Trucks for Bachman Freight Cars

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I am collecting Bachmann Freight cars, my father worked at IBP when I was a kid and I got one of the cars when I a teen in the 90’s. I am actively looking for them, found a few. I want to upgrade the trucks and couplers. I know its a cheap brand but it means something to me. I want to detail the cars a bit but first get them to run correctly. Any suggestion on what trucks I could use?

Schom

2

Gidday, assuming that you’re referring to the cars with the truck mounted couplers, being a cheapskate I just remove the coupler box from the truck, which I then refit after I body mount Kadee coupler boxes and Kadee No 5s, checking for correct coupler height.

Also add weight to bring the car up to the NMRA recommended standards, check wheel sets for gauge and “Bobs yer Uncle”!

Cheers, the Bear.

3

If you are working in N scale, you would need to modify the mounting pins on the cars for them to accept Atlas trucks w/ Accumate couplers. If you do this, be careful when you change the size of the pin so the truck stays centered when the truck is mounted. I have had better luck with truck mounted couplers when it comes to coupling on a curve, so that is what I typically use. Nothing against body mounted ones, they are, after all, more prototypical.

4

I do exactly what JaBear does. A little weathering of the trucks, paint the molded springs a light rust color and replace those horrible plastic wheels with metal ones (I’ve used Kadees). Snip off the draft box from the trucks and body mount some Kadees (I prefer the #148 “whisker” couplers). Check your weight and coupler height, and you’re good to go.

5

Same here.

6

Thanks Guys!