I have been watching on online saling sites at a few older non-spectrum bachmann Mikado locos, and they seem to be a fairly detailed model for my standards. The roadnames I have have seen on them have been UP and B&O. Does anyone know the specs on these locos, drive mechanism, or a way to find a review of them? Thanks.
rockymidlandrr I have been watching on online saling sites at a few older non-spectrum bachmann Mikado locos, and they seem to be a fairly detailed model for my standards. The roadnames I have have seen on them have been UP and B&O. Does anyone know the specs on these locos, drive mechanism, or a way to find a review of them? Thanks.
In the first place, they are not true Mikados, but 2-8-0's with a trailing truck added as an afterthought. The 2-8-0 that Bachmann modified was based on a Reading I10sa 2-8-0.
I've never owned one, but IIRC, the drive mechanisms used a 3 pole pancake style motor and didn't run all that well. In fact, Bowser used to sell a repowering kit for the 2-8-0 because it was a crappy runner. The tender used on the 2-8-2 version was based on an SP 160C-1 tender used behind its 4-8-2's, 4-10-2's, GS-1 4-8-4's and the AC-4 thru 6 class 4-8-8-2's. IOW, they're totally unprototypical for both the B&O and UP either as 2-8-2's OR 2-8-0's.
IMO, you'd be much better off with a Broadway Limited Blue Line USRA light 2-8-2. If you don't want to go that expensive, try finding an IHC USRA light 2-8-2. B&O did have some USRA lights in class Q-3. UP also had USRA lights.
Andre