Thanks everyone for your helpful contributions and for taking the trouble to respond.  The reason for the original request is that I am endeavouring to get the Bachmann Track Sections added to the track library for my Anyrail Software. The programmers may need more precise measurements but hopefully this may be sufficient information.

John

I have searched the forum for technical information on the Bachmann Bras Track but so far without success. Does anyone know the precise dimensions of each section and for curves whether the radii is measured to the centre line or outer edge ? The information would be most useful to create accurate software aided layout plans.
Thanks for any help.
John

I have just purchased the lovely 55 Ton Shay in Meadow River livery but cannot work out how to fix the chimney stack supplied into the appropriate hole. The diameter of the stack seem to be wider than the space. Does it screw or just require brute force to push in? Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

Thanks Jerry. I am sure that the track sections are connected in the right order. The final piece (at the end next to the bumper) has a tiny break in one rail which is presumably to isolate the street car while the polarity is reversed. I have seen another similar problem query where it appears that the direction is changed by a small magnet on the car but I cannot locate one at the moment so perhaps it was not fitted at the factory.

Cheers
John

I have just unpacked my new Village Street Car Set and connected everything as per instructions as part of a Christmas Day display. The Street Car travels quite happily to the "bumper" end but then sits there and does not reverse at all. As it is Christmas Eve can anyone suggest a simple fix to persuade it to operate correctly?
I would be very grateful for a solution.

John

I wonder whether anyone can help me. A friend has acquired a Davenport 91396 Gas mechanical engine and intends to fit a DCC decoder. According to the exploded assembly diagram there should be a part MT21 Metal Clip in place to assist in this but it appears to be missing. Is this an essential part and is so how might I get hold of one please?
Many thanks

This is a great looking locomotive but as a novice when it comes to DCC Systems I would appreciate some advice. Is it supplied with full DCC or just the Sound element?  Will it run on Massoth 12A 24v DCC supply and will any CV's need changing to avoid any problems with lights and/or smoke. Lastly will it run on conventional DC layouts like some of the HO scale locos?

Any help would be much appreciated.

DCC is all a bit of a mystery to me and I would like to know whether it is safe to run a DCC Equipped HO locomotive on conventional DC powered track. I think this must be a frequently asked question by novices like me but I could not find the answer when I searched the forum. Thank you in advance for any advice on the subject.
John

Thank you very much for the information and the useful link. Diodes eh - who would have thought.  Much appreciated.
John

I have bought a Bachmann Large Scale Power Pack and Speed Controller (Cat.No. 44213) for a G Scale layout. However, on reading the description printed on the top  of the hobby transformer it says that the output is "AC16V". I had always believed that the correct operating voltage for these trains is 0 - 16v DC?  Can you please confirm that it is safe to use for DC (not DCC) locomotives or have I received the wrong transformer?
Many thanks - I don't fee that safe with electrical items.

I have been a railway modeler (off and on) for over 50 years but never quite got the hang of the electrical side which can be quite dangerous! I live in the UK and would be grateful if forum members could answer a question for me. Is it safe to connect two Bachmann Spectrum Transformers / Controllers (Cat.No. 446681) to a single Step-Down Transformer (230v to 120v AC) or is it advisable to keep each entirely separate? If it is possible to connect two is there any restriction on the loading of the Step-Down unit?
Any advice would be much appreciated.

The "Annies" are a real improvement on the toy plastic drive versions included in sets but I have noticed quite a difference in the Baldwin's that are given a separate identity i.e. #81088, 81093, etc) and those with a much simpler drive mechanism that are included with the White Pass & Yukon set(#900590); the Limited Edition Wonderland Flyer (#900470) and the 2006 Christmas Special 4-6-0.

If you compare the complex drive mechanism on the White Pass Annie (#810960) and that included in the set above you will notice the difference immediately. I don't know whether this is a cost-cutting exercise or a method of eliminating problems with the original versions.

Now that LGB are in trouble would be an ideal time for Bachmann to seize the initiative and introduce metal drives on all their locos.

Upon further investigation I have discovered the following: the short circuit is on the four inner flat wheels (not flanged) and it only occurs when the springs are depressed with the weight of the loco. Any ideas please?

I would appreciate help in resolving an electrical problem on a newly acquired G Scale Locomotive.  I acquired a new Bachmann Consolidation 2-8-0 (81294) from a dealer in the USA but when the loco was placed on the track, the red LED flashes on the LGB controller type 55006! On placing a test meter between the RH and LH wheels it shows a short circuit so there appears to be a short circuit between the loco wheels!

Has anyone else encountered this problem and is there a simple way to cure it? It would be extremely expensive (and time consuming) to return the locomotive across the Atlantic.

Thanks for your help.

John

MODIFIED POST: Posted - 03 May 2007 :  01:57:33           
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Thanks for your help Tim . I originally posted this as referring to an Annie but in the cold light of a new day I realised that it should have read  2-8-0 Consolidation! This goes to show that you should never post to forums when you are tired. Honestly, no alcoholic beverage had passed my lips!

Does this affect the advice apart from the fact that the Connie only has a front bogie (and does not appear to have a directional arrow)? Incidentally the meter test was performed off the track.

Any more help  would be much appreciated.
John