Bachmann Big Hauler 4-6-0

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone.  Greetings from middle Tennessee; where it is colder than a "Frogs ball in a frozen pond" around here right now!

Well, I've had a chance to look over my engine, that made two round trips to Tennessee from Maryland, and it appears to be OK.  There are a couple of questions I have however and so was hoping some of you "Big Hauler" owners out there could help me.

First, at the back of the tender is a place for a 9v battery to be inserted.  Underneath the tender is a small knob that can te turned left to right and then back again, like a volumn control or something.  The tender also has a rear light with a clear lense over it that looks like it would work, not just a fixture.

I put a new battery in the slot, made sure I had the + and - lined up right, turned the knob underneath but nothing happens.  So, what does the 9v suppose to do?  If it is to operate the rear light on the tender then it doesn't work but, if it is for something else then what?

There is also an electrical connection, wires, that you must plug into the engine that run out of the tender.  That might be for the sound unit and the knob underneath the tender might have something to do with the volumn for the sound?

I know there are many owners out there who have this same engine.  Since I didn't get an instruction book with my purchase, was hopeing some answers from the forum.

Many thanks everyone......................

  

 

[kimbrit]

Hi SRS, the sound system needs the battery to work. If you have a reversing light on the tender you will have 2 cables to connect, look at the plugs and they will say 'sound' or 'light', the sockets on the engine will say the same. Mate them up and away you go, as you say the control is for volume. The sound is better on the ears the slower you go, I had my bumble bee on the tracks today at a nice steady speed, the valve gear looked great and the sound was ok, not brilliant, just ok - you get what you pay for, but sound apart the loco is superb. Just remember that this loco will not kick start the planet if it stops turning, for me, 3 or 4 cars and that's it.

Enjoy,

Cheers, Kim

[Anonymous]

Hi SRS.  On my Annie tender, the volume control on the bottom clicks in the full counter-clockwise position, indicating "off."  The Bachmann experts on another forum advise that if you don't turn it off after a run, the circuitry is still powered up and you will drain your battery.  I have a Small Scale Railways sound board installed in mine and the chuff is super.

[tangerine-jack]

Yes it is a volume control and the 9v battery provides the power.  You have to connect the loco to the tender with the wire- the tender only provides the sound, the loco provides the signal for the "chuffs".  You won't hear anything unless it's running on the track. 

 

There is a way to improve the sounds in the B'mann, here is a link that may help:

 

http://trainweb.org/girr/tips/tips1/big_hauler_tips.html

 

 

[Anonymous]

Many thanks everyone.  And thank you Tangerine-jack.  That web site was very useful and I have it save in "My favorites." 

As usual the forum always comes through...............I luv you guys.................

[Anonymous]

Thanks again everyone.  For you Bachman Big Hauler owners I have another "dumb" question.

I assume each time you stop the engine, it will go in reverse the next time power is applied to the tracks, is that correct?  If not how do you make the engine back up?  Also, has anyone ever divised a way to park an engine on a "hot" track and have it remain still?

In other words, some sort of "on-off" switch on the engine itself.  This would allow engine no. 1 to be park on a siding while engine no. 2 was still running on the main line.  The siding is not insulated.

Any thoughts? 

 

 

[Rastun]

I assume each time you stop the engine, it will go in reverse the next time power is applied to the tracks, is that correct? 

 No, that's not correct

If not how do you make the engine back up? 

 By reversing the polarity of the rails Most controllers have some way of doing this either by a switch or something.

Also, has anyone ever divised a way to park an engine on a "hot" track and have it remain still?

You'll have to start looking into some more advanced ways of control, there are many out there you just need to find which one does what you want for the price you are willing to pay for what it does.

 

[grandpopswalt]

SRS,

With regard to your question about "parking" an engine on a live track but not have it move, there's a simple way to do it without having to resort to a complicated control system. I assume you just want to have the engine inactive for some period of time while other engines (engine) are being run on the same track. Locate one of the motor leads (wires), either one, doesn't matter. Run the wire which now goes to the motor  an on/off switch. From the other terminal of the switch run a wire to the motor terminal where you removed the original wire. Locate the switch in some hidden place on the loco and you're now able to disable your engine any time you choose.  Is that the sort of thing you had in mind?

 Good luck.

Walt 

 

[two tone]

Hi I park my loco`s on a loop I do this by making that section dead   at one of the points I have a switch added to the point then I isolate that section so that powwer goes only in direction of travel its very easy to do  If you need any help give me  a call and Ill fill you in on what to do.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone.  Good responces and very helpful.  "Two-tone," don't guess I'll call you since I'm in USA and your in jolly old England but, can I e-mail you?  I'd like to learn more about your method.  Sounds better than re-wireing an engine with on/off button.

Thanks again.....................

[two tone]

Put your email on this site then i`ll email you tomorrow

[Anonymous]

Two tone:  Just click on my "e-mail" tab in any of my postings.  That will do it.  I've done you one already.  Look for it in your e-mail soon...........