Hello,
I recently purchased from (you guessed it… eBay), two HO Bachmann 2-8-0’s.
While these came from a US seller, I noticed the writing on the box exterior is in Chinese. They were shrink wrapped when they arrived.
Does anybody have any knowledge if these were intended for the asian market?? I am wondering if the seller bought these from an asian eBay seller and then resold them.
By the way… these two engines took a lot of persuasion to get their wheels turning and when I did, found that they run with a horrible grind noise. I am confident I can get them running but I haven’t tried yet.
Because of this noise, I wonder how long they may have been sitting around and I wonder if there’s a way to determine a product date of these engines. Also, can I expect to have problems with the DCC plug???
Anything else anyone can add would be helpfull. Thanks
Signed
Vern
Are these from the Bachmann’s Spectrum line. If so, I would be surprised since their Spectrum engines are a cut above their old line of stuff which I put in the Tyco category. If these aren’t Spectrum’s, it would not suprise me at all it they have mechanical problems.
Hi Vern
From what you describe, It sounds like you have the Reading prototype 2-8-0 that they came out with in the 1980s (I know, they came in every road name under the sun, except Reading) The only logical conclusion for the oriental style writing is that it may have been intended for the Japaneese market. If you know anyone who is good with that kind of stuff have them check. But the Japaneese market is logical as model railroading in that country enjoys similar popularity there as it does in the US. While large layouts are hard to come buy, small shellf like affairs and modulars seem to be as common as rice.
As for its running charicteristics, that one is a tough one. Bachmann steam locos seem to be a hit and miss afair with some of them running just fine. Others needing a little work to run just fone. Others needing lots of work, and others just complete basket cases. If you find yours is a complete basket case, Bowser makes a replacement drive that just mounts right in. As for the DCC plug, if these are what I think they are there will be no DCC plug. Only spectrum 2-8-0s have the DCC plug.
James
I had picked up a Reading 2-8-0 three years ago from a show. It worked well for about a day and then skipped down the tracks. Upon investigating I found the worm gear was stripped. NWSL does sell these but be careful when replacing the gear. I slipped and had to replace the whole engine as the set (Came with three passenger cars) was outdated and they didn’t make spares.
All my Spectrums have instruction sets in an oriental language along with the English ones, but the box is all in English. They also all run very smoothly.
Normal SOP with a balky locomotive is to check lubrication, clean and relube if necessary, and use MAAS paste to scrub off about two inches of oxidation from all electrical contacts before trying to resolve any deeper problems. I bought a pair of 2-8-0 Model Power locos at a recent show, old timers “new” in the box from probably 10 or 20 years ago, and the brass drivers were dead black with oxidation. I cleaned one set in place, (pprobably three hours), and took another fully apart, with two drivers clean, and six yet to go. Both locos need the pickup contacts cleaned on the tender too. I’m very much hopiung the metal polish prevents or at least slows down the oxidation process, because this is a job I don’t care to repeat very often.
What you’re saying doesn’t sound good. It makes me suspicious that their chassies have been traded out for a lower end brand…
Tracklayer
Sorry Everyone, these are the Spectrum line. Item No 11426 lettered for the NY, New Haven & Hartford. I believed they couldnt have been more than 5-6 years old and as I wrote earlier, they were shrink wrapped and they were advertized as New, never run.
Anyways the Chinese writing isn’t such a big deal as I’m sure they were manufactured overthere and shipped back here for sale. Thanks for your replies
The original low-end line DID come facotry lettered for Reading, with a smoke unit and all. ANd it IS a good Reading prototype I10 even if the detail is kind of crude. It was the second run that came in every road name BUT Reading (or maybe that was the Spectrum version). If it doesn’t have arched cab windows, it’s not a Reading prototype.
I HAVE heard horror stories on the reliability of the older non-Spectrum version. Still contemplating if I should even bother to convert it to DCC if it will only run a couple of hours before something breaks.
–Randy