Bachmann 4-6-0, 2-10-0 & 2-8-0; how they run & operate?

[Anonymous]

can anyone tell me how well Bachmann's Spectrum series 4-6-0, 2-10-0, and 2-8-0 operate? i want to add one of the steam locomotives to my HO scale Leelanau County Railway. what is the minimum curve radius they will operate on and what is the recommended radius to run them on. my guess is that the 4-6-0 would be best choice to use to run on 18" radius curves without looking like it was overhanging the track like some huge locos and freight cars do. does the 2-10-0 and 2-8-0 over hang the track much when going around a 18" curve? also in a may 2003 model railroader product review of the bachmann 4-6--0 it says that most of the wheels are very tight on their axles, so adjustments will require a wheel-puller. has anyone had to have used a wheel puller on the wheels of their bachmann baldwin 4-6-0? Also one last thing. in the prodcut review it says the valve-stem-crosshead guides on each side slope downward from the valve gear hanger to the valve chests, whereas they should be level and parallel to the main crosshead guides, would that be very noticeable on a real steam loco? it says too that that the eccentric cranks are only slightly eccentric(off center) and would not provide sufficient motion to operate the valves on a real engine. does the eccentirc cranks problem on the 4-6-0 exist with bachmann's 2-10-0 and 2-8-0 also?

[nfmisso]

They will all operate on 18" radius track. The 2-10-0 is a very small engine, smaller than the Spectrum 2-8-0.

If you purchase the locomotive from an authorized dealer, and there are any problems at all, Bachmann will take care of it in a timely fashion. (including wheel gauge not to NMRA standards).

There was a great deal off discussion on the cylinder/crosshead angle on the steamloco list on Yahoo! e-groups. The model is correct, the reviewer did not adequately research the issue. It is not common on USA locomotives, but it is correct for those Baldwin 4-6-0.

Eccentric angle, you would have a very hard time spotting that on a model. On many models, including many bra$$$$ ones, one side is backwards!!!. Less than 1% of model railroaders will spot this anyway.

All of the Spectrum steam locomotives have superior operating characteristics.

[Anonymous]

I agree with this fellow, the spectrum steam engines are swell runners... at least mine was. I was runnning my 2-8-0 and then it came to a sudden stop. I checked the wheels and the track and everything was OK. The tender was correctly plugged to the engine and everything was screwed on nicely. I took it apart to see if something got tangled with the gears or something but everything was all right. I operated the motor (just the motor) and only ran if I spinned the flywheel a bit. I also noticed some sparks inside it. Can anyone tell me what's wrong??

[Anonymous]

Flying scot,

I bet your motor's brushes has gone bad. Brushes are tiny contacts that ride the center core to create the power needed to turn the magnets. (I am not an engineer) By spinning the flywheel you are probably doing the same as pushing the car then jump starting it.

Id say your engine is a fine candidate for Bachmann's Famous Service!