Another Rail Bus Question

[jestor]

There is a review of the Bachmann Rail Bus in the latest issue of OGR. The review was all positive and mentioned the umbilical plug between the  bus and trailer. Presumeably it carries power for lights in the trailer, but i was interested in whether or not the trailer picks up current too, in the same way the tenders pick up current on the later production steamers.  Anyone know whether or not this is the case?

[Tim]

Mike

I just checked mine, by lifting the motor unit off the rails
while the lights were on and the lights went out.

The motor unit feeds power to the trailer.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

[jestor]

Hi Tim. Thanks for your responce. In your experience with the unit, has current pick up been reliable with just the bus's four wheels? Been considering getting one, but don't want to have to clean track every day to keep it running. 

[jestor]

Tim, in a reply to Peter back in October 2008 you advised him that the trailer was needed for reliable operation (meaning electrical pickup?). In your recent test, did you pick up the bus with the motor running or just sitting still with the lights on?  Wouldn't it be strange if the trailer got it's power for the lights from the bus, and the bus got electrical pickup from the trailer ?  I notice there are 4 wires in the connector. 

[Tim]

Mike

I just checked again with the motor running, it picks up power
only from the motor car.

In my first post I made an assumption (Bad) that both units picked
up power.  For the reason that you just mentioned, the four wires.

As far as running, my set runs very well.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

[jestor]

Tim, thanks for taking time to check this out. Sounds as though it does fine with the 4 wheel pickup. Guess I'll go ahead and get a set. My little layout doesn't warrant big time passenger service.  Have fun. 

[Tim]

Mike

Update: The four wires bothered me so I looked at the
exploded view.  The exploded view shows pickup wipers
on all four wheels on the motor car and the trailer.

That explains the four wires, two for power two for lights.

My trailer car is not working properly, I will have to do some adjusting
on the wipers.

Sorry about all the confusion, we were both right about the wires.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

[jestor]

Tim, OK then. Sounds like things are looking up. Please let me know what happens. Seems odd that none of them would work. Maybe it was Monday morning when your's was assembled. 

[Tim]

Mike

Found the problem.

There is a small circuit board on the floor of the trailer, to
which the connector socket is mounted.

The outer traces are the power feeds, on my board the one trace
was broken.  Someone had tried to repair it, but failed.

I will replace it with wire.

I still don't get continuity to the wheels on the power car.

Stay tuned for the continuing saga of the missing power connections.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

[Tim]

Mike

I found another trace blown on thr power car connector board.

I replaced it with wire as I had on the trailer car.

The only conclusion I can reach is that it was exposed to high current
at some point.  The traces are very small and will not handle much current.

The set runs very well now.

Tim Anders
Souderton, PA

[jestor]

Good show Tim. We both learned something from this post. And others who read it may find that their's isn't picking up power like it should and know how to fix the problem. Isn't that what this forum is all about? Have fun!