Large Scale Central

Bachmann 4-6-0's...again. List of how many versions/gen's?

General Discussion
#1

This has probably been beaten to death before, but doing a, “search,” here failed to answer for me. I still get confused as to what differences there are in the, mostly, later Bachmann 4-6-0’s. Has anyone done a chart of differences in them, beginning with the old, old first cheap attempts through the current/best configurations/Annies? I’ve got a rough grip on them through, … maybe Gen 5, (as they seem to be called), but I don’t even know for sure what the last/current version is. Gen 6 - 10, ??

Maybe this could be a short sticky as I suspect it comes up repeatedly.

What have they done from Gen 5 to present day? Thanks for putting up with this…

Dennis

#2

George Schreyer’s website probably has the most comprehensive description of the Bach 4-6-0’s. You can find it here: http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips1/big_hauler_tips.html

#3

Try this site Dennis. The3 only one you wont find on it is the newest which has improved front trucks and metal gears.
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips1/big_hauler_tips.html

#4
Dennis Thompson said:
This has probably been beaten to death before, but doing a, "search," here failed to answer for me. I still get confused as to what differences there are in the, mostly, later Bachmann 4-6-0's. Has anyone done a chart of differences in them, beginning with the old, old first cheap attempts through the current/best configurations/Annies? I've got a rough grip on them through, .. maybe Gen 5, (as they seem to be called), but I don't even know for sure what the last/current version is. Gen 6 - 10, ??

Maybe this could be a short sticky as I suspect it comes up repeatedly.

What have they done from Gen 5 to present day? Thanks for putting up with this…

Dennis


Bachmann 4-6-0 Big Hauler Generations

Gen 1 1988-1990 Battery Powered R/C Units

Gen 2 1990-1994 Smooth Bottom Cover You can turn drivers by hand and motor will turn

Gen 3 1994-1998 Smooth Bottom Cover You cannot turn the drivers by hand

Gen 4 1998-1999 Large wide hump dead center between the rear drivers on bottom cover

Gen 5 2000-Pres 3/8th inch wide hump offset between the rear drivers and a plastic lubrication plug the size of a dime to the rear of the hump…

Gen 5 Anniversary Highly detailed upper unit, same G5 gearing, but metal side rods and detailed valve gear

Gen 6 Anniversary Metal geared chassis and improved pilot truck attachment

#5

I bought this one in 1987 as part of a starter set with 2 cars and a caboose. It was track powered.

(http://www.trainweb.org/rgs/IPPW06a.jpg)

Still have it, still use it, though none of the drive train is original. That crapped out about 4-5 years after I bought it. It has a BBT drive, and R/C in it now.

#6

I added some of your info to my list Joe (hope you don’t mind)…

BH experts, please review…

http://www.elmassian.com/trains/motive-power-mods-aamp-tips/bachmann-motive-power/big-hauler

(I need TOC and Barry to review this for sure)

Greg

#7

Hi Dennis! Nice to see you here. Welcome.

#8

Thanks, John:

MyLS I’ve watched for a long time but for some reason completely missed this one until lately. This is a good forum. I still have the same disease I had when I was 14 years old: locomotive hunger/madness and little if any railroad to run them on. I’ve long ago accepted my mental state.

Dennis

#9

Hi Guys:

" Gen 2 1990-1994 Smooth Bottom Cover You can turn drivers by hand and motor will turn "

How is the drive configured so that this is possible?
The normal set up of a worm driving a spur gear means the drivers cannot be turned by hand, right?

Curious as to how the Gen 2 drive is set up.
Does anyone know?

Thank you,
Norman

#10

With a well made twin start worm drive, such as used by LGB and the K-27, it is entirely possible to turn the motor by spinning the wheels by hand. Whether or not the build quality of that version of the 4-6-0 is sufficiently high to do it, is a moot point.

#11

Greg,

The only problem I see, is your last comment about changing the axle gear. What your attachment refers to is the Spectrum 4-4-0 and 2-6-0s, which are not Big Haulers, so the axle gear is not a common problem in Big Haulers, but certainly is in the spectrums. Note the axle gear in those two models is the same as the axle gear in the Bachmann Connie (2-8-0, outside frame).

Otherwise like what you have described.

Barry

#12

Norman,

The Gen 2 motor did not have a worm gear but a spur gear which drove a round cog wheel with the gear teeth facing away fro the motor.

Barry

#13

Barry:
Sending you an email.
Tnx, Dennis

#14

Hi Barry:

So then the motor shaft is parallel to the driver axle ?
I wish that Bachmann had keep this free wheeling arrangement with all of its locomotives.
It is a nice feature to be able to push a locomotive manually along the track.

Norman

#15

Barry:
Ooops. Since I’m new to this particular forum, it says I’m not allowed to email. Oh well.
Dennis Thompson

#16
Dennis Thompson said:
Barry: Ooops. Since I'm new to this particular forum, it says I'm not allowed to email. Oh well. Dennis Thompson
I think the magic number is 10 posts. But Barry should be able to email you. Ralph
#17

Norman Bourgault said:
Hi Barry: So then the motor shaft is parallel to the driver axle ? I wish that Bachmann had keep this free wheeling arrangement with all of its locomotives. It is a nice feature to be able to push a locomotive manually along the track. Norman

I had a Gen2 10 wheeler chassis in my spare stuff, so I took off the bottom cover to show you the gearing. This chassis runs fine but is very noisy (gear noise). [center]

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8326940449_4cddd699e2_z.jpg)

[/center]

#18

I updated my page… still more to go, but nice pictures courtesy of TOC (also thanks for the correction Barry… TOC also caught that)

http://www.elmassian.com/trains/motive-power-mods-aamp-tips/bachmann-motive-power/big-hauler

Thanks guys…

Greg

#19

Great information; this has helped a lot. Thank you. Dennis

#20

Dennis,

Both my email and my gmail are down, lost my passwords in both during a software fix to my “problems”.

Call, 623-936-6088 or find a site, like Bachmann where you can post a message.

Barry