How much can I pull safely with this little Bachmann 2-4-2?
Can I pull 2 Bachmann or LGB passenger cars without burning out the motor?
Probably.
But, I think that’s an early one.
The motors aren’t the issue, as they are not tightly packed in a non-ventilated block like the other 2-4-2 is.
If it is what I think it is, as far as vintage, the axle gears tended to split.
I know the motor mounts differently, the drawbar is different.
I also think they all had the plastic siderods, so hard to tell from that.
I have an old one to tell where the gear hump is.
They pull MUCH better than the 2-6-0’s, as the Industrials have no weight, while the 2-4-2’s have a cast-iron weight in the boiler.
2 should be fine.
The gear issue is corrupted plastics, and age, and if your’s is an old one and still works, it’s probably got good plastic.
Hey, I still have those wheels on my bench…
If it self destructs Bachmann will repower it for $20. I had two and they both were over taxed to destruction. Bachmann repowered both and they run real nice. Course they still don’t pull too muc as they are so light but they are great little runners.
Andre’
Curmudgeon said:
Probably. But, I think that's an early one. The motors aren't the issue, as they are not tightly packed in a non-ventilated block like the other 2-4-2 is.If it is what I think it is, as far as vintage, the axle gears tended to split.
I know the motor mounts differently, the drawbar is different.
I also think they all had the plastic siderods, so hard to tell from that.
I have an old one to tell where the gear hump is.They pull MUCH better than the 2-6-0’s, as the Industrials have no weight, while the 2-4-2’s have a cast-iron weight in the boiler.
2 should be fine.
The gear issue is corrupted plastics, and age, and if your’s is an old one and still works, it’s probably got good plastic.Hey, I still have those wheels on my bench…
Well… I might be ok then. The unit I have has already been sent back to Bachmann as it stopped running. It runs really nice now. Perhaps I have all the good new stuff in it.
The wheels…yes… I forgot. Gonna have to be a week or so before I can get by. I will let you know.
Timmy if you got the upgrade from Bmann you should be fine. I have a second generation Columbia, the only thing I can suggest is adding weight into the airtanks, I used lead BB shots thru a hole drilled on one end and sealed the hole with epoxy. This engines only remaining real problem is the low weight of the engine, adding whatever you can to it is a big advantage. PS I got another Columbia identical to your at the last BTS for 20 buck, yep, gears stripped as usuall. I blew mine apart and am building a Heisler type loco out of the smoking remains.
