Any improvements yet to the Bachmann ON30 Streetcar?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Christmas is just around the corner and I’m thinking about running new track for my Bachmann Streetcar again.

I still have the one I bought after Christmas in 2003 and it has been a nightmare to keep running. I haven’t even run it in the last two years and last year I removed the track completely and I need to make a decision soon so I have enough time to run the track this year.

I was just wondering if there have been any improvements since I bought mine or if maybe there are any modifications that I can make to the Bachmann ON30 Christmas Streetcar. Otherwise I just can’t deal with the problems of poor running.

2

You did not give any details about poor running.

Have you cleaned the track and wheels? Not looks clean but actually cleaned. With only four wheels, everything has to be clean and good connection between track sections.

There is a ON30 forum at the Bachmann site. There are no improvements that I am aware of. Bachmann still sells this item. I just checked.

Rich

3

I guess there is a possibility that yours has an older style drive. Below is what Bachmann sells now.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/25127.pdf

Compare to the diagram you got with yours.

Rich

4

By poor running I’m talking about the pickups and the motor. I can get it to run but only for about an hour then I got to take it all apart again. I have cleaned the track so much that my roadbed was ruined which is why I pulled it all up.

I like the car and I would have it on display even if it didn’t work, but everybody asks me about the streetcar and it’s embarrassing to say it doesn’t work.

5

Thanks, It looks like what I have. I’m not sure if the motor is just giving up the ghost or what but the pickup are on the worn side.

I read some place a few years ago about someone modifying it to fit a motor from something else. I just don’t remember what it was. I only know that the drive train was from another HO Loco

6

Ok I was just looking to see how much it is for a new one and I’m not sure, but it looks like they don’t sell them anymore

7

Bachmann sells the replacement motor with the four contacts but out of stock. Bummer.

For $30.00, they will replace your street car with a new one.

I just checked the site.

Rich

8

Really!, wow thanks, I’ll check it out

9

I have noticed in these forums that many have no idea that Bachmann has a website. Yes, I know, some do not care. Below is a link right to the page you need.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/service_2010.php

Rich

10

What did you use to do the cleaning? Some products can actually make the situation worse, for example Goo Gone leaves a residue.

11

I’ve tried everything from to those eraser type track cleaners to Goo Gone to just rubbing alcohol. Anyway I know the track and wheels were clean and the problem was in the motor or contacts.

I know I had some photos of it all when I 1st started posting about the problem, but I just can’t find them now. Here is a photo of a bridge I was building a while back, but it also shows the road with the inlaid track just before I pulled it up.

The track and the road has been pulled up and trashed. I’ve decide that the next track will be HO track with the plastic roadbed already installed and I’m not going to use the plaster.