2-8-0 Trailing Piping

[Frank B]

Hey Bachmann,

My new 2-8-0, which runs perfectly right out of the box, has a pair of pipes hanging free below the cab.

See the exploded part diagram N811X-IS001,top of page where injection molding P/N 00G01, and the right side molding P/N 00G02 show the long trailing pipes.

I've Googled "steam locomotive piping" articles but can't seem to find any explanations. Occasionally, such piping can be seen in photos of actual locomotives.

Please tell me the purpose of the pipes.

Thanks,

Frank

[curn]

Frank,

I believe the piping you refer to, in the real world, are feed water lines that run from the tender to the water injectors that force water into the pressurized boiler. On the model the flexible hose that runs from the pipes to the tender is difficult to model, so they just dangle there. 

Here is a part of an article that shows the pipes.
http://archive.mylargescale.com/articles/masterclass/mc1/mc1-06/bkgrnd/bkgrnd08.asp
- this is a good explanation of the injectors
http://archive.mylargescale.com/articles/masterclass/mc1/mc1-06/bkgrnd/bkgrnd07.asp

The full article goes in depth into all piping found on steam locomotives and from a wide range of eras. Its a good read if you are interested.
http://archive.mylargescale.com/articles/masterclass/mc1/mc1-06/mc1-06.asp

[Frank B]

Curn,

Thanks for the education. It never occurred to me that Bachmann would carry their injection molds to such a detail.

I'm most pleased with the 2-8-0. Bought it, NIB, at local train show for $77, since it was supposedly a prior year's run.

Outside of the gross couplers it's really quite first rate. Runs smooth at 3 VDC in.

Again, thanks,

Frank Brasington
Melbourne, FL

[Franz T]

A MicroTrains 2004 will fix that coupler problem for ya
I got about 8 of them and they are great runners.....