Hey Ya’ll
I am thinking of purchasing a Bachmann 2-10-0 Russian Decapod, seeing as they are on sale at Trainworld.
Has anyone had any experience with the locomotive? I think it is cool looking.
I’d like to use it to pull moderate to long freights up heavy grades or be a pusher locomotive in the furture. Is it suitable for this work?
Steel Rails
It’s a BIG loco…it should be able to handle your requirements. I don’t have one (yet) but my experience with the newer Bachmann equipment is good!
underworld
aka The Violet
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The Bachmann ‘Russian’ 2-10-0 is a ‘small’ engine - it is smaller than the Baldwin 2-8-0 that Bachmann also markets. Pulling power is OK, but most any diesel will outpull it, as will the 2-8-0. These engines were built for a cancelled Russian order and wound up on several US railroads. It is a sweet running engine, but is not a big freight ‘hog’. Most of the prototype ones were used on branch lines or secondary duty.
Jim
The Decapod is a tiny locomotive considering it’s wheel arrangement, and while I know very little about the prototype, the model is not a great puller by any means. Are you sure you weren’t thinking about the USRA 2-10-2? That locomotive IS quite large and is probably a decent puller.
Jeff
Several people from my club have them. It is a locomotive on my “want” list.
Even though it has 10 driving wheels it is a tiny locomotive. So I would say no. I am pretty certain that prototpically an URSA light Mikado was equivalent and a heavy USRA Mike would out pull it.
The Russian decapod is the equivalent of a consolidation in pulling power, because it was designed with light axle loading to operate on light rail. It would be adequate as a branchline loco, and could be used for helper service where the normally assigned road power is about four cars shy of enough power to pull the grade alone.
With 52 inch drivers, this is no speed demon, but with 52,000 pounds of tractive effort it is a fairly heavy hauler if you aren’t in any hurry.
Chuck
It’s a beautiful little engine for ridiculously litlle $$$. Too bad they don’t make more road numbers, for that price a double-header would be great (dont feel like messing around with decals.)
I’ve had mine pull about 15 cars on not-very-clean track. It is a bit lighter than the Consolidation, not sure whether the lesser axle load per driver would be offset by it having one more driver but I dont think so. My loco did have problems with a short-circuit; one of the driver axels touched both the copper pieces of the ‘wipers’. A bit of tape solved the problem.
Sweet little runner, lotsa bang for the buck. A litttle too light for my taste, but great for branchline, secondary or even switching service
Could this engine pull about 6 Athearn HW RTR passenger cars?
It probably could, but the Decapod was not normally used in passenger service. The general rule of thumb, at least after 1920 or so, was that engines in passenger service had four-wheel leading trucks, while engines with two wheel leading trucks were freight engines. There were some exceptions to this rule however, since 4-8-2’s and 4-8-4’s were often considered as dual-purpose engines. The Russian 2-10-0’s were particularly ill-suited to passenger service since their small driving wheels and shallow fireboxes limited both steaming capacity and top speed. They might have been used in mixed-train service on branchlines, but never on a crack passenger run. They just weren’t fast enough.
Woodard
[C):-)]
My 2 cents My loco developed a short also ( as did "dothinker’s) so this MIGHT be something to expect in future. But it sure looks nice!!
Jim
Yeah I was thinking of using it as more of a modern day excursion train. Enough to have it drag around some tourist railfans. I guess I could get another engine that pulls better and decal it for my line.
The Grizzly Northern operates three Bachmann Spectrum “Russian” 2-10-0 Decapods and three 2-8-0 Consolidations. I love them all. While I haven’t calibrated their tractive effort, they appear to have about the same pulling power, however the smaller driver diameter on the Decapod -52 in. vs 62 in. for the Consolidation, makes for an interesting problem when trying to run a double header with one of each, since the Decapod has to run faster to keep up with the Consolidation.
A Russian Decapod moving a train at 50 smph is a fun sight, lots of very fast motion with those rods and valve gear pumping away and the wheels whizzing around.
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In my opinion all Bach Spec engins are too light. I have the decopod,the 10 wheeler, tank shifter & climax . They are all well detailed but don’t pull as much as they should. Not much space to add weight either. If you don’t need long trains , they are great. Hope to get another 10 wheeler next Christmas. Would look great double headed!
I have two of the decapods and when double headed they pulled 35 cars around 22" radius on a 4x8 board. They run very well. The Illinois Railroad museum uses a Russian Decapod to pull excursion trains.
The Spectrum 2-8-0 will pull two OT boxcars, two OT flatcars and a bobber caboose up a 5% garde on 18 and 22" radii. The 4-6-0 will pull two OT Overton shorties, but will not pull two OT boxcars about half the time. These are smooth rolling medium heavyweight MDC cars. All the efforts involve minor wheelspin.