I am curious about Bachmann’s Colorado Railcar 89’ Full Dome cars (these would be the McKinley Explorer and Princess Tours cars) and how they operate. I have a a particular major question and I’d like to hear from people who own them.
The question is, is the recommended 22" the absolute minimum radius or will they handle 18" radius? This is important to know because it determines whether I will have to buy 22" curves in order to operate one.
Manufacturers often try to make the requirements as low as possible to sell to many as people as they can.
If they say R22, they mean R22. It’s likely because the coupler can’t swing far enough, or the long trucks will bump some details on the underside as it swings.
When working of cars of this length R28 or more is what I recommend. They look a lot better. But even Walthers cars which are listed as R24 are really picky around those tight R24 curves. Derailments occur quite often, especially when pushed. So Cavaet Emptor
Actually, it has been my experience that recommended minimum radius does not necessarily equal absolute minimum radius.
The issue with the Walthers cars is not too surprising, since Walthers designs their cars to please rivet-counters and thus does not make the compromises on undercarriage detail needed for truck turn clearance on radii smaller than the “real railroad curve” sizes.
Bachmann on the other hand is the company that engineered tri-level autoracks and Budd 85’ domes that can deal with 18" radius curves.
I would thus like to hear from people who actually own the 89’ full domes, which you evidently do not.
I have quite a few of Bachmann full dome cars, different road names, and I noticed when I hold the car upside down in my hand, the couple and the box, is very short, the mechanism that attaches the coupler to the truck is hidden in the car, it must be some type of linkage, when you turn the trucks, the coupler turns with.
Some of these cars are from a “Hawthorn Village” theme train set, they are the same as any other Bachmann dome, and the set has a mix of 22" and 18" radius curves, and #4 switches (turn-outs) I haven’t had any problems. But, I don’t run this train all the time, and I don’t do any switchin. I set it up for Christmas each year, and it goes around continously, during our Christmas Eve family party.
Those would be the 85’ Budd full-dome cars. I’m asking about the 89’ Colorado Railcar full-dome cars (which come in Holland America McKinley Explorer flavor and Princess Tours flavor).
I know what the website suggests. What I want to know is what people who actually own and use the models have to say. That is why I am asking on a forum.
But frustratingly, based on the responses I’ve had here and elsewhere so far, the answer is “I’ll have to buy one and see for itself because nobody who’s interested in replying to threads actually owns one”
How long have these models been available? A model of something only used in Alaska in the past 10 years or so may not be a big seller(and not be of general interest).
I am not tring to downplay your interest in these models, but there is a similar thread where a guy wants to know of a Bachmann RS3 or 2-8-0 will go around a 15" radius curve he is planning for a ‘wye’ track. I suspect that both he and you are just going to have to try it on a mockup with some sectional track and test it out.
Actually, the McKinley Explorer, Holland America, Bachmann set I have are 85’, from door to door. Same with the Princess cars I have. Maybe I have an older set, and Bachmann has changed actual model length.
Since it apparently wasn’t made clear enough, we are talking about models of the newer, bigger, 89’ cars.
Actually it’s more like 13 years for the real cars. And the Bachmann models have been out since 2010. They’re evidently popular enough that Bachmann has them available in at least eight of the Holland America names as well as several of the Princess Tours names. They’re even available in at least three train sets (two-car McKinley Explorer, three-car McKinley Explorer, and three-car Denali Express). I’ve seen plenty of owner photos in my Google image searches, and there are a number of videos on YouTube of people running their sets.
Since the OP isn’t getting the answers he wants, and isn’t likely to, this thread will be locked before it degenerates further. Gunkhead, if you’re so unhappy with the answers you get on this Forum, take your question elsewhere.