It’s no secret that the Bachmann 10 wheelers are not my favorite locomotives… not even in the top 15… It’s a mediocre model of a not very balanced looking prototype. I’ve owned about 4. Because they were cheap, and so was I. But they just look goofy on small layouts. It’s also no secret that I have been trying for quite some time to sell a highly modified 5th generation one that I rebuilt from an unrun, but dropped Christmas version… With absolutely no luck…
Well, a couple weeks ago, I was moving the unloved thing to dust under it and it tumbled AGAIN (about 6 feet to the floor this time) ---- destroying the cab roof and breaking off a running board, as well as deranging the geometry of the cylinders. Soooooooooo, having been reduced in value to a parts locomotive once again, this engine will be getting a MAJOR overhaul — into something that I can run on the AV. I still HAVE Delton C-16 cabs, but the Bachmann boiler is just way too big to simply swap it. I also have a C-16 boiler shell… but it’s MUCH smaller than the 10 wheeler’s … major meatball surgery will be needed to make this work. First steps… remove the entire B’mann superstructure. Cut away everything above the drivers, and shorten it about 4" from several locations.
Here is a mock-up, so you can see where we are headed…
Now, I’ve got some questions from those who’ve already butchered on these things: 1. What is the simplest way to move the long crankpin to the rear axle? Cut and Splice? Fabricate from tube? give up and just shorten the rods for the center axle? I’d really like to retain the Walsherts valve gear if I can. 2. Can the smoke unit be repaired? The thin wire broke one of the times it crashed and the little tube has become dislodged. If It can’t I’ll just use an old 18v LGB unit that I already have here. 3. Is it worth the effort to try to shorten the pony truck, or should I just get a Kalamazoo part or scratchbuild it?
