After months of consideration I saw an on-line special ($96) on the Bachmann turn of the century 4-4-0 and purchased one. My intended use is for pulling three vintage 45-foot passenger cars. While I knew that a model this small will have limited tractive effort, I’ve been appalled by the reality.
Although my particular locomotive seems to run fine, (1) it can pull only two of these cars on the flat portion of the layout. In fact, it has significant wheel slippage on my 28-inch curves, pulls two cars smoothly only on straight track. (2) It literally struggles to pull itself up my slightly less than 2% grades. It cannot pull even ONE car up a grade.
Is this what others have experienced? Can this be addressed by adding weight or should I just chalk this up to experience and try to re-sell the model? (If so, too bad - great looking model).
I use 2 HO 4-4-0’s on my layout, they can easily pull 8 freight cars on the level and begin to slip a little over about 6 cars on a 2% grade. I have added lead under the cab roof and in the cab area on one and it will easily pull 8 cars (its intended tonnage rating) up my current ruling grade.
Heres a 2 car passenger train pulled by a Bachmann 4-4-0 meeting a freight pulled by a Roundhouse 4-4-0.
It may not be the engine…at least, not all of it. Sure, it’s a small engine as steamers go, but it should be able to pull your consist up a 1% grade without too much of a struggle. So, there are a number of things to investigate:
a. Could it be a simple design problem in that the front truck presses down sufficiently with overburden weight atop it that the front set of drivers get very little purchase? It wouldn’t be the first steamer that doesn’t have most of its weight where it should be…on the drivers. Note that this is unlikely, but it could happen.
b. are the cars you are pulling weighted properly?
c. are those cars as free-rolling as they could/should be? Have you used the truck tuning reamer from Micro-Mark to shape and clean out the axle receptacles?
d. are all moving parts and rotating parts lubricated sufficiently? This starts at the front truck of the engine and includes the valve gear, plus any wheels further back from the engine’s cab (tender, passenger cars).
e. is your track squeaky clean? Might it have fine dust from powders or other construction material, house dust, weathering chalks…anything slightly oily left behind?
f. is the engine well broken-in? Some of them are actually quite stiff when new.
You could add more weight if you are handy, but it may be a real chore and might not be of any use in the end if your problem is the front truck.
That’s about all I can think of. The others will know what else to do.
I have an IHC 4-4-0 that had a simmilar problem , but I added weight in the cab and the smoke stack , that did the trick , it will puul 6 to 8 cars up a grade and I have had it pull 15 on flat track .
I think this is a problem that all small Spectrum steam locos share. My 10 wheeler & the tank switcher are really bad pullers. You think this is to encourage you to buy another & double head? I was intending to add the 4-4-0 to my collection, but not so sure now. Jerry
If your Bachmann 4-4-0 can just barely pull itself up a 2% grade, I would suggest that there is a problem with the loco itself. Check to see if all the non powered wheels (at the front and on the tender) turn freely. If they drag, lube them (I use graphite) and see if you can get them freed up. I assume that the wheels are slipping though you didn’t mention that specifically. The suggestion about the front truck lifting the drive wheels so they don’t get good adhesion is anoth possibility. Check the spring in the front truck.
My 4-4-0 (Bachmann) is a sweet runner and can pull two 85’ heavyweight coaches and a milk car up a 2% grade with no problem. That is why I think the problem is the loco itself and not the cars you are pulling. If all else fails, contact Bachmann and see hat they say.
I have two of the 4-4-0 Spectrums and agree that they are somewhat light as to pulling power.
I pull 3 of the Athearn 72’ passenger coaches with one my Spectrum 4-4-0 up a 2% grade. I did however replace the wheels sets of the Athearn coaches to metal wheels.
The other Spectrum 4-4-0 running on a level trackage pulls a freight consist of 7 cars and a caboose.
I would emphasis the advice given to you to about checking the engine’s truck wheels to ensure both the wheels are indeed turning correctly as well as spring pressure. In addition check the wheels and trucks of your rolling stock.
