For those interested, Photos of the new ON-30 ten wheeler are up on Bachmann's web site in the photo gallery. Looks very nice.

Wow, I think I am in love. Coupler on front, nice lines and good looks, what else can you want on a locomotive. If it performs like the previous B-mann loco's, that 10 wheeler will be a great do all loco. Am going to preorder as soon as possible.
Thanks for the tip Mike,
Al

They look great. I really like the black #11...I prefer that scheme to the later/better known green. I'd like a black #11, one to bash into OR&L #111, one to bash into SP #18, and one for the WP&Y. I'll probably have to settle for one...#18.

Michael

Perhaps their website isn't functioning correctly at the moment. A link sure would be handy.

Thanks.

EDIT: Never mind! It finally loaded!

Andre Ming

Folks can try this link for photos of the Ten-Wheeler:

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/...clude=view_album.php

There are three pages of images.

Wow what a beautiful engine. I love all of the optional add on's and alterations.

This one may push me into On30 from all 3 Rail O. The Forney almost did it. I do really like the smaller steam late 1800's through preWW2 period. I would love some of these add on/alternate parts to be available as detailing parts or to change the domes on some of my other steamers.

It is a very handsome model that offers lots of possibilities for hauling your "varnish." Are the Bachmann's good haulers (enough locomotive weight)? I've always liked this wheel arrangement, called Ten Wheelers on the SP and perhaps on other lines too. It was an upgrade from the 4-4-0 American type.

Paul S

Hello gang,
I received my Micro-Mark catalog this afternoon, and want to let you know they have the Bman 10 wheelers priced at $192.50.
Have any of you gotten prices yet
Al

The Favorite Spot is listing five versions for $193 (includes shipping). Have fun.

My wife paid the MicoMark price for my birthday present. Now ... I have to wait for another couple of weeks! Rats!

Jim

Well, Happy Birthday Jim.
Which model are you going to get?
Al

Jim, lucky you, you have something to look forward to. At first I was'nt to keen on this engine, but I am quickly changing my mind.

Bruce

Thanks, guys. Since the J&RG is set in the Fall of 1951, I'm getting the steel-cab version without the red trim. I've already ordered the Tsunami to go with it.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Jim193:
Thanks, guys. Since the J&RG is set in the Fall of 1951, I'm getting the steel-cab version without the red trim. I've already ordered the Tsunami to go with it.

Jim

As I recall, it is destined to pull the varnish. What varnish will she be pulling?

Michael

Michael,

The "varnish" will be a typical Chili Line consist - mixed freight - perhaps a boxcar or two, RPO and coach with the rather unique "bay window" for the conductor (still bashing a Bachmann coach to create that one).

Jim

I picked mine up yesterday at my local hobby shop. VERY nice locomotive, and runs like a watch, but considerably larger than I expected. MHO - though I haven't tried it yet, Bachmann's On30 coaches may look somewhat small by comparison. AMS or LaBelle coaches may look better.

Lots of extra goodies too!

Those were (aside from maybe the Sumpter Valley engine), the largest 36" gauge 4-6-0s to run in the US...just plain massive!

Btw, Jim, I saw a couple of those Chili Line cars a month or so ago...the 306 and 320...the 320 was the first car after the 464.

Will you be splicing a couple of them together to gain length or not?

Michael

Michael,

Probably not, at this point. As Dwight pointed out, the Labelle coaches (or AMS) will look better ... but at about $100 or more for the Labelle kit and all of the other construction obligations I have (my own and promises to others), it will be a while before I get around to devoting the time to the kits.

Jim

Dwight,
How does the 4-6-0 compare in size to the B-mann consolidation or the BLI 2-8-0?
Al

Al,

Of course, I haven't had the change to see mine yet, but I have read that it is the largest On30 engine produced by Bachmann, something like a full inch longer than the 2-8-0 (engine and tender combined) and a little taller, as well. As a result, the standard Bachmann coaches and rolling stock might look even more miniscule behind the ten-wheeler.

Jim

With that being the case, I would think the ON-3 boys could regage it and have a nice inexpensive engine. Maybe some body will be able to post some comparison pics.
By the way Jim,
when is your birthday? I will drink a long distance toast to you.
Al

Al,

On September 3, I will celebrate the big six-oh. Actually, I will be in the air that day, traveling to New Hampshire to do a little kayaking and taking a ride on the train to Crawford Notch.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by AL CLAIR:
With that being the case, I would think the ON-3 boys could regage it and have a nice inexpensive engine. Maybe some body will be able to post some comparison pics.

That is my plan. One will be #11, another to be converted to SPng #18. I'm sure that I won't be alone in regauging them. I'll then look to build some ET&WNC varnish to go with them (something a little close to the prototypes than the Deerfield conversions). http://www.deerfieldriverlaser...eetsieCarsSides.html

-------------------------------------

The C-16s weighed 60,000lbs (hence the original Class 60 designation) and had 16,000lbs of tractive effort (hence the C-16 designation). The drivers were 36".

The big Tweetsie 4-6-0s (#10, 11, 12, & 14) weighed 99,000 pounds and had 19,000lb of tractive effort. Their drivers were 45" in diameter.

They were comparable with most of the largest 36" gauge 2-8-0s used in the US:
SPng #1/NCNG #14/NCNG #9/Pearl Docks: 94,000lbs with 40" drivers
Oahu Railway #32, #34, #35, #36: 101,000lbs with 38" drivers
D&RGW #375: 107,000lbs

Only WP&Y #69 was/is noticeably heavier (133,000lbs).

The Stump Dodger's varnish was pulled by a 114,000lb 4-6-0...#50.


I hope that the cylinder block and valve gear are wide enough to regauge without major surgery.

Michael

quote:

Originally posted by Jim193:
Al,

On September 3, I will celebrate the big six-oh. Actually, I will be in the air that day, traveling to New Hampshire to do a little kayaking and taking a ride on the train to Crawford Notch.

Jim

Jim,
Well, I guess I will have to do some double toasting. Rose and I will be celebrating our 36th wedding aniversary. Don't worry about being sixty, worry about my being seventy nex march. Enjoy your trip and be careful.
Al

$175-180 was the going price for the 4-6-0 at today's Greenberg show in N.VA. These were DCC only. The sound equipped engines are due by Christmas.

Tony

Michael,

What is involved in regaging On30 to On3? I might be interested in one of these but not if it requires extensive rebuilding.

Paul S

quote:

Originally posted by PRSearls:
Michael,

What is involved in regaging On30 to On3? I might be interested in one of these but not if it requires extensive rebuilding.

Paul S

If the valve gear and cylinder block are wide enough, the drivers need removed & regauged. Frame spacers need to be built up using 0.040" thick styrene (probably just 0.040" x 0.080" strips in the shape of the frame). The drivers can then be dropped back into place. The lead truck also needs to be regauged, and the tender trucks need to be regauged or replaced. Lastly, the rear coupler needs to be raised...probably the coupler box sawed off and a new coupler installed.

I can convert one of the 2-8-0s in 10-30mins.
Here's a photo of my 2-8-0's drivers after being removed from the locomotive:


And here I am using my NWSL gear puller ($10 or so) to widen the wheels:


IIRC, it was 3 1/3 rotations per side...I measured the travel of a single turn in advance, and then measured the total distance of the regauging. I then divided this in two, so that each axle was regauged an equal distance.

The tender axles were regauged using a thin piece of metal to pry the wheel off the axle stops (they use a self gauging axle on the tender trucks) and moved into position. The tender trucks had two screws, loosening them allowed the truck to be widened for On3.

I can't seem to find photos of the rest of the conversion.

If the valve gear and cylinder block binds on the wider drivers, the 4-6-0's cylinders would then need to be cut off and widened 0.040" per side...as I had to do with the 2-6-0.

EDIT: here are photos (neither is very good) of the undersides after regauging as well as photos of each pulling freights on the layout after converting.

The 2-8-0:

The On3 gauge is on the lead axle. The white piece behind the rear tender truck was a shim for the new coupler.

The 2-6-0:

I used Grandt Line's frame overlays and replacement axles on this one. The gray in between the frame and drivers is the overlay. If I was starting over, I'd just pull the drivers out on the original axles, add some JB Weld to the ends of the axles, and use 0.040" styrene instead of the overlays. I had to re-bend the electrical contacts since the drivers were wider. You can just barely see the spacers for the cylinder block...they are the white spots just inside the cylinders.

Here's the 2-8-0 pulling a short freight...note that it is a decent starting point for the ex-Crystal River engines and nearly spot on for Silverton, Gladstone, & Northerly #34 (needs the counterweights changed, a headlight change, and a couple other small detail changes).


And the 2-6-0 pulling a longer freight:

She's reasonably close for C&S #22. I would guess that the 4-6-0 conversion would be somewhere in between that for the 2-6-0 and 2-8-0.


Michael

Has anybody got a pic of the 10 wheeler sitting next to say, a C-16 or a C-25 that they could post so we can see the size comparison?
Al

All of you that have received your ten wheeler(s), what is your opinion of them. I hope some of you have tested them. That would be like having a new bride and not testing her. OK to edit that line if you want to Rich. Hope you have gotten over your York Flu.
Al