When the model railroad bug bit me big time I was nearing retirement and looking to build a large HO layout, that I never had the room for before becoming an empty nester.

I had the opportunity to use what used to be the family tv room for my layout, the room is roughly 12' x 26' So started to plan a layout which I built in stages.

My old model railroad equipment that I had from when I was a teenager was a mix of Rivarossi steam engines, a few Porcher engines and a Bachmann engine.

As I wanted the newest in model railroad equipment I went DCC.  The DCC system did allow me to run a analog engine also, so I did keep the old engines.

This was more or less when after the Spectrum models had come on the scene.  the 2-8-0 and the 2-10-0 had both been released and dollar for dollar they were the best buy.  They had excellent detail and pulled well and were a lot cheaper than Proto or Athearn.

Just as I was finishing my trackplan, the 4-6-0 Spectrum engine was released, Wow, what a beauty, detail galore, good performance and excellent pricing.

I had almost forgot that Bachmann had a number of detail parts, lights and smoke box doors and even extra wheel trucks and pony trucks that they used to include in various models so the modeller could add those details specific to other  engines..  I have a small box of those parts,

I am not aware if Bachmann announces to the public any news when they decided to discontinue any of their HO locomotives or not.

There are a number of super sales going on right now on some of the large web based model train outlets.  See Trains and Such and Trainland.

They both have big markdowns on their current sales prices.

One of the members of this board e-mailed me about the slashed prices for the current 4-4-0 stock.

I decided I should get a couple of these, given their price a couple more back up engines can not hurt.  So I ordered a couple.  Great deal.  Just can not help but worry that the Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0's are being discontinued..

Comment from the Bach-Man would be good.

On the other thread for this locomotive, which was deleted, I thought the Bachmann administrator indicated that the new model was a three pole motor, on the listings for the old Spectrum 4-6-0's, those versions were all 5 pole equipped if I am not mistaken.

The 2-8-0 also had its engine swapped from a 5 pole to a 3 pole. The Bachmann did explain though that the new three pole was a high efficiency engine and as good as if not better than the five pole motor it replaced.  There was a lot of controversy about the swap when it was discovered.

FYI I think I will pick up few more of the Spectrum 4-4-0's with their 5 pole motors while they are still available and pass on any future Bachmann 4-4-0's that are not Spectrum models.

Roger

Were you not around when there was trouble with the 2-10-0 (Russian) locomotives and their wiring,  They were short circuiting in large numbers.  I had a couple that were quickly replaced, wiring problems between the pc board in the tender and the locomotive.

When the smoke cleared I had two dead Russians and three replacement engines.

The subject of this thread is exactly what I need to remember about the pc boards on the Bachmann Spectrum tenders.

I had completely forgot about the conflict with the Bachmann boards. I find that hard to believe, there was such an outcry of so many discussions on this topic.

Obvious sign of my aging.

Thanks again folks

I asked it this engine had a 3 pole or 5 pole motor and my thread is removed?

Quote from: Ernie K on March 13, 2016, 08:14:12 PM
If you look in the Bachmann catalog (on line) for parts you'll find several Vanderbilt tenders (complete) for sale for around $15.00
ErnieK

Could be a start, quite expensive though.

These Vanderbilts are the versions without any electronics on board. It could be a start though. Buy one of the Vanderbilt chassis and mount it on one of the 4-4-0 or 4-6-0 tender frames that come with the electronics.  This would only take care of the smaller Vanderbilt.

Good eyes, did not notice that the new ones have the molded on detail. No that you made me aware it makes the first edition that much more desirable.  Wonder if the 63" driver version will be coming any time soon.


You have one more 4-6-0 than I have. 

I just could not help myself with these engines, I was lucky and ran across someone moving out of the country and were selling a bunch of HO model railroad equipment.

They had been buying for a couple of years and planned to build a layout when the opportunity for an overseas job came up.

Your conversion of the Mantua 2-6-6-2 to a Cab Forward looks great, once you finish your will certainly have a unique engines.

What did surprise me was the fact that the Mantua had been lettered for the Canadian Pacific Railroad.

The CPR was the only Canadian Railroad to use a mallet type engine. The CPR versions were 0-6-6-0 engines and were used for pusher service through the Rocky Mountains.  These engines while very successful were also extremely expensive to maintain and the six mallet engines were themselves converted to 2-10-0's, which proved to be ideal engines for the Rocky Mountains.

I look forward to seeing more pictures of your conversion once it has been completed.

I am very glad to see that Bachmann has again brought back into production their 4-6-0's. Of all of the Bachmann HO steamers I admire these engines the most.  If I could only choose one steam engine type for my layout this is the locomotive that I would choose, they are ideal for both freight and passenger service.

Will Bachmann be releasing the 63" driver version of their 4-6-0 locomotive? The difference between the two versions the 52" and the 63" is quite surprising. The larger version with the larger tenders that were previously paired with just made them more modern looking as their slightly smaller counterparts.?

Also am wondering why this engine was released in the Standard HO line and not the Spectrum line as they were previously.

Any chance of releasing the 4-6-0 in the Russian Blue livery?

When I would on occasion bring a set of my Bachmann 4-6-0s to the local club I would be asked where did you get these and also at least one if not more members would want me to sell them one of these engines.

The Model Railroader on line issue has both a video and a review of the new Bachmann 2-8-2.  It passes as a fairly powerful HO steamer that would add to any ones layout.

I now the ATST, Northern Pacific and Southern Pacific all has 2-6-2 engines as I have models of each. These were mid size engines, the GN also had a 2-6-2 and it was a somewhat larger engine.  While these engines are really too large to pass for logging engines the Baldwin catalogue shows a couple of smaller 2-6-2 engines available for logging or mining uses.  A few plantation engines were 2-6-2's as well.

I myself would consider either the larger road engine variety or the much smaller 2-6-2 specialty engines,

Doctor Wayne

Thanks for the link, so much information,

I have over three dozen Bachmann Spectrum steam engines.  The majority of these are 4-6-0's and 4-4-0's, a couple of each of the 2-8-0's, 2-10-0's, 4-8-2's both light and heavy versions as well as two 2-6-6-2's these were all bought as painted but undecorated models, I also have three 2-10-2's of which were lettered in the CNR livery and I kept them as such.

It sure seems that at least on this forum there is interest in painted but undecorated steam engines.

I have a few of the 4-6-0 ten wheelers, both the 52" and 63" versions most are with the Bachmann sound board and the associated tenders, especially the one for the 52" engine are quite a bit smaller than the Vanderbuilt tender you intend to use.  The sound boards in those are all the full size boards as I remember.

Let us know how your conversion turned out, I intend to convert one of the ten wheelers to the small vandy tender myself.