Bachmann 4-8-4 electric pickup issue

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’m still getting used to the searching in these forums but I couldn’t find a post I read a while ago that may help me out.

I’ve got a bachmann 4-8-4 with a tender that is 8-8 (I guess 8-8 ?). I took it apart trying to figure out if there is a way to add more power pickup because over switches and such it seems to lose power, momentum carries it over, then it continues but this process often times dis-connects my crapido (as I’ve learned most call them) couplers and obviously doesn’t add to my attempted realism factor.

This bachmann came out of a kit that was just an oval with ez-track, it has A.T.&S.F on the engine and Santa Fe 3780 on the tender. I’m looking for a document that will walk me through adding pickup to either the tender or either the front 4 or back 4 wheels of the engine (if this is even possible).

My other engines do not exhibit this problem, 2 are Chessie system diesels (4-4’s) and one is a 6 wheel Santa Fe(forget the name sorry) stubby guy that I use to move rolling stock around my layout

EDIT

Had omited the scale, it is N Scale :slight_smile:

2

Hi Jason;

First, please let us know which scale your trains are. Due to your reference to Rapido couplers, I am guessing N scale.

Take a look at:

http://www.alaskarails.org/modeling/PD-electrical-pickup.html

http://www.zscale.org/articles/power.html

Neither is N scale, but there is sufficient information for you to do the job.

You can get metal wheel sets from many sources, start at your LHS. You will need to match axle lengths.

3

I’ll take a read off those links but in taking the engine apart and my lack of knowledge regarding how this bachmann is setup for DC pickup, it appears as though the chassie itself IS the pickup. I’ve seen some info like the links you’ve provided but I’m having a hard time using those references for the 4-8-4 engine. I’ll read them again though, perhaps there will be a nugget in there [:)]

4

Jason,

I sent you a PM.

The tender mods that I referred to does not require dis-assembly of the loco itself only the tender.