Bachmann train set and Bachmann trains in general


MärCo_1212

MärCo_1212

Member
Bachmann train set and Bachmann trains in general


First let me introduce myself, because I am new on this forum. My name is Marco and I am living on the other side of “the pond” in The Netherlands. Indeed, famous for its windmills, flowers and cheese. I am living in Zeist, just next to Utrecht. Utrecht is a Intercity hub and houses our railway museum. Not surprisingly, I am often found there. Not only for fun, because I am a busdriver as well, with our bus station next to the railway station ;-)


Since a year I own some N-scale trains, most of them second hand. I love cleaning and repairing them back in working order. Because of that, my rolling stock is a mixture of all kind of trains. I do not own a permanent layout (yet….). In my collection are several USA cars from Lima, Atlas N-scale and Arnold N. For this train I am looking for a American locomotive to pull them.


I want to purchase the Bachmann Super Chief train set, because I once owned a EMD F7 from Märklin, and I also need some motive power for my USA stock.


But here I run in a little problem: my N-scale trains are equipped with Arnold Rapido couplings, common in Europe. The Bachmann train has knuckle couplings, common on N-scale trains in the USA. In some reviews on internet replacement couplings are shown, but I can’t find a conformation of this. Also the website of Bachmann is not quite clear of this, and I can’t find a manual.


Second, can this locomotive being rebuild to DCC in the future? Since I am planning to upgrade my rolling stock in the future to DCC. Most of my locomotives have a DCC socket, but also on this issue, the website of Bachmann is not clear of this.


Some of my USA cars —>

Materieel-Arnold-N-0481-Caboose.jpg


Materieel-Atlas-2347-Gas-car-Suburban-Propane.jpg


Materieel-Lima-432-Canadian-National-Stockcar.jpg



Much greetings from The Netherlands, and Thanks in advance !!!
 
Hi Marco.

Think you might find this link helpful for most N scale locomotive diagrams and parts.


I don't have any N scale but I've upgraded quite a few HO and OO scale DC locomotives to DCC, (I've yet to find one I can't convert.) if they are DCC ready then it's a simple case of removing the body, removing the blanking plate and fitting your N scale decoder of choice.

If it's not DCC ready, then it's more complicated depending on the motor involved, Bachmann used a split chassis on a lot of their locomotive but whether it was continued into N scale I'm unsure, but in either case some soldering skills and patience will be needed.
There are lot's of YouTube video's which will show you the various steps to convert your locomotive whether it's DC or DCC ready.

I can't comment on the couplings, not having any N scale, but some searching on a N scale forum could yield results. , you could also simply convert one end of one of your cars, (a conversion car) and leave the rest with Rapido couplers, a body mounted Kadee #451 would likely work, but check first you have the space, again YouTube will help you determine that. But I have found this conversion kit for Rapido couplers, you may be able to find one locally.

www.micro-trains.com

Locomotive Coupler Conversion Kit (1049)

N Scale Package includes one front and one rear coupler. this conversion fits: ARNOLD-RAPIDO/REVELL/RIVAROSSI: FA-1, FA-2, FP-9A, FP-9B, GP-7, GP-9, GP-30, S2, GG-1, old time combine, streamlined passenger cars, bi-level cars and 2-8-2 Mikado tender only. ATLAS: E-7A, F-9A, GP-9, GP-30, FRONT RUNNER
www.micro-trains.com www.micro-trains.com
 
Twinboystrains said:
Some locomotives do show up on eBay with Rapido couplers. It's your choice if you want to try that. Shipping costs would be the biggest issue.
Click to expand...
Tell me about it, I have one I recently bought, unfortunately if you have North American locomotive's in HO scale, you don't really have much choice, unless you have a Model Shop that specialises in them that is local to you, or your prepared to make your own conversion.
 
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Smudge617 said:
Tell me about it, I have one I recently bought, unfortunately if you have North American locomotive's in HO scale, you don't really have much choice, unless you have a Model Shop that specialises in them that is local to you, or your prepared to make your own conversion.
Click to expand...
Being a fellow N scale modeller, I understand. I know that conversion kits are available. I just don't have the patience to do them. Let me do some digging through some boxes and see if I can find something that I'm not using.
 
There are much better F-7 locos made in N scale than Bachmann. Minitrix comes to mind, made in Germany, and they came with Rapido couplers. I don’t know if they are still being made, since they are an old design from the 1970’s, but the factory made many, so they should still be able to be found in the used market. Also, F-units were made by Kato of Japan, and the Kato versions were likely the best running F-units on the market. Many earlier Kato’s also came with Rapido couplers, though more recent releases use Kato’s knuckle coupler, which is compatible with the Micro-Trains knuckle coupler, which are probably the most reliable N scale couplers on the market. Steer clear of the Intermountain N scale F-units because they are known to have zinc-pest infected frames, and IM refuses to service them, claiming “they are out of warranty”. Some of the Micro-Trains FT units also had some zinc-rot afflicted frames, and replacements are likely unavailable. Most MTL products are made in the USA, but for some reason, their N scale loco frames were cast for them in Asia.

Consider making up a couple of coupler adapter cars with a Rapido coupler on one end and a knuckle on the other. Atlas has made cars with both types of couplers and Micro Trains still lists their #1500 trucks with built-in Rapido couplers, so making up a pair of coupler adapter cars should be easy to do. Then you can run both types of couplers in the same train. Be careful with Micro-Trains cars however, since, once you have a couple, because they are so much better quality, you will never look at any of the other brands the same way again!

Bill in Ft. Lauderdale, FL USA
 
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