Bachmann GE Center cab

Bob,

I was shocked when the email arrived yesterday. It's sure pretty, except... I didn't order one. Surely, these were not BTO?

I ordered a Rio Grande to be re-lettered.  Mr. Muffin's Trains just notified me that they will be arriving soon.  Really looking forward to this item.

I'm in for a PRR one, I'll be sticking the CC-Lite and RS boards into it, should be an interesting fit.

Pappy - I do not believe these were BTO.  Williams (prior to Bachmann) has been known to introduce new locomotives and then rely on the public to purchase them.  I'm sure he did some research before investing in tooling.  It seemed like everything Williams produced people purchased.  Bachmann may have a different philosophy.  I feel the center cab was a decision based on what the public was asking for which was a scale center cab.

 

I ordered the D&RG.  It won't be that for very long thou.  It will soon be an Erie center cab with CC Lite to start.  If I find there is room for a speaker and RS board, they will be ordered too.  Will take measurements to see how close to scale dimensions the engine actually is.  Also installing Kadee couplers.

 

GRJ - if you get inside yours before I do, I would be interested to know your evaluation of the available space inside for CC Lite, RS and speaker.  Are you going to use an NTC for CC Lite protection?

 

Bob

I ordered one and received word it shipped today. 

If you're interested, John, I sure would be interested in a step-by-step how-to article for the magazine when you make your conversions/upgrades.

I'm looking forward to seeing comments/photos/video of these engines. It isn't often a new engine really tugs at me but this one does, in PRR of course. Then again, maybe that is because there are two of the PRR versions just up the road....

 

 

I am excited to see how these and the MTH GE 44-ton switcher come out.  

It would be great if they were able to build a GE 45-ton switcher off the same tooling.  There is one used on a tourist line about an hour away from me.  

Ah, you guys have the PRR 9331 !   She was over at Strasburg for how long?   Saw her the last time I went over to the SRR for York  a couple of years back.  She was shoving  Thomas the tank engine onto the Luria Bros. scrap truck ! 

I'll keep that in mind when I get it, could be an interesting article.  I see a lot of interest in this model.

 

A quick question for those who are planning on adding  RailSounds to this engine. What sound board are you planning on using as one of a Caterpillar diesel and single note horn isn't readily available?

 

jackson

Not much selection, I'll probably use the Alco PA sound board.

 

Edit, possibly the FM one, also a single note.

 

 

How would the boards be from a K-line Trainmaster ?

Well, they'd most likely be far too big!  The new RS Commander is a single board unit, you need at least the powered motherboard and RS4 board for that K-Line sound.

Just received my two engines. Nice heft. One grab iron was missing but fortunately it was stuck to the closure tape. Nice sound but when I blew the horn, the engine stops dead and resumes when I release the button.

Looks good Don,

 

It appears you go the first one!

 

That RUN/LOCK button on the bottom looks like it is made for an ERR Cruise install.

 

The "horn-stops running" scenario sounds strange.  Does the manual explain this?

 

Ed

The Run/Lock switch just locks out the reverse. Not sure about the horn situation. I was hoping others would have received theirs and give us their input. 

Nice looking engine.  Does it have diesel sounds and how loud is it?  The sound on my Williams RS3 could be a little louder.  

It does have the diesel sound but not very loud. I can hear it with no problem as long as no other trains are running. The horn also toots when I am powering down. Not sure about that either.

Got mine about an hour ago.  Can't run it until I get home.  Did check dimensions though.  For the most part it is spot on dimensionally.  I'm not much concerned about the sound or slowdown issue when the horn is pressed as the existing internals will not be in there very long.  Curious to know how the motors and everything else is situated inside the shell.

If the Bachmann HO models of the 44 & 45 tonners are anywhere near accurate, the 45 ton loco is significantly smaller in size than the 44 ton, even though it was rated at a higher weight. Bachmann has produced the 45 tonner in both HO an G scales, so their prototype research on both has already been done.

 

Bill in FtL

I just paid the PayPal invoice from Mr Muffin a few minutes ago. It will be interesting to see how this loco looks and runs.

That is too bad about the sound.  If I run my Williams RS3 at the same time as my LC+ loco you can hardly hear it.  Other than the weak sound system it's a great engine.  I think the ability to increase the volume should not be a big problem for Bachmann to fix.  

sound is not bad to me. I'm sure when gunrunner John or some of the other guys open these up they may see a pentometer to adjust the sound on it.  I'm sure they will be adding the new commander lite electronics.

Don -

 

Thanks for the photos including the underside - I like the nice wide spacing of the pick-up rollers.  I also like how easy it will probably be to "adaptively re-use" the run-lock switch for command control upgrades.

Maybe it has a pot to adjust?  All my other Williams by Bachmann locos have a pot on the soundboard.  It looks kinda like a doughnut on an upright bracket...you rotate the silver part either direction to increase/decrease sound.

 

Here is a pic of what it looks like on an E7...

 

Here is another quirk. I ran it on another track of my layout. This time the horn started up and would not shut off all around the layout.  I put it back to the other track and it was fine. I am using a Z4000.

 

Now I real need gunrunner John's or Lee's input on this engine. I have a second one which I have not opened and I have the MTH unit on order.

Hard to say, I have one in the wind, I'll run it a little before I rip it apart for the command upgrade.  I'd first try the second one and see if you get identical results, or maybe the first one has a problem.

 

I have a question for anyone that has one.  If you turn the wheels slowly, do you feel the motor "cogging", or is it fairly smooth?  Just trying to get an advance read on whether this is going to be a problem with command operation.  The cruise modules don't like the motors that have discrete magnetic detents, that might be an issue.

Both PRR 44Ts at Walkersville Southern are actually owned by a private individual. Not speaking for him but I do know that #9331 is from Strasburg and is currently sitting outside in the yard. I believe it needs some work before it can run but I'm certainly not an authority on it nor do I know what work it needs. I may be wrong but I think it last ran under its own power in early summer 2013. 

 

#9339 is in need of a bit more work. It is currently tucked into the back of the engine house. It was painted in the fall. Some paint work is still needed as well as mechanical work although it has run a bit in the yard (there was a video of it floating around). 

 

It will really be exciting to see them both running and under power. I think it will be a while before that day comes but it is really something to look forward to. They are such cool little locos. 

OK: Day two and engine #2. Same results BUT I do not believe it is the engines.

 

I put the engines onto my track #3 and 4 with Z 4000 #2 and they were fine. I put engine #1 on track #5 which is a small loop powered by a Z 1000 and that was fine.

 

I must determine if my Z 4000 #1 has a problem or something happened to my wiring for track #1 and #2.

I think you're zeroing in on it Don.  That makes me feel a little better about these.

I am not sure if the ALCO sound would be approximate?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpWJ1aZu3wg

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC02MG7sv5M

 

This is both interesting and useful.  

 

I should get mine (Santa Fe, of course) on Monday or Tuesday according to the shipment tracking.

 

I have no idea what could be causing the problems you are having DMASSO.  When I have inexplicable problems, particularly with the bell or Whistle behaving strangely, Ialways clean the track and wheels/rollers, even if I don't see/think they are dirty.  I have had several locos right out of the box behave as if they had dirty rollers and wheels, including the RK MW-2 recently.  Do they put a protective finish on them at the factory?  I've been told that but do not know if it is true.  Do they tarnisha bit on the long trip across the Pacific and the weeks they wait in the container at the dockyardduring strikes and back i neventory?  I don't know.  But I do know that when the horn or bell spontaneously operate, or locos do squirrely things, particularly on new locos, cleaning fixes problems 75% of the time.

 

These are tiny little locos!  I am looking forward to having mine, as it will fit within my "BEEPWorld" loop rule - nothing bigger than a BEEP up there.  I much prefer to run scale stuff anymore and there isn't too much scale that fits.  I plan to leave mine alone.  It would like to have smoke, and i expect the sound to be rudimentary compared to Legacy quality, but I expect to be pleased, particularly given what I paid for it.  

Sound is going to be an issue for me. Growing up i lived near the now defunct F.J.&G. They had a 44 ton switcher (#30). As i recall seldom did i hear either the horn or bell, but the unique sound of those Caterpillar diesels was unmistakeable compared to their Alco switchers (#20 & #21).

I'm looking on the internet for a pre-recorded sound card that i can wire into either the motor leads or some other output downstream from the ERR MiniCommander that will give me the CAT sound whenever the loco is running. Of course, there will be no horn or bell sounds as that's just not possible.

Considering the apparent interest in this WBB loco it would be nice if Lionel would allow ERR to offer a RailSounds Commander with the appropriate sound file. Wishful thinking, i'm afraid.

Right now i'm just hoping mine gets here next week.

 

jackson

There is no really available and suitable sound set for this unit in RailSounds.  If you want sound with a TMCC conversion, you'll have to pick from what's available.

 

Yes, it's wishful thinking that any new sound sets will be forthcoming I'm afraid.  I'd like to see more variety in the selections.

 

Look at it another way, when the MTH unit comes out, you can upgrade it to PS/3 soon, and they have a sound set for that one.

 

John, i totally concur, but just don't think the available sound sets are appropriate for the 44 tonner as i remember it.

However, searching the internet i've found the CAT sound is available on a small card that requires 9 - 18 volts DC input and a 8 ohm speaker. Depending on its volume - assuming it won't really ramp up with increased voltage, it may be possible to add it to the WBB 44 tonner to provide that CAT sound whenever the engine is running. For a few bucks it's worth a try. No there won't be horn or bell sounds, but those i can live without.

 

MTH engine it out of the question because: i don't and won't use DCS (actually have converted all my MTH engines - 8 total - to TMCC years ago!), Price of MTH engine  is a factor as well, finally for personal reasons this engine will be my last ever acquisition.

 

jackson

Here is a very brief a poor video that I tried.

 

 

Judging by the video, it looks like the engine is going to run a bit fast. It looks like it's a candidate for command/cruise conversion. I'm thinking that I can remove one of the motors to free up space for a Proto-2 board. As for a sound set, one that might be close would be the sound from the MTH AGEIR box cab. Still thinking about getting the trucks 2-railed for additional flexibility.