Large Scale Central

Nice Columbia 2-4-2 Bash, need info.

Modeling Motive Power
#1

My pal Jack acquired this with a 2-4-4-0 articulated (photos of that on my Live Steam thread.)
http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/30296/three-new-steamers-and/view/post_id/400082

It’s almost certainly a Bachmann “Columbia” 2-4-2 bash with some fine detailing and weathering.

Note the steam blowdown (?) just in front of the cab, the meticulous piping for the air pump and a steam generator behind the headlamp. Very nice weathering!

Anyone know how much of this is original?

Finally, I have to start taking it apart the check the mechanism. George Schreyers page is still available. I could use some current info though - wasn’t there a second series of these? Are the gears as bad as the other engines of 20 years ago?

#2

It came apart without too much trouble, but the weathering was applied last, so it may have to be touched up where I scratched it. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cry.gif)

Of course, the gear is split:

I also realised this morning that the axle isn’t shouldered at 90 deg - so I will have to put the wheel back on precisely at 90 deg from the other wheel. No rest for the wicked. . .

Anyway, I contacted Mr Gear Man Jiro Yermanian, who sent me a pic of all his little gears:

and suggested that one should fit! When he got my dimensions, he confirmed he had the 15mm, 6mm axle, 16tooth gear:

and they are winging their way to FL.

I also discovered a couple of wires coming from the back of the motor casing. As I suspected, they were attached to the motor leads, though (a) they are solid wire and not very flexible and (b) the wheel pickups are/were still attached. I disconnected the wheels on one side and added some flexible wire to reach under the tender, where I can connect to a battery boxcar. (The blue tape is just insurance in case something presses the pickup strip down towards the motor lead.)

#3

The gear transplant was successful. Here’s the loco cruising the Calusa Creek RR with a battery boxcar in tow. (The wires need hiding!)

#4

Yay! So satisfying to bring one back to life.

#5

Forrest Scott Wood said:

Yay! So satisfying to bring one back to life.

Absolutely. Quartering the drivers was the only problem.

Now to get to work on the 2-4-4-0.