decoder for 2-6-2 prairie.

[jward]

i have a friend who has a pair of bachmann 2-6-2 prairies he'd like to install decoders in. these are in the white boxes so they are older engines, but came equipped with knuckle couplers so i assume they are about 10 years old. the parts diagram for them shows a split frame chassis similar to some of the diesels. the boiler appears to be completely filled with the frame.

has anybody ever done a dcc conversion on these steamers? what decoder did you use? where did you put it? how similar was this conversion to the tutorial jim banner did on the h16-44 diesel?

http://members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/dcc/tmaster/tmaster.html

[richg]

i have a friend who has a pair of bachmann 2-6-2 prairies he'd like to install decoders in. these are in the white boxes so they are older engines, but came equipped with knuckle couplers so i assume they are about 10 years old. the parts diagram for them shows a split frame chassis similar to some of the diesels. the boiler appears to be completely filled with the frame.

has anybody ever done a dcc conversion on these steamers? what decoder did you use? where did you put it? how similar was this conversion to the tutorial jim banner did on the h16-44 diesel?

http://members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/dcc/tmaster/tmaster.html

Not similar at all.

Yours must have the pancake motor. The below diagram is circa 1990.
The motor contacts have to be isolated from the left and right side metal frame.
A lot of work and the loco track/wheel pickups are not very good.
You would have to replace the plastic wheels on the tender with metal wheels and make pickups to pickup track power from the wheels.

http://www.hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionbachmann/bachmann262prairiediagram1990.jpg

I have done a DCC install in the Plymouth switcher that has a similar install. The motor works just ok but track pickups are poor. The frame had to be taken apart to isolate the motor contacts. A lot of work.

Rich

[Joe323]

The newer 2-6-2 prairies come in white boxes as well (I have one about 2 years old)  They list on this site for $95 but street price is $50.  I based on what rich said and the cost, its probably not worth bothering with. 

[jbsmith]

Just to throw an Alternate idea out there

Bachmann does make 0-6-0 with DCC already installed.
All one would need to do then would be to order the pilot and trailing trucks from Parts & Service.
OR---remove them from the older ones,,,
Then it is just a few minutes work with a screwdriver and Voila,,,a DCC  2-6-2!

[rogertra]

Just to throw an Alternate idea out there

Bachmann does make 0-6-0 with DCC already installed.
All one would need to do then would be to order the pilot and trailing trucks from Parts & Service.
OR---remove them from the older ones,,,
Then it is just a few minutes work with a screwdriver and Voila,,,a DCC  2-6-2!

No.  What you have is an 0-6-0 switcher with a leading and trailing truck.   That does not make it 2-6-2, it is still just an 0-6-0 switcher but with useless leading and trailing trucks.

Not that I think it's worth the effort, there being relitively few 2-6-2s built in North America, but what we need os a manufacturer to make a genuine "main line" Vs logging 2-6-2 and not just cobble up one from a USRA 0-6-0 switcher that looks like.........  an 0-6-0 switcher with trucks.

[jbsmith]

Just to throw an Alternate idea out there

Bachmann does make 0-6-0 with DCC already installed.
All one would need to do then would be to order the pilot and trailing trucks from Parts & Service.
OR---remove them from the older ones,,,
Then it is just a few minutes work with a screwdriver and Voila,,,a DCC  2-6-2!

No.  What you have is an 0-6-0 switcher with a leading and trailing truck.   That does not make it 2-6-2, it is still just an 0-6-0 switcher but with useless leading and trailing trucks.

Not that I think it's worth the effort, there being relitively few 2-6-2s built in North America, but what we need os a manufacturer to make a genuine "main line" Vs logging 2-6-2 and not just cobble up one from a USRA 0-6-0 switcher that looks like.........  an 0-6-0 switcher with trucks.

YES I do know what I am talking about.  See these?
 
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=3356
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=3354
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=3357
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=3355

Add pilot trucks and trailing trucks and you have a Bachmann 2-6-2.

Maybe even add these to really make them look good
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_68_212&products_id=1574

The Original post is about adding DCC to a Bachmann 2-6-2, I offered an Alternate Method to achieving this without
making lots of sensitive and expensive electrical work involved. Nothing more and nothing less.

[jward]

the plot thickens. my friend tells me that according to the parts diagram this locomotive has a can type motor and on a pancake. so it might be worth the effort afterall.

i agree trying to convert a pancake motored engineto dcc would be like souping up a yugo.  in other words, what's the point......

next time we get together we are going to take the body off this locomotive and see what we've actually got.....

[rogertra]

Just to throw an Alternate idea out there

Bachmann does make 0-6-0 with DCC already installed.
All one would need to do then would be to order the pilot and trailing trucks from Parts & Service.
OR---remove them from the older ones,,,
Then it is just a few minutes work with a screwdriver and Voila,,,a DCC  2-6-2!

No.  What you have is an 0-6-0 switcher with a leading and trailing truck.   That does not make it 2-6-2, it is still just an 0-6-0 switcher but with useless leading and trailing trucks.

Not that I think it's worth the effort, there being relitively few 2-6-2s built in North America, but what we need os a manufacturer to make a genuine "main line" Vs logging 2-6-2 and not just cobble up one from a USRA 0-6-0 switcher that looks like.........  an 0-6-0 switcher with trucks.

YES I do know what I am talking about.  See these?
 
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=3356
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=3354
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=3357
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=3355

Add pilot trucks and trailing trucks and you have a Bachmann 2-6-2.

Maybe even add these to really make them look good
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_68_212&products_id=1574

The Original post is about adding DCC to a Bachmann 2-6-2, I offered an Alternate Method to achieving this without
making lots of sensitive and expensive electrical work involved. Nothing more and nothing less.

You completely missed my point.