Bachmann USRA 0-6-0 Prairie

[SkipGear]

@Maletrain   ... In 2007 before I knew what phosphor bronze sheet was ...

[prr7161]

Yes, Bachmann made a drop-equalizer tender truck for the original USRA light Mountains.

FWIW, these appear to be on some of the more recent light Mountain releases with sound, and there are trucks in stock at Bachmann.  I just picked up a pair for a future project.  Thanks for the heads-up on this!

[wm3798]

I think the big problem I have with these is that while the drive technology has improved with the smaller motors and more reliable gearing, the shells are the same shitty garbage from the White Box era.  Their 4-8-4 Northern suffers the same malady.  I don't want to pay north of $100 for something that looks like it's 40 years old.  (And I love stuff that's 40 years old!)
I mean, after the transmogrification of the 2-8-0 from a dog to a diamond, how hard would it be for them retool the damn shells?
Lee

[Cajonpassfan]

...
I mean, after the transmogrification of the 2-8-0 from a dog to a diamond, how hard would it be for them retool the damn shells?
Lee

Yes, this! Hello?
Otto K.

[SkipGear]

Both the 4-8-4 and 0-6-0 had the shells retooled a couple years back at the same time that the frame was updated for the new motors. The molds are cleaner and crisp. They don't look like 40 year old tooling any more, now maybe just 10-15 year old. These are still "train set" loco's and won't get the separate detail treatment.

[ncbqguy]

A Spectrum level USRA 0-6-0 from Bachmann with a range of prototype correct tenders would be MUCH appreciated (like they did on the Light 2-10-2).
They Spectrumed the N&W J and it continued to sell....
There were many roads including “popular” ones that had them so it could be a good choice from a business standpoint...at least in N- Life-Like / waltzers did them in Prototype 2000 HO and can serve as there market research!
Charlie Vlk

[nickelplate759]

Does anyone have both the old and new 0-6-0 (and 4-8-4 for that matter ) and would be willing to post comparison photos?

[Albert in N]

   Getting back to the Bachmann 2-6-2 starter trainset quality prairie, does the new one have a working headlight??  The old ones, like mine (with motor sticking out back of cab) have a clear lens over silver painted solid plastic.

[Lemosteam]

Based on the Spookshow images I am going to say no.

[SkipGear]

The tooling isn't drastically changed, just cleaner. They did remove the holes in front of the cab that were clearance for the old motor. Still no working headlight and a dumb hole in the front of the smoke box where a low mount light could be. No more screw hanging out of the bottom to hold the motor in. The cylinder casting and pilot are now aligned with two pins instead of just the friction of tightening the screw. The biggest change is the new see through drivers.

The cylinders were never lined up on either version. The old motor was the problem before as it stuck through the top of the boiler in front of the cab. The cylinders and boiler can be lined up on the new version, you just can't use the screw to hold the body on anymore. I think it is an artifact of the old tooling. You do need to use a knife to cut a bevel on the sides of the plastic of the motor and a matching bevel inside the shell at the flare for the firebox. this allows the boiler to slide back and align the cylinders and the air pumps.

[nickelplate759]

Thanks @SkipGear , that's really helpful.

Two questions:
1. In your pictures t looks like the new drivers are smaller in diameter.  Are they?  That would be a good thing, the old ones are definitely oversized.
2. Any tips on how to tell if you are buying a new one when ordering on-line?  It seems that price isn't a particularly good indicator.

[wazzou]

Is the tooling really different or just painted better and with better paints?

[SkipGear]

Is the tooling really different or just painted better and with better paints?

I've stripped the paint off the older ones and they look soft, without paint. It has not changed drastically except for the lack of cutouts for the old motor and there are no marks in the mold where it looks like those were filled.

[SkipGear]

Thanks @SkipGear , that's really helpful.

Two questions:
1. In your pictures t looks like the new drivers are smaller in diameter.  Are they?  That would be a good thing, the old ones are definitely oversized.
2. Any tips on how to tell if you are buying a new one when ordering on-line?  It seems that price isn't a particularly good indicator.

1. Same size, just look much better.
2. New couplers and the motor does not stick out of the cab are the best way. There are a few road names that are new for the new tooling. ATSF that I pictured, has a new road number.

[delamaize]

I buy them for the mechanisms really....
The 0-6-0s are pretty sweet kitbash fodder.