The drawbar coupling system is a European design and used quite extensively.  With the Bachmann Acela model, the drawbars work with the tilting feature.  There is a Kadee adapter, but a simplier method is learning to work with the drawbars....less expensive for sure.

The problem with the Acela drawbars is that they often don't sit straight, plus you can't see the  rectangular opening trying to insert the drawbar.  You can pick up one car to see better, you can hold a screwdriver under the drawbar to raise it level, or you can keep plunging the two cars together, hoping to get lucky.

A best way would be to turn  the coaches and locomotives on their side, couple up all the drawbars, and then rerail the train and start running.

David Harrison
Sorry, Acela Website Is No Longer Availablde

Why are some of you avoiding BillD53A's response.  They ARE models of Chinese commuter cars run in China.

David Harrison

Several people have asked when the Acela Express Northeast Corridor Portable Layout would return to the East...well your wait is over.  The layout will be in two shows, this coming two weekends.  First, the Worlds Greatest Hobby Show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA, Jan 23-24.  Then the layout travels north to the Amherst Big Railroad Show, Big "E" Exposition Center, West Springfield, MA, Jan 31-31.

http://www.wghshow.com/

http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com

My website is

http://web.me.com/msibnsf/Acela_Express,_The_Need_For_Speed/Acela_Express,_The_Need_For_Speed.html

David Harrison

Quote from: Joe Satnik on December 16, 2009, 11:59:23 AM
PD,

Just south of E. 114th St. if it bridged over the river?

Thanks.

Joe

No, Joe, they are between 100thST bridge and 106th ST bridge.  And would you believe I live three miles fromthem and never knew they were even there!!

David Harrison

Quote from: Joe Satnik on December 16, 2009, 12:53:10 AM
Dear Frank W., 

Isolation instructions are at the bottom of this page on David Harrison's Acela website:

http://web.mac.com/msibnsf/iWeb/Acela%20Express,%20The%20Need%20For%20Speed/Modeling%20Techniques.html

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,


Thanks Joe for the reference to my Acela page.  For a decade now, modelers who purchase the Bachmann crossovers are faced with a problem....the crossovers are designed for DCC layouts only.  On a DC layout, insulated railjoiners must be inserted in the "crossover track" to keep the two straight tracks electrically separate.  This can only be done by cutting certain rails on the Bachmann crossovers.  If one is using sectional track, like Atlas, the crossover is not one unit but two opposing switches.  Simply insert the insulating rail joiner between the two switches and viola!!! the straights are electrically separated.

Now why Bachmann designed their crossovers without thjis insulation and when, if ever they will offer DC/DCC crossovers is another story that, like I said is a over a decade old.

David Harrison
Acela Express Portable Layout

Joe Satnik

Unless Bachmann has made a change in the design of their crossovers, 44575 and 44576 are for DCC layouts and not for DC layouts.  The reason they are for DCC layouts is that there are no isolation gaps in the crossover rails coming from one straight track to the other straight track.

David Harrison

Go to this page on my website and scroll down to the section on powercar shell removal.  Enjoy.

David Harrison

http://web.mac.com/msibnsf/iWeb/Acela%20Express,%20The%20Need%20For%20Speed/Modeling%20Techniques.html

Welcome aboard to the Acela modelers.  Do you mean that with a 3351 business car, you would have the actual consist of an Acela trainset?  I don't know what research was done for deciding upon car numbers and power car numbers at the onset.  I do know that the next run of power cars will feature numbers to complete numbers already made allowing for actual consists to be modelled.  From then on the pairs are matched with real Acela power car consists.  There is a Microscale Amtrak numbers set that might be useful.

David Harrison
http://web.mac.com/msibnsf/iWeb/Acela%20Express,%20The%20Need%20For%20Speed/Modeling%20Techniques.html
Acela Modeling Website

Since you've been to my site, I'll try to add some suggestions.

> ****Acela Modelers' Manual V **** Locomotive Disassembly
>Locomotive disassembly needs only a small thin screwdriver, blade type and a soft
>cloth to hold the model.  Gently spread the two sides of the body with your
> fingers. There are narrow tabs along both sides of the back plate. Carefully insert
> the scewdriver so as not to mar the finish and pop the plate loose.  The edge tab
> and the two holding clips of the back plate.

The end plate does several jobs including holding the sides in place.  Spread the sides (2) with your fingers to release the plate.  It is still held by hook latches, so you pull the plate straight back at the same time you spread the sides.  Hope that works.

>A gentle push forward on the front underbody piece also pops off the
>nose/coupler shroud.

This is easy...push the shroud under the front nose forward and the nose should pop off too.


>In the truck recess is room for the screwdriver to pry out the car sidebody
> without damage.
Should be rather easy.  Remember the assembly is upside down resting on the pantographs.

> Three sets of small tabs on each side of the shell hold the shell onto the chassis.
> Once the tabs are freed,the chassis lifts up and forward.

Of course up and forward means out the "bottom" and forward.

David Harrison

Quote from: hunter2115 on January 24, 2009, 09:29:25 PM
Thanks for the info. I'ts getting me to understand what needs to be done. I'm still leary about which wires get cut. Can anyone who has actually made this mod with the # 6 crossover (to DC) tell me exctly which wires need to be cut? A picture would be worth a thousand words!

DO NOT CUT ANY WIRES...DO NOT CUT ANY WIRES...DO NOT CUT ANY WIRES

The cuts are made to the copper connecting strips..NOT THE WIRES.  There will be four cuts in all.

I've edited the website a little hopefully to make things clearer. Thanks guys for the recommendations.

David Harrison

http://web.mac.com/msibnsf/iWeb/Acela%20Express,%20The%20Need%20For%20Speed/Acela%20Express,%20The%20Need%20For%20Speed.html

Greetings from West Springfield....the Acela Express/Northeast Corridor portable layout is on the scene of this year's Amherst Big Show. We're located in the same building, and in the same space so Ill be looking forward to meeting any and all Bachmann and Atlas fourmites.

Also please to announce the new and expanded Acela Modeling website which now includes two movies including one showing the elusive seven car trainset.

http://web.mac.com/msibnsf/iWeb/Acela%20Express,%20The%20Need%20For%20Speed/Movie%20Acela%20Express%20Layout.html

David Harrison

I think there have been two runs of Acela Power Cars so far, including both the sets and add-ons.  This question was asked about a year ago and I don't remember a difinitive answer.  What numbers have been used so far?

2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2017, 2036.

Any others to add to this list?

Acela modlers will be happy to know that the next set of numbers will include the other number to complete already released ones allowing the modeler to have pairs that match real Amtrak pairs.  From that point onward, all additional numbers will always be the same as real Amrak pairings.

David Harrison
http://web.mac.com/msibnsf/iWeb/Acela%20Express,%20The%20Need%20For%20Speed/Acela%20Express,%20The%20Need%20For%20Speed.html

New Updated Acela Modeling Website

http://web.mac.com/msibnsf/iWeb/Acela%20Express,%20The%20Need%20For%20Speed/Acela%20Express,%20The%20Need%20For%20Speed.html

Try my Acela Website...The Need For Speed

David

EDIT: Little It of an Edit here after some more research I've discovered that the Bachmann not only produced E60CPs back in the day but also their single cab predecessors in nonetheless Santa Fe and Chessie system any chance of bring those back to the forefront Bachmann?
Simon

Simon.you'd better  recheck that information with care.  You'll probably find that those prior E60s were made by ANOTHER company.  I'll give you some time to do some research...I believe in the self-help, self reliance philosophy, .,

David Harrison

There is a reason why you can't get that part to fit into the hole too easily.  If it went in with ease, it would also come out too easily in service.  Did my website pictures help any?  It should make you feel better to know that even I with a lot of experience dread this repair.

I think the proper sequence is to put the part into the hole first, then reattach the rest and the springs.

David Harrison