Note to Bach Man

Since the question of a locomotive's dimensions seems to come up so often and has been answered time and again how about putting the dimensions in the FAQ section.

Then each time the question of a particular locomotive's dimensions is ask, reference could be made to the FAQ section for the answer.

This would sure save a lot of time.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

TrainHigh,

Here is a partial answer to your question. 

4-6-0 Annie:  29 1/4 inches long. Measured from tip of cow catcher to edge of tender foot board.  ( This lenght may be just slightly shorter than the Annie as delivered.  On the engine measured the coupling between the loco and tender was shortened to move tender closer to locomotive. Not recommended if locomotive is to be operated on curves of less than four foot radius.)

Height: 6 7/8 inches. Measured from railhead to top of cab. (Depending on model selected the cab may not be the tallest part of locomotive.  On some models the stack may be the highest part of the locomotive.

The other two locomotives are stored in the building and are not available at this time for measurements.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Dave,
Here's a You Tube video of a Dallee sound system installed in a Connie. Listen to it and judge for yourself.  Don't expect anymore quality than can be heard on the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOSPSHfuoqI

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"


JD

Joed,
Here you go.

Length: 26 inches (coupler face to coupler face, as delivered)
Width: 5 inches ( measured at front engine's steam cylinders)
Height: 7 3/4" (from railhead to top of backup light)



Don't know if this picture's resolution is any higher than that of Bachmann's at this site.

This was a painted/unlettered version.  I removed the white trim from wheels, running boards, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR268bCLCf0

This is a video of the 2-6-6-2T making one if its first runs on the CD&StL RY.  There are also additional videos of the locomotive in operation, with several of it pulling 27 loads plus the caboose.



One of the "Enthusiastic Children"


JD

Roger,
In reference to smoke.

The reservoirs on most locomotives, not just the Bachmann units, don't hold that much fluid.  Constant refilling is the norm rather than the exception.  Also, most smoke units will slobber smoke fluid on the locomotive.  For these reasons I don't use smoke with any manufacturer's units; not worth the hassle.

You'll find the smoke units are nothing like what we were use to with our Amercan Flyer or Lionel trains.


One of the "Enthusiastic Children"


JD

Jay,

Here you go.

Length: 36 inches (measured from tip of road pilot to back edge of tender foot board.)

Width: 6 3/16 inches (widest part is distance between the cylinders.)

Height: 8 1/4 inches (top of stack with spark arrester in place.)

The models with snow plows mounted may be slightly longer.


One of the "Enthusiastic Children"


JD

In reference to the couplers.  To each his own.   

The couplers and coupler pockets are available.

Item No. 88011  Straight Shank Coupler
Item No. 88012  Offset Shank Coupler
Item No. 88013  Coupler Pockets with Screws

Having the trucks available would be a big plus.


One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Here's a short video of the 2-6-6-2T with 27 loads and a cabin.  The locomotive handled these with ease.  Now, I will say that there is only one grade on the layout.  The grade is 1% and runs along the back of the layout. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t31nsEfMuCo

There's a second video, on this You Tube site,  of the same train running on the back section of the layout.

The 2-6-6-2T did not seem to be at its limit with this train.  Just need more 1:20.3 rolling stock to find out what it will really pull.



One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

The rear, third truck, does not pivot under the tender.

Video that came with the 3-truck shows the tender truck pivoting.  This video was made with a pre-production version of the engine.  Don't rely on the video in this instance.

Look for some other cause.  Check wheels to insure they are tight on the axles.


One of the "Enthusiastic Children"


JD

Bill,
I took a look at your grblog.  You are off to a good start.  I'll look forward to following progress on your railroad through postings to your blog.

The grblogs are another great benefit for Large Scale on Line members.  The number of blogs grows by the week.  There are some really interesting, detailed, and informative blogs.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Both cars, skeleton and flat car, are Big Hauler series.  As such they are 1:22.5.

Bachmann does not offer a 1:20.3 skeleton log car.  Their Spectrum 1:20.3 flat cars are Item numbers 88XXX.  There are four of these cars. The Spectrum flat cars are longer, wider, and more highly detailed than the Big Hauler series cars.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Recommend you contact the dealer that sold you the RCS. The dealer should be able to provide a proper wiring diagram.  The RCS that I've installed in my locomotives came with wiring diagrams.

If you are making reference to a Spectrum Mogul then there should be a two wire plug.  That two wire plug is used to connect the chuff trigger to a sound board that would be mounted in the tender.

On the Spectrum Mogul the other plug should have four wires.  These wires send power from the tender truck pickups to the locomotive.

You can contact Bachmann at 1-800-356-3910 or 1-215-533-1600.  Use Extension 18 for the Service Manager.  Request an Owner's Manual for a Spectrum 1:20.3 scale Mogul.  The Owner's Manual has the wiring diagram.

Hope this information is of some help.


One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

I've had a item #88798 Painted Unlettered Oxide Brown on pre-order with my dealer for at least two months.  This should be a top notch addition to a fleet of 1:20.3 equipment.

No doubt should the caboose show up early on in the distribution a member of the "Amen Choir" will have some SA remark on how I managed to get one of the early release models.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

Kevin,
I scratch built them.  Up scaled an example built by Kirke Fay in 1:22.5.  Kirke's cars were featured in a "how to" article published by LSOL.  The cars are 30' cars built to 1:20.3 scale.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

There seems to be some speculation, based on a "report" floating around on various LS sites, that the coupler swing could cause lead cars to be pulled off the track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBbrfBAtxqc

Here's a not too good You Tube video of the 2-6-6-2T pulling 27 loads around a long curve, through a #6 switch and on to tangent track.  I'll have to make another video of the 2-6-6-2T pulling a consist through four 5' radius curves without any coupler problems.

Coupler swing is not an issue.  This based on a little over 30 hours of operation.  The 2-6-6-2T has handled cars on the main line and in a small yard without any problems due to coupler swing.  The switches in the yard are LGB 1600.

Interesting that the coupler speculation is just that.  None of the folks making reference to the couplers, as factory mounted, indicate they have a Mallet. Or if they do they have yet to put it into operation.  Would be informative if one of the "speculators" actually had a 2-6-6-2T to operate rather than their wild a-s guessing.


One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD