Hmm, it’s been a while since I’ve done mine, I’ll have to check one that’s still “in the shops”.
There’s a little bit of room in the smokebox ahead of the factory weight - I remove the lights from most of my locos in favour of extra weight, so this option is not for everybody. You can also cut off the front of the factory weight (back to just ahead of where the screw that comes up through the cylinder casting attaches) and replace it with a similarily-shaped piece of lead. There’s also room in the domes, on the cab floor, and between the drivers atop the frame: the latter option is not really visible when the loco is on the layout. On the ones in my previous picture, I fabricated new air tanks from lead-filled brass tubing, and added an extra one on the pilot deck. On these locos, I didn’t bother replacing the front of the factory weight, as the locos will pull the trains that they were purchased for, although the one that’s being converted to a CNR loco will have more weight added. The stock 2-8-0 (loco only) weighs 12.75 oz., balanced about the mid-point of the driver wheelbase. My modified locos weigh 14.25 oz., also balanced at the mid point of the driver wheelbase. The balancing is just as important as the amount of weight added, as too much on one end can decrease the downforce on the drivers at the opposite end. I also added 1.75 oz. to the tender, with up to another 1.25 oz. available when the bunker is loaded with loose “coal”.
While it doesn’t deal with the Bachmann 2-8-0, you can check out some ideas for adding weight to any steamer here:
Actually, the engine measures out perfectly for what it is: an IC 942-series 2-8-0 built in 1909. The core measurements (driver centers, boiler diameter) are exactly the same as the IC’s giant fleet of Harriman-standard 2-8-2s, which leads me to believe that the Consolidation is basically a Harriman-standard designed engine too. That means that it’s probably a good starting point for UP and SP engines. As an IC modeler, I’m VERY happy with mine!
I have a couple of these little beauties. Great little locos. The only detail quibbles I had with mine were that the builder’s plates were printed in the negative - that is, with black lettering on a gold background - I made some decals to replace them; and the bell was lacking in detail - I replaced it with a Cal-Scale casting.
I’d kinda like to replace the whistles, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. (Have you ever noticed - “round to-its” can be really hard to find? [:D] )
The headlight issue is easy to solve. Remove the boiler and pull out the light pipe that goes from the boiler into the headlight housing. Then slip a 1.5v micro bulb into the headlight from the boiler, and tack it in place with a bit of glue. I removed the circuit board in the tender and substituted a constant lighting unit based on a TTR (Three Terminal Regulator). The circuit details are on mrollins.com . It’s the “non-directional constant light circuit for “can” type motors” one.
There were a bunch of Bachmann Spectrum locos on sale at Modeltrainstuff and Trainworld early in the year. My impression was the Spectrum line was being phased out, but I am just a guy at the end of the bar. I don’t know that for sure.
Bachmann made a number of small changes to the Spectrum 2-8-0 over its many years of production. Then they moved the loco to the regular line mainly because the newer entries into the Spectrum line were generally more proto correct than the 2-8-0.
The current 2-8-0 is the exact same loco previously offered as the Spectrum model, less the fancy box, and currently not offered with with sound, but it is dual mode DCC decoder equiped and I believe the tenders are sound ready with a speaker mounting location.
It is my understanding that the Spectrum line is not being phased out, but that releases will be less frequent.
Bachmann has upgraded the detail and drives of its regular line and has introduced a number of completely new items - they don’t need to say Spectrum to be good models anymore.
Starting with the regular line Berkshire some years back, Bachmann has done a great job at higher quality yet still affordable models.
My own steam fleet includes over 35 Bachmann steamers, all good locos.
The only stuff they changed were circuit board designs, changed to LED headlights at one point, and modified the tender floors for sound versions. Mechanically and cosmeticly still the same as it started out.
About three or four years ago a Bachmann rep said the loco has a three pole high performance motor and was moved to the standard line.I did notice the loco diagram disappeared from the diagram page but you can still find the diagram via the parts page. DCC on board, DCC ready and DCC with sound.
The 2-8-0 has actually had a 3-pole Mabuchi motor from the beginning. I’ve used the same motor in quite a few projects since it’s smooth, powerful, reliable, and has very good speed control and consistency.
I hope you’re wrong about that. I have a high regard for the Spectrum line and very little for their standard line. I have two of the Consolodations, one with sound. Eventually I’ll probably put a sound decoder in the other. They are among my favorite engines. I like running them on my peddler freights.
The Standard line has been greatly improved with each new release. The 2-6-0, the Berkshire, the new USRA 2-8-2 and soon 4-6-2, as well as a number of the diesels are all new tooling with drivelines of the same quality as the older Spectrum models, and just a little less detail.
The Spectrum line will likely continue from what I have heard, but at a slower pace in terms of releases and items.
Judging Bachmann products by what kind of box they put them in is likely not a fair approach at this point. These moves have been made to continue high quality while holding down prices.
The 2-8-0 sold today in a “Standard Line” box is no different than it was in that big Spectrum box. And the other locos I mentioned above are equal in quality to the 2-8-0, if not even better…
A Lincoln and a FORD are made from the same mechanical parts, and assembled to the same quality, the Lincoln just has more bells and whistles - this is the direction Bachmann is going, building a few more FORDS and few less Lincolns…since the market s
Bachmann shows all 2-8-0 versions but one available, UP 617 is sold out, and one new version coming soon, UP 619. All are listed at their regular price.
Based on the Bachmann web site, I would say they aren’t going anywhere.
Yes, BLI did. They have about the sam amount of detail. The only differences are the BLI has PRR style markerlights mounted near the cowcatcher(which no other RR company except PRR used) and BLI has a high mounted headlight. BLI’s cost around $260, while Bachmanns generally cost $50(without dcc or sound). With a little modification, you can remount the headlight to the top of the smokebox, and save a lot of $$$.
In fact, I have a whole list of Bachmann 2-8-0 modifications!
I want a Bachmann 2-8-0 for each(ideally) of the following mods