Hello, all, Do any of you have a “second run” Bachmann HO 44 Tonner?? I had one of the first run some years back, however the motor burned itself out after MUCH usage on my small switching layout. I was just wondering if the drive trains are better than they were in the “first run”. The detail was great on the first run and I have heard that the second run was even better. Thanks, Jimmy
Jimmy,
If by the “first run” you are referring to the two-motor version of the 44 tonner, the answer is an unqualified “yes!” The later version has one three-pole motor that drives two separate worm-gear sets, one per truck and runs very well. I have had two of the two-motor version and presently roster two of the one-motor version. The first of these was an earlier run and the worms were attached to the truck assembly with four screwrs. The latter is a new “DCC on board” run and the worms are now attached via a plastic ring that clips onto the truck–cheaper but seemingly as effective. The “DCC on board” engine also lacked a choice of headlights, coming with the “hooded” lights attached and without the standard headlight castings as previously. Quality control is an issue as a parts box of spare parts from a couple of scrapped 44 tonners attests.
I removed the cheap Bachman decoder and have equipped both engines with sound decoders from ESU (LokSound micro 3.5’s). It took some frame modification and much patience in “trial and fit” for the speaker and LED/resistor sets for the lights but they run great and the sound is good, considering the size of the speaker. The slow speed is amazing as on all LokSound decoders. My only complaint is their sensitivty to dirty track. My other engines (larger, heavier, and longer wheel-base, with flywheels) have no stalling problems on less-than-pristine track, running better on DCC than they did on DC!
As for the detail, the second and subsequent runs have pretty much the same body detail, although the single-engine version’s frame is different.
You can pick up a 44 tonner from a hoby shop via the internet for a really good price by shopping around via the internet. I got my last one for under $40 but then spent over $120 on a decoder for it! Yipe! My little 44 tonners see
The superstructure of Bachmann’s 44-tonner has never looked right to me compared to the prototype. Did Bachmann just mess it up or did it make “adjustments” to accommodate the motor(s) and drive train? And then there is the elevated look of the model. … The real thing:
I just compaired the Bachmann model to the drawings published in the September 1978 MR and the model is dead on correct in every aspect.
And it runs very nice too.
Sheldon
I picked one of the new ones up last summer with a special project in mind to turn it into a plant switcher for my cement plant. I’ve only test run it and it seems quiet and smooth. Mine is the non-DCC version, but will get a decoder.
As for looking tall - take a look at that prototype picture, the cab windows go up almost as high as the caboose cupola.
–Randy
I have 2 of the later model, they both run very smooth at all speeds.
I agree with Sheldon. I have a 44 Tonner in NH livery, and I can’t tell any differences between it and a photo of the prototype in my New Haven Power book.
And it’s a sweet runner – although it goes much faster than the prototype.