Things to do with a Bachmann Northern?

[kelticsylk]

Before you say throw it in the trash I want you to know...
A - It's one of the newer ones with the split metal frame. It runs and pulls well.
B - My budget for this hobby won't allow me to purchase a new Bachmann 4-8-2 and cut it up for kitbashing. It also won't allow anything handcrafted in brass.

I thought it might be the basis for an Pennsy M1 even though the drivers are too big. The tender could be modified to make a reasonable PRR long distance tender.

Because of its 80" drivers I also thought about building a "what if" ( a foob?) version of the T1. There are some stories of PRR wanting to convert the critters into 4-8-4's...I guess that would be an R2 in Pennsy terms.

The newer frame banishes any thought I had of creating a true T1 model, although that might have been possible with the older version of the Northern. Not that it would run, just that it seems possible.

I'm leaning toward the M1 because it makes more sense in so many ways.

Any thoughts?

Frank Musick

[pennsyfan1361]

How about making a Reading T1.  The loco kind of has that look, and the Pennsy leased some from the Reading in the late 50s     Rich

[Lemosteam]

pennsyfan1361, I love the Reading T1 idea! I had one of the old ones for the longest time for just that purpose.

I'll be using two to make a T1 using supertubine's fine shell.  I'm going to throw in a LL FA2 mech under the tender too.  I'm getting the itch...

[kelticsylk]

I really like the Reading T1 and the idea of building one, but I think it would really be out of place on my layout.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I could send you a sticker and it could get added to the blog: http://youknowwhere.tumblr.com/

[Cajonpassfan]

I love the look of the T1, but they were a much smaller loco than the Santa Fe 2900's. They were rebuilt from old consolidations, and only had 70" drivers.
My opinion, which may or may not mean anything, is that you will put a great deal of work into something that is doomed to not look right, no matter how good your workmanship, because the proportions will be wrong. Might as well build a foobie, and that's okay too.
Sorry about the wet blanket, but I've been there done that....
Kind regards, Otto K.

[superturbine]

But Otto, if I'am not mistaken the Bachman northern has 72 inch drivers......right???

[victor miranda]

perhaps the way one words the question also frames the answer.

If I had a PRR layout AND I had a b-mann northern
how can I run the northern?

I would make it look like the PRR J class by moving headlamp
and make a pilot other appliance on the front and ignore the running gear.

yeah foobie.... and what PRR would have done.

vitor

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Although not PRR, the model is pretty close to some larger B&M 4-8-2.
http://www.tonystropicalfish.com/lance/photos/273.jpg

The boiler and drive train line up well with some N scale drawing I have.

[pennsyfan1361]

I read in Spookshow review the Bachmann Northern Drivers are under scale by five scale inches the Santa Fe Northern prototype are 80''. The Reading prototype are 70'' so the drivers are a little large but not that far off and the  Boxpok driving wheels look similar to the Reading T1.  I saw someone do a Chessie steam special from the Bachmann Northern and it looked good. The Pennsy leased Readings ran on the Enola to Buffalo line so if you are doing the Horseshoe curve  they didn't run there.            Rich

[squirrelhunter]

Pretty much all n scale steam requires compromises. Santa Fe 2900's were big, but a lot of late BLW 4-8-4/4-8-2's were alost as big, even if they weighed much less.

I think you could use the engine to make a passable model of most any late model Baldwin 4-8-4 or 4-8-2, like the L&HR or B&M ones that eventually went to the B&O.

Or you could get B-mann Reading style 2-8-0 shells to make a Reading T-1.

[PAL_Houston]

Before you say throw it in the trash I want you to know...
...
Any thoughts?

Frank Musick

Well, when I threw mine in the trash it hit a brick wall slightly above and slightly to the left of the trash can.  And I ended up keeping the mechanical parts for the same reason I keep old screws and nails -- you never know when you might want something like that.

PM me if you think you might find use for them.

[Bremner]

well, you COULD bend history a little bit, and not totaly foob it...

[CodyO]

Was planning on taking mine and cutting it in half and making it a t1  to run under jasons T1 shell as an idler with the power actually coming from the tender

But until that day it will sit in the roundhouse on the dead track

I also have a class J that I`ve been debating for the longest time to put into PRR colors as a foob but hey they tested them and who says that my fictional New York City to Buffalo line wouldn`t need some heavy 4-8-4s?

[wm3798]

I was working one into a Western Maryland Potomac by swapping a Rivarossi Berkshire tender and doing some cosmetic surgery to the boiler shell.  Got about 50% into the project and lost my inspiration.  Ultimately I sold it.

But I swear, it would have worked!!

Lee