989 they had plastic side rods,  and the builder's plates were blank. The 1997 version while almost identical in appearance included a decorated builders plate and metal side rods, and of course the all new improved mechanism with the equalized front axle.
Going through all the catalog pictures it seems that Bachamnn never corrected the pictures of the sets in the catalog which incorrectly shows the Porter's with plastic side rods and no detail on the builders plate.  The locomotives sold separately in the 1997 catalog incorrectly show 11396, 11397, and 11398 with the plastic sidrods, and lacking the builder's plate details, but the 1998 picture shows the new features correctly including the metal side rods.
I have come to the conclusion that the Porter pictures in the 1997 catalog were not correct and that the 1997 and 1998 locomotives were identical in every way and that there are no duplications of Product Numbers after all.  All Porters released in 1997 do have the metal side rods, builder's plate detail  and equalized axle.  None of the 1997 release Porters were advertised as being 1:20.3
The Paul Bunyan and Clementine sets were in the catalog in 1997 and 1998, while the Emmett Kelly set lasted from 1997 until 2000.  The 11396, 11397 and 11398 were in the 1997, 1998, and 2000 catalog.  After that there was nothing until the latest version 1:20.3 Spectrum Porter side tank locomotives were released in 2006.



2006 saw the introduction of the new 1:20.3 0-4-0 Side Tank Porter.
82596   CMC       1         2006   0-4-0 Side Tank Porter Colorado Mining Co
82597  MQ&M   1         2006   0-4-0 Side Tank Porter, Midwest Quarry & Mining Co.
82598  Undec None     2006  0-4-0 Side Tank Porter, Painted, Unlettered, Black w/ red & white trim
82599  Undec None     2006  0-4-0 Side Tank Porter, Painted, Unlettered, Black

The 825xx series 0-4-0's no longer have a builder's plate, the bell is now in front of the first dome and a generator has been added in front of the bell. In addition a three position polarity switch was added with a center off position and a hidden gear box.  It is visibly different  than all the earlier 0-4-0's and all four remain in the catalog from 2006 to 2012.
As a result of this recent in depth review I am modifying my data base to eliminate the duplication of product numbers for the 113xx series.  
To All,  Please review the above and report any error's you may see.

Hi all,  I haven't kept up with which Bachamnn Locomotives come with a R/C receiver socket that is compatible with the Aristo Craft Revolution system.   Any body have a list???  I need good information for an article I am writing.

Thanks, Bill

Hi all,

I am considering closing down my existing on the ground outdoor layout, but extending my indoor layout outdoors on raised posts using a removable bridge.  I need a durable low cost way of building the decking the track will ride on.  What materials did you use?  How did you make the curves?  Any pics also appreciated.

I have been to several conventions and have seen raised track on 4 by 4 posts, but the method of attachmant of the decking and what was used escapes me.

Bill

A few years ago I saw a listing of major changes in railroad equipment and the year it happened, it was in an old magazine, possibly MR or Trains.  It listed things like changes in air brake equipment, when roofwalks were no longer required, when "COTS"abels were applied and many other major changes.  I kept a copy and now can't find it. 

Can anyone point me to that document, or any similar source??

Thanks Bill