My new 44 Tonner-Pics and Video Review

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

My Bachmann 44-tonner arrived today! [:D]

And here is a link to the video:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/diW3Lcs1rogTamS5Krhg2UPq6A2fBZcmeNtZmyi6mwY?feat=directlink

Enjoy! Acela

2

Very nice production.

What brand of sound decoder? Mine with LokSound sound, does not sound like yours. lol

Rich

3

I still run DC, so no sound for this guy. [8-|]

Acela

4

Hello Acela,

Congratulations on your new addition. Nice pictures and video. Here are a couple of photos of sister locomotive NH #0815 after undergoing a major overhaul last year. This is also a straight DC locomotive and the two motor version. This is one is about 20 years old.

New Haven #0815 passes some New York Central S-12s as it enters the industrial district

5

Glad to hear she is still running! Did you paint/weather your trucks?

6

Thanks, she sat in the box for a few years until I broke down, ordered new axle gears through Bachmann and installed them. As for the trucks I dry brushed them with burnt umber and the springs received a light brushing of a lighter color brown.

Does your unit have the dual motors? Here are some photos of the surgery.

Shell and Chassis separated showing old school dual motors. This drive unit is no longer available and replacement parts are limited.

The broken axle gears and old wheels sets

John R

7

I have not yet checked ‘under the hood’ but I believe she has 1 motor.

8

Bachmann has said that there is a supplier of motors now. There was a “large” hue and cry when they went to the one motor version, from the traction modelers. In response there is a supplier of the motors and Bachmann supposedly knows who it is.

9

Thanks for the head’s up on the replacement motors. When I was looking for parts on the Bachmann web site in 2011 the “old drive unit”, which is a motor, gears, truck and wheels assembly, were listed as sold out. I checked it again today and they are showing the motor in stock but the motor & truck assembly, which is what I wanted to simplify the repair, is still listed as sold out. Now that I have passed the learning curve on this locomotive repair I can probably install a motor should one be needed down the road. Thanks again for the info

John R

10

If it is indeed a new loco, it has a single motor inside. Bachmann changed the design long ago.

Below is a picture of the chassis I took as I installed sound, the motor is dead center with the black wire lead leading to it. The 44 ton is a good reliable loco, I have three with many hours on them, I don’t recall having any issues with them besides one truck was out of gauge. These also make a great base for kitbashing, many people (me) use them to replace older unreliable chassis’s with a new up to date chassis with improved mechanisms. I mount MDC Climax and Boxcab shells on them to make great running and low cost, reliable motive power.

11

[:$]

12

No big deal, you have a great switcher. [tup] I believe the older 2 motor version has issues which caused a redesign, but I am not certain. I found a picture of the old powered truck design, these would have been great for kitbashing.