well my theory is still a chassis swap:

1. v7 tender for sure, rivets AND you can see the multi pole socket..
2. correct box for the loco shell and tender, again v7
3. looking carefully, you can see the multi pole male connector not plugged into the socket, but there
4. wrong siderods/valve gear

It appears the loco plug is correct, and clearly the tender socket is right.

Was the loco number ever sold under a different road number?

Greg

So the unexplained part is the valve gear.

The wires from the chassis to the loco are simple, so I do believe it would be pretty simple to graft an older chassis, since you are only talking motor and power pickup wires.

(Of course the chuff circuit I believe is different, although that brings up an interesting, related subject, the recent realization that replacement chassis come with a board that interfaces to BOTH the traditional chuff cam,and the optical interface... the circuit board supplied with the replacement chassis has TWO sockets, one 2 wire for chuff cam, and one 3 wire for the optical)

So, I think the possibility exists that someone did swap a replacement chassis with different valve gear into a V7... so far the part number on the box only came with the walscherts valve gear, and this one has different valve gear..

Interesting situation.....

That actually makes sense...

The tender is definitely V7.... the loco number and box indicate V7, so those wires should reflect V7 connections...

Now, is it (the motor block and other boards in the loco) actually wired correctly? Who knows?

seems so, unfortunately, what is being physically offered does not match the box or the description of that item on EVERY other site, including Bachmann.

the seller sells a fair amount of trains vs other stuff, he has sold 157 items, but has 301 feedback entries..

Anyway, good on Mark for ferreting this out.

Just by rivet size alone, that has been confirmed as a Gen 7.

I think earlier it was pretty well determined that is not the original box.

My theory is that someone wanted a newer chassis, bought a new Gen 7 at some point, swapped out the chassis and is selling it.

I gather you have the older "connie", not the newer C19?

Are you the original owner?

Pete, you flipped the image to fake the other side of the loco, and then say the air pump is missing?

Air pumps on both sides of the loco?

good catch V12 !!

Good theory, why would someone sell the new tender... answer: existing loco with electronics in the old tender, but needed the nice valve gear and the newer drivetrain?

Something is not Kosher

Yeah, as Bill noted, we have a version 7 tender, and NOT a version 7 chassis/rod and valve gear.

Bill, you do agree that the tender is the new, v7 design though, right?

Yep, agree, that is the latest, 7th gen tender for sure.

Without detailed pictures of the undersides, can neither confirm or deny the loco.

1. you can buy replacement motor blocks for the Dash 9, that have 3 prime mover gearboxes in them, and for some time now.

2. so you need to lubricate the axles on a regular basis, especially if you get dirt and moisture on the axles (shove a driver all the way to one side, put heavy oil on the exposed axle between the driver and motor block, and then shove the driver all the way in the opposite direction.

3. as soon as you lose lubrication at this point, then the ball bearing will wear a groove into the axle... it's not from arcing, but from friction/lack of lubrication.

4. when you have a Aristo loco, you need to test power pickup at EVERY wheel, and fix it if there is no continuity.. it's a weak point in the design, there is a little finger that touches the spring that presses on the ball bearing... if the finger does not touch the spring, no power pickup. With typically several drivers NOT picking up power, that puts additional stress on the remaining working pickups and you are on your way to issues.

5. realize when you get grooves in the axles, they are now locked mechanically from sliding side to side in operation, which in turn puts an extreme load on the geartrain and destroys it.

So this all resulted from not lubricating... it common with locos that are not lubricated... or sit outside or both.



Read all about it here:
https://elmassian.com/index.php/large-scale-train-main-page/motive-power-mods-aamp-tips/aristo-motive-power/prime-mover-basics

Yeah, the poster of post #13 has some other problem, ie other than the reverser, as I stated.

what electronics are doing the running?

Is the valve gear why you say it does not have the original chassis?

I apologize for the off topic following:

I had the privilege of meeting George face to face several times, and he even came down the coast from LA to run trains once.

Many people might not know that he worked for one of the aerospace companies designing systems on rockets.

So we were sitting outside at one of the big train shows in Pomona or Ontario california, and the fire marshal would not let the live steam people run inside the building.

Unbeknown to me he was sitting about 6 feet behind me. (you will have to excuse the following), but a person came up, and asked a pretty dumb question, and when I replied all I got was arrogant pushback. George then replied with a very detailed and technical answer.

The arrogant guy then said: "what are you, a rocket scientist?" trying to put him down.

All George said was "yup", and the place broke into uncontrollable guffaws of laughter... yes George was indeed a rocket scientist...

Fond memories, and the impetus to carry on his tradition of his web site.