Hello, new here to the forum. I recently purchased the Rail Chief set to put up for the Grandson when he comes for Christmas. I have a 4x8 oval set up with a 4% grade on one end with the Bachmann Graduated pier set. The diesel pulls the grade with its full load of cars pretty well.

I just purchased a 2-6-2 Prairie Southern and it will barely pull 3 cars up the grade without major wheel spin. I have added some weight without much success.

I have read about the bull frog snot or plastikote you can add to the wheels for traction.
The Prairie 2-6-2 has 3 sets of wheels. I've put power to each set and it will run from all 3 i believe because they are all connected with metal wheel drive connect rods.

Which set of wheels to add the snot and which to not?

And is this the best idea or recommendation's?

Thanks!
 

I agree.  I have two of the oil bunker Vanderbilt tenders.  I only wish I bought 10 while they were available.

The Bachmann spectrum consolidation is an Illinois Central Harriman engine, fairly close in appearance to both SP and UP engines. With replacement of the pilot ladders with sheet metal steps like both prototypes had, you could have a reasonable SP or UP engine, depending on if you put the coal or oil tender behind it.  I know that there are multiple incorrect details in doing this, but you could get close enough to satisfy a lot of people by doing the above work.

In the past year or so complete tenders for the Low driver ten Wheeler were available at the Bachmann online store.  I bought about five of them while I could and have used two of them already., notably behind the Bachmann mogul whose stock tender is very awkward in appearance compared to the replacement one.  And while you're at it, bring back the alternate oil bunkers for both the ten wheeler and the consolidation.

The last entry under 'Bachmann Spectrum Diesels' in the Soundtrax decoder selection shows the various decoders and speaker needed to install sound in your locomotive.  You can get the pricing info by clicking on the link for each of the decoders listed.

https://soundtraxx.com/reference/decoder-selector

Len

You have a straight DC 'A' unit and DCC 'B' unit.  The speed differance is due to the DCC board requiring at least 5 volts on the track before the loco starts moving, while the DC unit will be moving fairly fast at that voltage.

You need to install a AE32033 DCC board in the 'A' unit to make them both DCC capable:

https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=698&products_id=10488

While they look the same externally, the AE32033 board has light functions the AE32034 in the 'B' unit does not.

Len

What I would really want Bachmann to re-release are the separately sold Spectrum tenders. They are great for kitbashing stock products to make them more resemble their prototypes. I particularly want to have the medium-length Vandi tender available in both HO and N to modify UP consolidations, and these tenders are very difficult to find on eBay, especially the oil bunker version. I post here to garner support.

I did run it on DC. After so much throttle the B unit will start the sound. Then with more power the B unit will start moving. The A unit however runs at a faster rate than the B unit, and slips it's wheels more so at slow to medium throttle.

Will the A unit run at a closer rate to the B unit with DCC. Is that a common thing with these or adjustable?

Thanks

I have a Bachmann Spectrum C40-8W DCC equipped without sound. What is involved in adding sound to this locomotive. What can I expect to pay?

hola nuevamente, adjunto imagen del repuesto que busco ya que lo indicado o sugerido por len no corresponde a mi locomotora

Hello train helpers, I am new to the train world , I just bought a used Gscale Bachman "Thunderbolt Express" its needs cleaning ,its a bit dusty and dirty. Any suggestions
Thankyou

Hi I just bought this Locomotive and was looking for information on it.  It is a Bachmann F7 A-B 


The B unit has a DCC board AE32034 looks to be from 2012. The A unit has K110526 on it.  


First thing I should say is I don't know much about DCC. Is this Locomotive just DCC sound and moves with  a dc transformer or does it move with a dcc controller?


Can you run it on just DC? 

Where I bought it said the bell and horn need programed. Could you explain that process?  


Being that the A unit has a motor itself not being connected to the B unit dcc boad makes me think it's just a DC Locomotive. 


Thanks for the help.