I’ve always wanted a roller stand/running stand for breaking in locomotives, without the hassle of having to run the engine around the layout for an hour in each direction, with the accompanying danger of derailments, possible 350-foot plunges to the floor, etc. With the Bachrus Rolling Stand, I can break in the gears, bearing seats, etc., and check for binds, right on the workbench, where I can watch the process closely. When I found the website (and that thanks to a poster, either here or on the MRH site), I knew I’d struck gold. I had searched on eBay off and on for years, and check out one that Micro Mark used to carry, but they were either all for 3-rail Marklin or were far to pricey at $130-$190. These are maybe half or less of that.
I ordered the #54RS Running Stand Set for HO, at $71.00. Brian at Bachrus shipped it within a day or so, on April 30, and I got it today, May 4. Note: Because they are located in Canada, the shipping to the Heartland here was a bit steep, but still not completely outrageous.
The stands came well-packed in a sturdy box. Inside the shipping box were two more boxes: One for the rollers (called “saddles” by Bachrus), and one for the stationary supports (called “stirrups”) for the non-powered axles (lead, trailing trucks, and tender). Four saddles, and three stirrups - one long and two short. Also included were Allen wrenches for the set screws that are used to adjust the saddles and stirrups to the exact gauge of the track.
The stirrups are made from extruded aluminum with heavy plastic spacers. The saddles are cast. The workmanship is superb. The finish on all metal parts is smooth, with no raw corners or edges.
Here are the parts :
The Gauge Flanges are set inside the rail heads. A set screw is loosened, and the Stirrup/Saddle is pulled out until
I will, have to agree, that is very well,engineered…What also caught my eye,was the track in the pic. Is that the old,Tru-Scale,track?? I havn’t seen that in years,could never afford it back then,but i dreamed about it…
Yeah, Frank. That’s the only piece of the old Tru-Scale Ready-Track I have. I couldn’t afford to build a layout with it either, but I had a couple of pieces just for kicks. I did build a layout with their Plain Milled Roadbed, back in the late Fifties, though. This was pre-cork, all brass-rail, fiber-ties flex-track…
My question is how does it due with multiple sprung drivers with articulated rods such as a 2-10-0? Would I need 5 of the roller assemblies for such a locomotive? How about a large articulated loco? Could run into a fortune.
Pete, you’d need a saddle for each powered axle. For a 2-10-0, you’d need another saddle - a set of 2 is USD$32, which would handle a 4-12-2. A 4-8-8-4 would need an additional 4 saddles - USD$56. But even at that, it’s no more expensive than some I’ve seen. Their home page has a link to the price lists…
I’ve updated the original review with a URL to the video on YouTube…
I have been looking for these for a while now. What has put me off purchasing was what I thought was a very high price. I checked the videos, checked out the site and I was surprised to see how economical the prices are for these.
Well, enough said, I bought the starter set of both the saddle and sturups, which I note is marked down when purchased together rather than seperately.
Will wait and see, and If they are as good as they seems to be, I will be s few more pieces for my larger locomotives. These will be great when doing my maintenance.
That $71 ‘set’ - It includes 4 of the driver saddles, the 2 ‘stirrups’ and that long stirrup for a tender to ride on? I did not see that last item in your photo.
