It was 1975 and for my birthday present at age 11 my favorite person in the whole world gave me a Bachmann U36B Spirit of 76 N scale Bicentennial locomotive set, Seaboard Coastline.
I remember it to this day like it was yesterday. The gift was magical and I'll never forget that feeling when I opened the present and I saw it. I cannot remember a better present since then.
It's almost 50 years old now and I still have that locomotive. It's very dear to me and I keep it on the fireplace mantel where I can see it every day.
My Grandfather was the Best Man I ever knew in my whole life. He wore a Scottish Tam of the Fraser plaid and took me on his routes in his oil tanker truck.
The original one doesn't work anymore so I bought a replacement. After having one again I couldn't help myself so I bought another one.
When I received both at different times from eBay I put them on a test track and ran them back and forth. They both work good in forward and reverse so I put them in the case and put them on a shelf.
Now that I am getting closer to having the track laid on my layout. I took out those old Bachmann's to see them run again.
I hope one of you know the answer to what I discovered. It isn't just one but both of them run in forward and reserved for about 45 seconds to a minute and then nothing, they don't work. They stand dead in their tracks and nothing. After a few minutes again they run perfectly and smooth in forward and reverse and then after about a minute nothing.
They are running on brand new PECO track. I took one of them completely apart one night and looked at everything and couldn't see anyting wrong.
They work for a while and then they don't? Does anybody know what this is?
I would be more than happy to share more information if you need it. This one has got me really stumped especially with two locomotives acting the same way.
I thank you in advance for your help and replies
TF
TF, Sorry I can't offer any help with your locos, but sure was heartwarming reading about that treasured gift from your wonderful grandfather.
Thanks and Regards, Peter
Edit: and good luck with those locos
Some old locomotives used grease in their motors that dried up and cracked with age. I am not an expert in the matter, but that could be a likely cause.
TF. I’m already misty eyed from an email from a friend. Then I read your post. Wow.
Regarding your trains I know first generation Bachmann N was complete junk. I have a couple locomotives and they run like crap. And I love Bachmann! When were your units made?
and thanks for your touching story about your grandfather.
Billwiz, Thanks, I've been Crushed since I re-ran these locomotives from too small of a test run when I got them.
I would assume they were made in 1974 because they were released and I got the present in 1975 and I do believe they were new at that time
Thanks HO-Velo, I always enjoy your art
Scratch that, I do believe your name is Peter unless I am radically wrong In my head your the guy that makes fake stuff look real
But I still could use some help with those jacked locomotives
Bad magnets in the motor would be my bet after lube.
Travis, ...more than well invited please explain a little more about this dried up grease in old electric locomotive motors, ...very curious I am
Dried up grease, or corrosion on the commutator of the motor, or the pickup wipers. Stuff that happens when stored away 40+ years.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
A ring a ding ding ding I think that's it rrebell You just rang a bell
I thought because they were old a drop of lube in everything would probably be good I may have thought wrong just like putting new transmission fluid in an old car
rrebell Bad magnets in the motor would be my bet after lube.
.
I worked in a hobby shop back when those were new, for every two we sold, one went back as defective. It's why I call them "Botchmen"
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Okay I must come clean now.
I thought they were old so I lubed everything. That's when everything went wrong with my locomotives
Botchman, ...That is Rich Thanks for that one Rick
With laughter I am still serious about this stuff and hope I can save these lame locomotives
TF: Put them both on the track and run them at the same time in the same electrical block. A loop of Unitrack would be perfect for this.
If they both stop at the same time, something is tripping the breaker in the power pack. If one stops before the other, the problem is in the locomotives.
This gives you somewhere to start.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
It could be a breaker in the power pack?
That makes sense I guess, I'm still testing locomotives with a cheap power pack
They both behave the same they both do the same thing I think that's it
Thanks Kevin that makes sense. I'm going to check that out.
And thank you everyone. I have a lot more to go on now than when I asked for help.
I will let you all know how this pans out.
Cheap train set power packs have been known to overheat and shut down I would invest in a quality aftermarket unit like MRC.
Joe Staten Island West
My brother is coming over with a Tech 3 on Sunday.
I don't know how good those are but he says it's good and I'm sure it's better than what I got.
P.S. You guys would like my brother. He has a one-bedroom apartment. He has modular layout sections that took over his place.
He has a kitchen, a loveseat, a coffee table and a bed. The rest of his place is layout and a fun place to visit. He is out of control but I like that Kid
Look at the picture, you have to squeeze out of the kitchen to get through the dining room
The top and bottom of the picture is where bridges will go. He's working on them just like me
THATS MY BRO
dti406 I worked in a hobby shop back when those were new, for every two we sold, one went back as defective. It's why I call them "Botchmen" Rick Jesionowski
Before Bachmann started making serious improvements in their models 10 or 15 years ago, I always knew them as Botchmann too. The quality of older Bachmann was poor and I've never been a fan of the brand.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Good morning
I did an experiment as suggested over coffee this morning. I put both locomotives on the track in front of T pins and cranked the throttle wide open. They both ran what seemed to be half the RPMs than when they were put on the track singly. The power pack barely had enough power for both of them. They ran for half the time of when they were put on singly and both quit working at the same time.
You were right Kevin. You and others hit the nail on the head. Its the cheesy power pack. I'm really glad it's not the Botchman locomotives.
I did realize these locomotives are basically junk in quality when I bought them. The only reason I have them is to put them on the track to run round and round occasionally in memory of my Grandfather. They certainly are not suited for switching or any other kind of operations. I'm pretty confident everything will work fine when my brother comes over with the Tech 3 on Sunday. I will follow up and let you guys know. Hopefully someday Kato or Atlas will run a modern version of these locomotives so I can enjoy them.
Thanks for all the help here everyone. I appreciated it
Track fiddlerYou were right Kevin. You and others hit the nail on the head. Its the cheesy power pack. I'm really glad it's not the Botchman locomotives.