I find mine sticks to bad track quite nicely now.
I will restate that apart from regauging pilot wheels, I have not had a problem with the Bachmann pilot truck. I carry out no mods to it and yet have around twenty Anniversaries and have not had a single pilot truck derailment. I have excellent trackwork, running on an elevated trackbed. I can understand that if one simply spreads some ballast on the ground and lays the track directly on the ground then track issues may cause the pilot truck to derail. But, what is actually at fault - the truck or the track - good track no derailments, poorly laid uneven trackwork - derailments!
I have a third generation big hauler, no mods, and I do not have derailment problems on my ground level ballasted track. Then again, I pride myself on my track work.
-Brian
Just as an aside, I have an Annie that has been converted with one of Barry’s 2-8-0 units and the pilot NEVER derails! (I guess I’m just lucky…)
Hi all,
Something I have done to several “Annies” that I haven’t seen mentioned here is to remove the “plugs” between the pickup bars on the underside of the front pilot. I replace them with small pieces of styrene tubing glued to the bottom of the channel. This allows the bars to free float but not short out it also allows some side to side twist on the axels and wheels. This with a small amount of weight added has put an end to pilot truck derailments on several railroads around here. These rail lines include everything from, 332 LGB laying on the lawn to 250 with Sunset switches on bench work.
Seems to work pretty well for us.
Thanks for your time.
Rick Marty
I pinned my plugs in place 'cause one day at the botanic, they fell out and the fron truck shorted out the track powered loco while Annie ran happily along.
I have about ten of the 4-6-0 locos, but they all came from second hand starter sets or mixed boxes of used stuff so I have no expectations of good performance (for the ones that even work). They all jump the track on four foot curves, which is funny since that’s what the starter sets come with. I had some luck with adding weight to the pilot truck, but it’s hardly worth the trouble to work on them. Anyone who bought one of the early versions knows they don’t last long under heavy use anyway. They seem to work best on a display shelf.
I have to agree that track plays a major part. When I lay out the 8 foot curves and run a 12" x 24" loop on the carpet with no switches, even these bottom enders work pretty well. But it seems easier to modify the Bachmann as opposed to modifying a permanent outdoor layout if it doesn’t happen with any other locomotives.
Paul
I decided to play with my 4-6-0. I added more weights and still no luck. I decided to take all the weights off and pull the wheels out a little… I dont have anything to measure the gauge of the wheels but I just pulling them out a little made a hudge difference. I have been running it all day and not a single derail. Should have done this from the start.
Gentlemen;
The email address on my website is not working. Please email direct to me: [email protected].
I played around with the Bachmann Pilot truck for fifteen years, tried most everything. Was working on the equalized front axle on the Annie, when it dawned on me to build the loose frame. It works, no weights, but the swing arm is half of the solution, which I have had on every 4-6-0 since the first drive. Now the frame.
Barry BBT
Thanks Barry I am looking forward to getting that front lead truck from ya. It should be here any day now. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks again
Shawn