According to the Steam Locomotive cyclopedia the IC prototype for this locomotive was about 15 feet 6 1/2 inches or so over the top of the stack. Likewise, an NKP Berkshire was about 15’ 8". But my Spectrum Consolidation seems to be at least 1/8 to 3/16 inch taller than the Berk - are my eyes (and level) fooling me? Could it be misassembled? Or just really loosely based on the IC 2-8-0?
PS - I’d like to add sound to it, but it’s so noisy I wonder if it’s worth it.
First, while very “close” to a lot of 2-8-0’s Baldwin built, it is somewhat freelanced. That said, big modern Consolidations of that era did sit tall, it was a function of the firebox position in relation to the frame.
Taller than a NKP Berk, well no, but as your research shows, basicly just as tall.
Noisy? I own eight of them, none are noisy at all. Sounds like it might need some lube, or some run time. The belt drive can be a little noisy if left in the cold and not run much.
As for adding sound, others will have to offer their thoughts/experiances - I don’t use DCC or sound. The locos, metal wheels on 35 car trains,etc, make enough noise for me. Especially sine you will never get the sound of a steam loco out of two 1" speakers.
Sheldon
Just measured mine, and it seems to be right at 15’ 6" top of rail to top of stack. If you are speaking of an eighth inch taller in scale, then your eyes are far better than mine. Maybe the Berk suffers from dwarfism. (The plan in Nickel Plate Story also shows the Berk at 15’ 8")
Mine runs quiet, too.
Bill
Hello “BF&D,”
I reviewed the Bachmann HO scale 2-8-0 back in the June 1998 Model Railroader when this model was new. I said than that except for the features that Bachmann obviously changed, such as the sandbox, the number and location of the air compressors, and the design of the tender, the Bachmann model closely matched the details and dimensions of the IC 2-8-0 in that Bruce Meyer drawing from the MR Steam Cyc. If your 2-8-0 is significantly taller than a scale 15 ft., 6-1/2 in., it sounds like something’s wrong.
That said, accurately measuring the height of a smokestack off the rails isn’t easy without tools adapted to the job. I set an engine on a piece of track and use a dial caliper depth gauge. My caliper is modified with an extended beam on the body to reach across the top of the stack while the rod of the depth gauge rests firmly on the railhead. This tool is shown in my article on passenger cars in the July 2003 MR.
Merry Christmas,
Andy
I think it may be a pre-Spectrum model that is in question.
Those aren´t nice in any way…
Andy (and Bill),
Realizing the difficulty in measuring and not having a dial caliper or a runout gauge, I was just looking to confirm the apparent difference in height I’d noticed casually. I did this by comparing the Bachmann 2-8-0 with my Proto 2000 NKP Berk, both on a level table, both sitting on ME code 70 flex, using a level off the 2-8-0’s stack top. With the bubble centered, there was at least 1/8" clearance (according to a Mk I calibrated eyeball) between the bottom of the level (a 24" aluminum I-beam level) and the top of the Berk’s stack. I don’t know if the Berk might have been malnourished in childhood. Could you measure one of them sometime?
By the way, I couldn’t find the 1998 review you mentioned searching for Bachmann 2-8-0 reviews on this web site.
PS - I would reall, REALLY, like to see overall length and overall wheelbase of engine-tender combinations be a consistent part of MR steam reviews; including alternate lengths if there are drawbar coupling distance options for running on trainset curves. If there’s another source for this info, I’d love to know it. Turntable considerations can limit purchase of articulateds - or lead to frustration if you just had to guess.
Nope, it’s Spectrum - early, non-DCC, but Spectrum.
Well, some more info:
I don’t have a Proto Berk, but I have 5 Bachmann Berks and eight Bachmann 2-8-0’s, so I took some measurements.
With the simple use of a straight edge and a scale ruler, the Bachmann Berks all measured over 15’-6" and less than 15’-9"
I didn’t measure all eight 2-8-0’s, but they were consistant at 15’-9". Only 2.5" higher than the prototype, while the Bachmann Berks were all right on or about and inch short.
That puts the 2-8-0 at about .0345" above the Bachmann Berk or just over 1/32".
Anyway, it’s all close enough for me.
Sheldon