Once again Bill, thank you. That's what I was after, Pete. Will let you know how we go.

Hi Bill,
I have discovered my remotored Version 3 4-6-0 B&O's front pony truck is broken and breaking electrical contacts. Somewhere, which I can't find and am hoping you know where it is, are some drawings, measurements and instructions posted on how to go about building a replacement that looks fairly similar to the new Bachmann one.
My electrical friend and I are keen to build one of these but neither of us can find the instructions or drawings. We both remember seeing them, but not where!
Thanks,
Peter A Meyer, Australia.

Hi Bill,

I now have my first all-black v.5 chassis. Bachmann's shipping is very quick, only 2 weeks to Australia. I will keep this as a spare, and have ordered another two which I will use to build a freelance Kitson-Meyer loco. I am running this v.5 as is without a body because as you said, watching the Walschaerts gear in slow motion is a real treat. I also have a new (not yet released) LGB Meyer loco on order. As you may have noticed I have a fondness for the Meyer "family" of locos, no doubt due to my surname being Meyer!

And Bachmann have found me a whistle and roof hatch for my v.3 blue B&O in the spare parts department. Very efficient lot. Just have to paint the roof hatch as they found a black one.

Cheers,

Pete.

Thanks Bill.

The black one you sent me looks ideal and if the gears are robust, then plastic it is and I will keep my current rebuilt good runner as a spare for motor and gears. However I worry about the motion gear - are all the rods and valve gear metal? The black and gold will suit my Royal Blue B&O with gold railings so I will go ahead and order one.

I have a spot of bother navigating around Bachmann's website, so thanks for the heads-up on the 81092 chassis.

Cheers,

Pete.

Hi again Bill,

Yet another query! Bachmann has the Version 6 metal-geared Anniversary Chassis as "Sold Out". Any idea where I could get one? Thanks,

Pete.

Thanks Bill,

I have seen quite a bit of your material on the Big Haulers. I believe the Anniversary chassis is the only Big Hauler with all metal gears. Will I be able to fit one to the B&O version 3 okay? Having black wheels and cylinders is a small price to pay for all-metal side rods and Walschaerts valve gear. Fitting one would give me a spare working chassis.

Cheers,

Peter A Meyer, Australia.

Hi Bill,
Seeing this is a recently used thread on gluing repairs, I thought I would address my questions to you. I bought a Version 3 B&O Royal Blue Line set from the US. The loco runs like a dream, the sound is excellent and the smoke works. However the cross-head guides are broken (one completely, other on one guide only). Selleys "ALL PLASTIC" superglue hasn't worked so I am trying Selleys FIX&GO Multi Grip all purpose glue. Never thought of JB Weld, and I have some here I will try if the FIX&GO fails. Has anybody tried welding the plastic with a soldering iron?
Before using this loco I greased and oiled it, and noticed the motor appeared to have been replaced as there was plenty of epoxy glue on it, and the worm drive was brass. Is this normal for a version 3? Can I fit a Version 5 chassis?
Also, the loco was in good condition except the complete whistle was missing, along with the square royal blue roof hatch. Would you know of a good parts dealer I could get these from? Bachmann are out of stock of Big Hauler whistles and the only blue parts I have seen on line are a pair of new trucks for the Royal Blue line cars. Grabbed those, but they had plastic wheels and I want some metal-tired plastic Bachmann wheel sets as well rather than leave plastic smears on the rails.
Many thanks,
Pete, Australia.

Bill,

Thanks for those instructions. On behalf of myself and others I would like to thank you most sincerely for your more than willing sharing of your vast knowledge of things Bachmann with good grace, infinite patience and clear and concise language that we can all understand, even us down under. You sir, are a gem.

Cheers,

Pete.

Bill,

I certainly will, thank you. It definitely is far better built and detailed than the earlier Big Haulers judging by my Version 3 B&O Royal Blue Line set of loco, tender and 4 different cars, and with proper care, should last me out.

Just another brief question. Will the 4-6-0 Anniversary chassis with metal gears fit into a version 3, or be made to fit? Plastic gears on mine haven't packed it in yet (or have been replaced before I bought it) but when I get my own track finished I suspect they may.

An interesting observation on plastic gears - my retailer lives in the hills behind the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne. Stinking hot in summer and often snow in winter. Years ago he put a Bachmann loco on the shelf in the shop, testing it first and it ran perfectly. 5 years later he decided to check it out and it wouldn't budge so he pulled the bottom cover off and found with time and climatic changes the gears had crumbled just sitting there in the box. Not a good advertisement for the plastic used, and I wonder if anything similar happened in the US with your much larger climatic swings?

Cheers,

Pete.

Loco Bill,

What you get under the picture in the catalog is 2 parts diagrams. What you get in the link from Bachmann I posted above is multitudes of these PLUS what us novices need and that is a lot of "How To"s for many models from many gauges. Information gold in my opinion.

Cheers,

Pete.

Hi all,

Bachmann actually sent me a link to what looks like Manuals/Instructions/Parts Lists for what looks like most things they have made. I have included their message with the link here:

Here is a link to the reference sheet page. you'll have the reference sheets for the 2-4-2T there.
https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/references.php?

It has everything I wanted.

Cheers,

Pete.

Sure can.

Thanks Loco Bill,

After its test run I already do love it, but I think I had better grease and oil it before I use it. I already had the parts diagrams, but Bachmann must have put a block on printing them because my printer wouldn't and still won't. So I photographed them! However I need INstructions on disassembly & reassembly otherwise I end up with DEstructions! I need step by step guides so I do it all in the correct, safe order.

I can build a Gatling Gun but things electrical and electronic escape me at times.

Pete.

PS Re your postscript, I always thought the quote was: "There are no such things as stupid questions, only stupid answers." Same idea.

l did forget to mention in helping date my loco was that the serial number (?) on the bottom cover plate is K110426.

Pete.

Thanks Homo habilis.

My loco's box reads

ITEM NO: 91197
"L" 2-4-2 STEAM LOCO (DCC READY)
PAINTED< UNLETTERED - BLACK

It varies from the LYNN in the video you sent me in various details, mainly not having a cowcatcher and different smoke-box door among other less obvious items. However the bottom plate is the same so the video instructions will get it lubed okay. However I need a set of those instructions to replace the speaker for better sound and getting into my loco's entrails without damage.

Also can anyone tell me when my loco was made?

Another query I would love answered is why are the couplers mounted so high out of the box? What are they designed to work with like this? I have had to make drastic changes at the rear to fit the non-Bachmann auto couplers I have decided to standardise on, and am now designing the front arrangement. Are all Bachmann couplers now this height?

Cheers and thanks,

Pete.