Bachmann 4-6-0

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have been really thinking about the Bachmann 4-6-0 in HO scale. I have heard some good stuff about it, like it’s a good runner, has good detail, etc, and I have been thinking about purchasing it. I would like some feed back on the value of this engine, and I would like basically what you think of it. Also would you be able to add piston valves, and change it to a wood burner? THANK YOU!

http://mrr.trains.com/~/media/import/images/5/a/0/rpr0503_06.ashx?mw=

2

I have six of these and they are really great little engines. Performance is great. DCC makes them run like Swiss watches. Detail is excellent. They make my brass engines look kind of shabby. They can be backdated to wood burning pretty easily. There are sites on the web that describe such changes. Mine are all converted to oil burning.

I don’t know that you want to change to piston valves and convert to wood burning as the switch to piston valves tended to occur after WWI and wood burning was not used much after then. Converting to piston valves is not something I have seen done but I will bet that some modeler has done it. It would not be something for a novice to try. - Nevin

3

Is this what you want?

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/136861/1534211.aspx

Rich

4

Look great

Main problem is derailing of the tender on turns due to the stiffness of the cables

5

With a small pair of scissors, I slit the tubing length wise and removed the tubes. Problem solved.

I have the 4-4-0 and two 4-6-0’s. All with sound. I close couple them.

Rich

6

Thanks for the tip

I’ll give that a try and also on the 4-4-0

7

Some slight improvement but no way close coupled on my 24 curves

The pan between the engine and tender rubs and derails them both and the drawbar lifts the tender off the tracks

For the $$ these things cost you shouldn’t have to tinker and improvise to get them to run without derailing

8

I think they are very affordable AND great locomotives. I haven´t paid more than 140 dollars for any of my sound equipped ones.

That some small adjustments need to be made to suit YOUR demands and type of layout is totally normal to me

I have only had to adjust the cables as the tube got caught on the turnouts. I havent weighed it down or anything, and I still have no problems.

Thanks Bachmann for delivering affordable SMALL steamers WITH sound!

9

What is the minimum turning radii on these locos? And what about converting them to Stephenson valve gear? It would make a bit more sense will slide valves. And when was wood burning really phased out?

10

What adjustment did you make to prevent the tubes from getting caught on the turnouts? When mine enters the turnout the cables actually lift the tender off the tracks.

11

I removed the tubes from the wires and painted them black. I also adjusted the draw-bar with a small bend in it to avoid it interfering with the wires in curves.

I have the draw-bar at the closest setting and with the bend it is almost close to scale distance now (not really but almost…).

Then I removed all excess grease and re-lubed it. Finished!

12

I own 35 of these and have had no major problems. My local logging company used wood burners until they shut down in 1944. Another company, a little fartherr south, used wood burners into the mid 1950s.

13

Look at the below site for the valve gear modification.

http://www.cwrail.com/index.html

I do know a few NYC coal fired 4-6-0’s survived inti the late 1930;s hauling passenger trains. A couple I know of lasted into the 1940s where the track was not heavy enough for larger locos.

Most would have not had the Stephenson valve gear if they did not come with it.

Check the road of interest for use of wood and coal… Some roads the 4-6-0 were oil fired.

The few on lumber rialroads might have used wood since it was plentiful and they did not haul too far.

Do some Google searches and you will get quite a lot of info for different roads that had the 4-6-0.

Rich

14

What is the pulling power of these locos?

15

Try one yourself and find out on your layout. Then use some Bull Frog Snot and it should pull more.

Rich

16
When I get them to stay on the track I can pull 10- 40FT box cars or 5 -50 Ft Overland passenger cars weighted to standard
17

There must be something wrong with my 4-6-0…

I tested the pulling power, and it pulled 8 pcs of 40´ boxcars (weighted to NMRA standard). But I thought that it struggled a bit to do it… What I had done was that I forgot to uncouple my SW7 that I had used to move the boxcars! So my 4-6-0 took that with it as well!!!

Sure, I haven´t got any elevations, but anyway…[:D]