Does anyone use a Bowser Dockside 0-4-0 ?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

If you have one how many cars can it pull ? I have an ancient Varney Dockside that is very powerful because of it’s weight.The cut a way drawing of the Bowser shows the same weights but a smaller motor.I am considering buying one lettered for the Erie Lackawanna,completly unprototypical but I am an EL fan. Thanks for any answers. Joe

2

Itll pull alot (for an 0-4-0) but itll suck in the running part of its feature set. It wont be reliable at all.

I would pass on the 0-4-0 dockside and look at the bachmann Spectrum 0-6-0 dockside…much better in detail, running characterisitics and so on…different league (and cheap…about 30 bones on Ebay)

David

3

I don’t have the Dockside, but I do have the A-5 0-4-0 from Bowser. It’s mechanism is identicle to the Dockside’s, and it runs very, very smoothly and is nearly silent at all speeds.[:D] Because of the heavy metal tender, mine can only pull 10-15 cars, but the Dockside should be able to pull more.

I don’t really know why you say it’ll run so poorly. The drivers on my 0-4-0 are perfectly rounded, so there’s no wobbling at all, and the black plastic gears are very well meshed and work smoothly and barely even make a hum.[:D] The drive has been very reliable for me, and only has trouble running when the wheels get dirty. Because of the nickle plating, they’re easy to clean.[:D]

4

The engine may run great on a test track, but the small wheelbase may have problem keeping electrical contact when running over switches…

Jim

5

I’ve got one - picked it up a few months ago, along with the superdetail kit and the as-yet uninstalled walschaerts valve gear kit. It runs well and pulls well, but it does have some trouble with electrical contact at prototypical speeds on the Atlas code 83 switch frogs in my yard.

Darth, does that 0-4-0 of yours have tender contacts - and do they help prevent stalling at switches?

6

Yes, but they’re only on the left side. If the right side of the engine goes over the insulated part of a switch, it will stall unless it’s going quick enough to coast over it (about 30 scale MPH).