Found - Handrails for Spectrum 2-6-0

PeterT · August 19, 2025, 1:40pm

I got a new stack from Roundhouse which I though might suit my old Spectrum 2-6-0 better than the straight ‘shotgun’ stack I installed 10 years ago. I took it down from the display shelf where it sits, except when it gets an annual run. And I was horrified to realize what a decrepit beast it really is.

The cab was totally beaten up - cracked, broken areas, and no doors and few windows. Fortunately B’mann Parts had complete cabs on sale a few weeks ago, and I scooped one up for $13, so I had no excuse for not swapping the cab.

Several other areas needed attention, and especially the handrails are missing. Looking back through my photos, they were missing in 2016, as were the doors in the cab.

I can get a set of handrails from B’mann Parts for $4, but chipping is $10+. Anyone have any handrails lying around that I can buy?

Rooster · August 19, 2025, 9:59pm

Sure, but the shipping is gonna kill ya’ !

richardcrain · August 20, 2025, 4:45am

Have you considered making them from copper wire?

PeterT · August 20, 2025, 5:43pm

I considered brass wire, polished to a shine.

I don’t have any stand-offs to support such a wire, and making them would be complex. The Bachmann part would be ideal as it includes the mounts and the end ball.

Cliff_Jennings · August 21, 2025, 7:08am

If you wanted to get real fancy (but it sounds like not), Trackside Detail has 4 styles of brass handrail posts.

But it sounds like the BM parts are the better bargain.

PeterT · August 25, 2025, 6:18pm

I ended up buying the B’mann black ones, plus some other parts to make the postage acceptable.
The black ones are brass, judging by the end view.

JRad · August 26, 2025, 12:54am

Sounds good, but I bet if they were $14 with free shipping you would not have hesitated

PeterT · August 26, 2025, 5:25pm

You are correct. And I have some Roundhouse handrail supports somewhere that I can’t find.

So I installed the handrails on the starboard side (RH looking forward) where there were the original holes. You can see them on the photo.

On the other side, the holes had been filled with what looked like epoxy - there was a mess around the front hole. So I measured the handrail support and got out a 1.5mm drill. It made absolutely no impression, even with nice slow running and cutting oil. As the pic shows, it is definitely shiny metal in there, and it wasn’t aluminum - probably a steel screw. It certainly didn’t budge when I tapped it with a hammer.

After several minutes of drilling and clearing small shavings, I gave up and pressed the soldering iron on it. A quick tap with the hammer and a small nail pushed them into the boiler.
Still no idea why they were filled like that - it wasn’t me. They were like that in 2016 in the oldest photo I have found so far.

PeterT · August 26, 2025, 8:13pm

Today’s progress, as I want this off my workbench ad back on the display shelf . . .
The handrails went on easily, although I glued the RH one before realizing I would have to re-paint the smokebox. Anyway, it all went as planned, and you can see the new paint, which matches the stack.

Of course, the stack is brass, and despite my cleaning it with alcohol, paint never never sticks. I dropped it and it chipped the edge. Sigh.

Now I have to bolt it in, but the smoke generator is right underneath so there is no room for the threaded nut. No problem - put a cutting disk in my table saw and it made short work of the nut.