Looking around on Walthers site for HO steam I came upon the Bachmann 2-10-0 Russian Decapods. It didn’t really say much besides Russia ordered a crap load of them and then cancelled the order so 200 or so were left and handed over to the USRA to distribute amongst the RR’s. So who all got them? How did they use these nifty looking creatures? Is the Bachmann any good? Walthers says they will be discontinued when sold out, I’m hoping they stick around long enough to get my hands on one. They look cool enough to add to a collection. I did chose to get one I would want to know if it’s a decent runner (or can be made a runner for reletively cheap) because I do not want an idle collection of locomotives.
The true story behind the “Russian” decapods:
“The first boost in the number of Decapods occurred when Imperial Russia ordered approximately 1,200 Decapods from American builders during World War I. When the Bolshevik revolution occurred in 1917, 857 had already been delivered,[2] but more than 200 were either awaiting shipment or were in the process of construction.[2] These stranded locomotives were adopted by the United States Railroad Administration (USRA), the body created by the Government to oversee and control the railroads during the War, converted to American standards, and put to use on American railroads. Small and light-footed, these Russian decapods proved popular with smaller railroads, and many of them remained in service long after the USRA’s control of the railroads ceased. Many indeed lasted until the end of steam on those railroads.”
Source: Wikipedia
Hello “RODR,”
Sources disagree on how many un-delivered Russian Decapods were left for assignment by the USRA in 1918. Two hundred or 210 are commonly quoted numbers. Linn Westcott, in the Model Railroader Cyclopedia, Vol.1, Steam Locomotives, gives a list compiled by historian S.R. Wood of the roads that actually used these 2-10-0s, as some assigned by the USRA were declined, transferred, sold, and otherwise shifted around. This list numbers 258 engines, but clearly some are counted more than once:
2 Alabama, Tennesee & Northern
1 Atlanta & West Point
9 Atlantic Coast Line
1 Birmingham Slag Co. (GM&N engine)
6 Charleston & Western Carolina (ex ACL)
15 Detroit, Toledo & Ironton
75 Erie
1 Fort Smith, Subiaco & Rock Island (SLSF engine)
5 Gainseville Midland
2 Georgia, Florida & Alabama
1 Georgia Northern
12 Gulf, Mobile & Northern
3 Kansas City, Mexico & Orient (later AT&SF, but probably never ran as Santa Fe engines)
7 Louisiana Ry. & Navigation Co. (later KCS)
8 Macon, Dublin & Savannah<
Those “Russian” Decapods weren’t particularly large locomotives. Many/most contemporary Consolidations were as large or larger. Besides their availability during a time of need, those Decapods’ principal advantage was that their axle loading was relatively low. So, while being slow, they were light-footed, making them highly suitable for lightly-constructed lines.
Mark
I am very pleased with my HO Bachmann Russian Decapod. My premise is that my little coal and lumber-hauling Appalachian shortline leased #400 from the Charleston & Western Carolina for awhile to test on coal trains.
This is a rather small steam engine. This 2-10-0 with tender is actually smaller than Bachmann’s 2-8-0. I can turn mine on a 65’ turntable with the couplers overhanging. I can’t fit it in my roundhouse, however, as the gangway-style ladders on the front of the tender are too wide for the doors. In response to another inquiry in this forum, I tested mine on a #4 turnout up in the log loading area, and the Russian seems to take those tight turnouts without problem in either direction. Detail level is very good, and operation is smooth and slow (I use DC). Price (IMHO) is VERY reasonable.
For my little line, this is a “beast” of a locomotive that only sees occasional service. Tractive effort for a Russian Decapod was around 51,490 lbs, while that for a Maryland & Pennsylvania “light” 2-8-0 such as #23-26 was 25,770 lbs. I have no way on my line to comment on pulling power, as the decapod can pull every car out of the yard along with the yard office.
Bill
Quick comparison between the Russian decapod and the best of the American decapods:
Russian:
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Drivers - 52" diameter
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Cylinders - 25" x 28"
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Boiler Pressure - 180#
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T.E. - 51,490 lb.
PRR I-1s:
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Drivers - 62" diameter
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Cylinders - 30.5" x 32"
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Boiler Pressure - 250#
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T.E. - 90,024 lb.
The I-1s was a big, heavy drag engine with a big boiler and, frequently, a long, high-capacity tender. The Russian decapod could run on lightly-built lines that the I-1 would have crushed into the ballast.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I have 5 of the Spectrum Russians and I love them! They all run very well and have given great service. They are highly detailed and run on my code 83 24" curves and #4 turnouts with no problems. I have a ruling grade of about 1/2-1% and I can pull about 18 cars without slipping.
I have installed Tsunamis in 4 of them and they sound great. Yesterday 2 of them had spasms and are misbehaving right now but I’m sure they will be okay in the near future. I’m sure the problems are in the Tsunami and not the engine itself. The other Dec is stock and performs just as well as my “noisy” engines.
The Russians are now sold by Spectrum with the Tsunami factory installed. Either way they won’t disappoint you!
Like others have said they are not in the same class as most Decapods you’ll find like the Pennsy I1sa or L&NE & WM I-2 classes. They fit well on layouts with light rail, sharp curves and lesser demands than the Pennsy…kinda like the original Russians!
Roger Huber
The strangely elevated-looking boiler on these engines was typical of some northern European steam of the time and era. If you have ever seen the 1960s film Dr. Zhivago you’ll see some rather similar looking engines (I believe the film was made in Finland and used Finnish steam). Compared to most American steam the Russian decapod and the engines in the movie look like they were walking around on tiptoe.
There is fortunately at least one Russian decapod preserved in more or less working order, a Frisco engine at the Illinois Railroad Museum at Union IL. I was there the day they pulled the engine, cold, from the shop and coaled her up for the first time, prior to its becoming one of the museum’s primary operating steam locomotives for a few years. This was back when Dave Conrad was their steam guy. I think it is many years since it last ran. At one time that museum had three steam locomotives in operating condition, the 2-10-0, a 2-6-2, and a Shay.
The Frisco looked like a shiny black new car coming out of the enginehouse that day – in fact for a time Rustoleum paint used a photo of the engine in magazine ads. This might have been before they actually lettered it Frisco, I think it was pure black paint at first. I’d have to check my old snapshots. My memory may be playing tricks here.
An oddity about the locomotive is that because it was built to Russian gauge, which I think was 5’, it had to be fitted with new driver tires that are wider than normal - actually almost to NMRA HO standards!
Dave Nelson
Although I came along too late to see them, the RR I grew up alongside had Russian 2-10-0s. In fact the Minneapolis Northfield and Southern got decs from both world wars!! During WW2 the US again built these engines for export, now to our Soviet allies. Apparently one engine had it’s cab damaged due to a crane mishap while being loaded onto a ship to Russia in 1945, and was sent back to Baldwin (IIRC) for repair. By the time it was fixed, the war had ended and the engine wasn’t allowed to go to the USSR (kinda like the “Little Joe” electrics at the same time). The MN&S was happy with their decapods, so bought the “slightly used” one for it’s roster. Apparently engines designed for use on the frozen Russian steppes and muskeg of Siberia were well suited for Minnesota !!
On a side note, it’s kinda interesting - given how few railroads owned them - that Spectrum has never come out with a factory decorated MN&S engine. (But then I doubt Walthers will ever do an MNS FM H-10-44, let alone a Hallet Dock Co. one!) I bought an undec w/ Tsunami and lettered it myself. The hard part there is the herald, I’ve seen people use the red and white diesel herald on the tender, but it’s the wrong shape and color. I used a herald from a Champ O-scale MNS boxcar decal set which to my eye appears right. To model an earlier version (from the 1920’s-30’s) you can trim the border of the herald and just leave the lettering. On the prototype the RR name was originall spelled out on the tender, later they put a diamond border around it as a herald.
Other than in the US and the UK, the 2-10-0 wheel arrangement proved to be very successful in continental Europe. To my knowledge, only PRR ran decapods other than the “Russian Decapods”. In Germany, decapods were the mainstay of freight traffic over a period of more than 3 decades. With over 7000 locos built the Reichsbahn class 52 was probably the most successful steam loco design ever. Some of them are still in service in eastern Europe and quite a few see the occasional fan trip in Germany as well. Post-war Deutsche Reichsbahn built decapods up to the end of the 1950´s.
Just compare the two pictures - there are a lot of design similarities!
That’s not really true, 2-10-0’s weren’t that common but more railroads than the PRR had non-Russian decapods, including the Lehigh Valley, ATSF, Northern Pacific, and the Soo Line…however some of those railroads only had one or two of them. For example the Soo had IIRC one 2-10-0 which worked in iron ore dock service in Upper Michigan and northwest Wisconsin.
I do agree they were more popular in Europe. I believe the last steam engines built for British Rail in the early 1960’s were 2-10-0s. I’m sure part of the reason had to do with loading gauge limitations and weight per axle and such. In the US, 2-10-2 engines came along pretty soon after the 2-10-0, and with the trailing truck it allowed for a larger firebox and more power. By the late 1920’s “Super Power” engines like the 2-10-4 came along with huge fireboxes and even more power.
I have four Spectrum Decapods and they run great pretty nice detailing to date I have no complaints. Only minor issueI had was my fault in breaking off one of the front steps. Sent it back to Bachmann and they sent me a brand new locomotive, can’t complain about that one bit.
I have but one of the Bachmann 2-10-0s lettered for ATSF which is noted that they never ran under the company name therefor it’ll be perfect for use on my own Warrior River & Western…after being purchased used from the Santa Fe for cheap! [(-D]
Do love the detail on this little steamer and having had at one time a PFM imported Russian Decapod think this lttle Bachmann unit is far superior.
