Bought a 4-6-0 D&RGW or "Annie" from Bachmann the Anniverssary one. "She is BEAUTIFUL" With a few things that annoy me but I see more and more it seems. Understand my past experience is with small scale. #1 the center drive wheel has no flang. Nore does the wheel even contact the rail. Is this fairly standard or a lower quality traite? #2 couplers on the tenter are on the trucks and not the body. to allow tighter radius I imagine. I had thought I was getting something better than a bottem line set locomotive. #3 the release lever for the coupler on the tender I think is bent wrong cuz its up in the air and not at all down by the coupler
The life time Warrenty small scale trains for the most part don't come with much of one. So I am not sure what things I can and can't do to my locomotive to not void the warrenty. For example mount the couplers to the underbody, install a working coupler in the front, fix the coupler release lever, and a drive wheel with a flang in the center. The last I am sure will void the warrenty
The Annie is a nice loco but is just a comestically upgraded version of the Big Hauler starter set loco.
The scale is incorrect at 1:22.5 for 3 foot narrow gauge. The Bachmann Spectrum line is the correct 1:20.3 scale. Yes, the center driver is not flanged and is slightly smaller in diameter than the front and rear drivers. This allows it to go around 4 foot diameter, R1, curves. Yes, the couplers are truck mounted for the 4 foot curves. Body mount Kadees can be put on for larger radii track. Yes, the release lever is wrong.
If you want higher detailed, better quality, correct scale trains, look at the offerings from the Bachmann Spectrum line and Accucraft/AMS and kits from Phil's Narrow Gauge and soon the revamped Hartford Large Scale Products.
-Brian
Just for the record, the "blind center driver (without a flange) is totally prototypical.
The prototype of the Big Hauler is Tweetsie #12, and it has a blind center driver.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=130347&nseq=71
Many prototype locos had blind drivers, for the same reason model locos do..to get around tighter curves..on the prototype locos the blind driver *does* touch the rail however..
IMO, the "annie" is one of the best values in Large Scale..a great engine at an excellent price...they can generally be found for $125 to $175, nothing can beat it at that price.
Scot
altterrain The Annie is a nice loco but is just a comestically upgraded version of the Big Hauler starter set loco.-Brian
Its much more than just cosmetically upgraded..the Annie also has a far better drivetrain than the earlier big haulers, the annie is upgraded in many ways..much better detail, finer rivits, totally new steel cab, metal running gear and rods, better motor and gearing..its really a totally different engine in many ways from the earlier big haulers..its definately more than "just cosmetically upgraded."
IMO, it really is "Spectrum Quality" and is the equal to the spectrum line in most respects..the only reason it doesnt actually get the spectrum label is probably only because its not true 1/20.3 scale.
I also started with a Big Hauler "Annie" - I was, and continue to be, very pleasantly surprised by the attention to detail, use of real BRASS, etc. Shortcomings? sure. But like every purchase we make, there is a consideration to be made based on the cost of the item. In this case, I paid $165 for mine and would do it again. I feel I got a good deal.on the other hand, one of the minor shortcomings I had on my transaction was that there were no documents, book, warr card or anything else in the box with the engine. As far as the center driver goes, if it had a flange, I couldn't run it on my layout as I have a few 'creative' radius turns. No problem, a minor over-sight. So I contacted customer service at Bachmann...(yikes) and found the company's weak area...Enjoy your engine and welcome to G Scale...my 2 cents.. Shu
http://ironhorsereplicas.com/croaker_diggs.html
Follow the adventure - http://www.croakerdiggs.com
scottychaosaltterrain The Annie is a nice loco but is just a comestically upgraded version of the Big Hauler starter set loco.-Brian Its much more than just cosmetically upgraded..the Annie also has a far better drivetrain than the earlier big haulers, the annie is upgraded in many ways..much better detail, finer rivits, totally new steel cab, metal running gear and rods, better motor and gearing..its really a totally different engine in many ways from the earlier big haulers..its definately more than "just cosmetically upgraded."IMO, it really is "Spectrum Quality" and is the equal to the spectrum line in most respects..the only reason it doesnt actually get the spectrum label is probably only because its not true 1/20.3 scale. Scot
While I will agree with you that the drive train (motor and gearing) is better than earlier versions of the big hauler, current big haulers have the same exact drive train. Everything else is cosmestic upgrades (how it looks).
A current Big Hauler will run and pull just as well as an Annie. Let's not confuse folks out there.
Huh! I never knew there was a current "non-annie" Big Hauler still being made!
all this time I thought the Annie WAS the current big hauler, and that it replaced all previous versions, and the old versions were no longer in production..but I see now there are still "non annie" big haulers being made for sets..interesting! thanks for the update..
I have bought all of my annie's "solo"..as just the loco alone..I have never been interested in sets..thats probably why I have never seen any current "non annie" big haulers, or even realized they exist.
but this begs the question..why are non-annie big haulers still being made? and why would anyone buy one when the annie is obviously so superior? We do know annies have appeared in some sets, although few..(they came in the Sam's Club Christmas sets for a few years..) must be just economics? the "non-annie" big hauler is just cheaper to make?..interesting...I will certainly never buy one..the annies are great, I would never want a non-annie..
Yeah, most of the starter sets have non-Annies.
Ty all for your comments i never knew any locomotice had no flanges on any wheel. Good to know. Does anyone know about the warrenty information. How far I can go and not VOID it?
Bachmann is usually fine with coupler changes, adding sound cards and even R/C systems. Adding a flanged center driver would most likely void the warranty. If you wind up tearing up the drive train you can always get a hard core replacement drive from Barry's Big Trains.
Barry's also makes a 2-8-0 conversion (not mine) -
TYVM, I can live with the center drive as is. The couplers I will change and cosmetic details. I would Like a 2-8-0 in D&RGW. Something I will do later.
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