I recently purchased one of the new, retooled Bachmann 4-4-0 Americans with DCC / Sound. Motor in the engine, DCC and sound in the tender, no more drive shaft between the two, I love it. I am using the factory settings for now. On speed step 1, it starts at a smooth crawl. Just right to do switching work. It continues to run smooth through out all speed ranges. The engine is pulling 2 Mantua 1890? wooden coaches with a third one to be added later. It will be my museum train. B&O was choosen because I like the blue. Now I have to wonder why this was not done years ago. The motor in the engine that is. Mantuas' 2-6-0 Rogers was built that way. Details seem to be the same as other offerings, the only item I will add is a cord for the bell and whistle.
CS,
I like the idea of the cord(s) to the bell, whistle. Sounds like a simple upgrade I might make to my steamers. Can you offer some details if you've done this before. Did the prototypes always have cords to each? Do you have a photo of an example steamer? What material works best? Etc. Thanks
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
cs48Now I have to wonder why this was not done years ago. The motor in the engine that is.
Simple answer: Years ago, the available motors were too big to fit into the boiler of a tiny engine like the early 4-4-0s.
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Gary M. Collins gmcrailgNOSPAM@gmail.com
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"Common Sense, Ain't!" -- G. M. Collins
http://fhn.site90.net
After some research, cord to the bell is OK, but the whistle I will probably change to one similar on a Tyco General. This a first time project. I will experiment with different thread that I have on hand, or purchase the fuzzless type used to string electrical wire for telephone poles. You can find examples by googling 4-4-0 American.
Mike
Hey, guys, in regard to bell and whistle ropes, the late Paul Larson said, 'way back in the '50s, that he used individual strands of copper wire from common electrical "zip-cord!" I've never used this, as I have an old air-core electrical choke (from back in the vacuum tube days) inherited after my brother died. The wire is super fine, .005", but there's no reason any fine stranded wire won't work as well. BTW, I'm now in O scale, but I used to use it to superdetail HO steam locos--back when I could see... Like a lot of things, it's oversized, even for O scale, though any smaller than that diameter would be problematic. Be sure to paint the "ropes" a gray color to make 'em easier to see, once you're done. Even if it's oversize, it'll look great!
Deano
Small, high-torque motors have been available since the early 1980´s, but apparently, Bachmann or Pocher never thought of shouldering the high cost of re-tooling there models, despite the iconic character.
For your 4-4-0, a cord would be correct for the bell, plus another for the whistle. On larger, more modern engines, the bell was often rung with an air ringer instead of a cord, and the whistle was sometimes controlled through metal rods, as on B&O's EM-1's.
Tom
Good to know it's a nice runner and good looker! I've been considering replacing my old 70's/80's Bachmann 4-4-0 with one of the new ones. I got that one running pretty well with a good can motor, but the paint and letting is all worn and it's sort of falling apart. I'll have to see how much the prices come down on the new non-sound versions. My Tyco General looks and runs great, but you can never have too many of the old Americans!
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Have you tested out the pulling power of it yet? I was considering one but I need a loco that can pull 6-8 cars up a 1.5% grade. My concern is whether or not it would have enough weight to do that.
jecorbett Have you tested out the pulling power of it yet? I was considering one but I need a loco that can pull 6-8 cars up a 1.5% grade. My concern is whether or not it would have enough weight to do that.
I've tested the engine only on flat track, with a slight grade ( never measured, but it's not 1.5%). I used a F40 brass flat, a brass wellhole flat, 2 mantua wooden coaches, and a roundhouse palace coach. Nothing scientific, but I'm very pleased. As measured from my NCE Pro Cab, speed step 126 is drawing .6 amps on the flat, .8 amps up the grade. To my eye, speed seems right.