Need help identifying a locomotive

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


PackedAPunch77

PackedAPunch77

New Member
I purchased a broken Bachmann a while ago, it has the infamous split gears issues that most (if not all) Bachmann split chassis had. I ended up getting it send away for repair just for it to come back without being fixed unfortunately. So I put it in a box and didn't look at it for a few years, until now. I designed and ordered 3D printed replacement gears and now I just need some spare bits from Bachmann themselves.
I just need to identify which locomotive it is to get the correct parts, but this is where I'm troubled. The chassis is neither for a Niagara or a Northern, but the shell is a Niagara's (the wind deflectors are broken off unfortunately). I've tried searching up the running number but I don't get a 100% answer. If anyone knows, please give me some insight. I've attached some pictures to help you guys.

I have removed a lot of the extra parts (valve gear/pony trucks etc.) to get them out of the way while I repair the necessary components such as the cracked gears.

The current condition of the locomotive is definitely sub-par but I am determined to 1. Get it running again 2. Repair it to near-factory standard.
 

Attachments

  • 1000010341.jpg
    1000010341.jpg
    295.3 KB · Views: 101
  • 1000010339.jpg
    1000010339.jpg
    267 KB · Views: 103
  • 1000010338.jpg
    1000010338.jpg
    288.6 KB · Views: 101
  • 1000010340.jpg
    1000010340.jpg
    169.9 KB · Views: 115
Last edited:


Looking at that, my thoughts are...
... sometimes they're just not worth trying to fix any more.

If you can't get parts (like the missing rod/valvegear, or did you take that off already?)... all the more difficult.
 
J.Albert said:
Looking at that, my thoughts are...
... sometimes they're just not worth trying to fix any more.

If you can't get parts (like the missing rod/valvegear, or did you take that off already?)... all the more difficult.
Click to expand...
Trust me I've had my moments of "yeah I'm not doing this", I removed the valve gear for ease of repair (the white side rod you see in the pictures was a strange attempt to make it all one assembly, not multiple linkages). The only parts I need are the universal ones like washers, screws and one side rod screw (which might be the hardest part to come across if its not universal)
 
The chasis looks like Bachmann, (Northern is a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement. It does look like later Plus series though. If you send in for repair and they sent it back to you, one thing i read when that happens, is to send in the locomotive back with a proof that it wasn't repaired, they might send you a brand new one.
 
If it’s out of warranty time then there is a fee then you get one of the same thing if it’s in stock. If not or if no parts to fix yours then they will tell you what they have in stock that is in the same value range then you get to pick from those.
 
KriegslokBR52 said:
The chasis looks like Bachmann, (Northern is a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement. It does look like later Plus series though. If you send in for repair and they sent it back to you, one thing i read when that happens, is to send in the locomotive back with a proof that it wasn't repaired, they might send you a brand new one.
Click to expand...
The repair was attempted by a local model railway repairman (Trainmania in NZ), I'll have to have a look into sending this to Bachmann if I can't jerry-rig something up soon..
 
J.Albert said:
Looking at that, my thoughts are...
... sometimes they're just not worth trying to fix any more.
Click to expand...
As a kit basher, I would argue against this. If you think you can fix it "PackedAPunch77" go ahead and try!
And if you don't.... (Cough, Cough) There is a modeler here who would take it off your hands...
Only kidding. Keep going bud.
 
If you need parts from Bachmann, just type in Bachmann Parts on your browser. All the locos Bachmann sells are listed and parts the they still stock. If your loco is not listed, you are out of luck. I find the parts website much easier than calling a person at Bachmann. They will usually direct you to the parts website for a part number anyway.

John
 


PackedAPunch77 said:
The chassis is neither for a Niagara or a Northern, but the shell is a Niagara's (the wind deflectors are broken off unfortunately).
Click to expand...
Bachmann made several Northerns. The Santa Fe what they call a 3700 class, the N&W J class, A CB&Q O5, the NYC Niagara, the SP GS4, and the UP Overland are the ones that come to mind. Why do you think the chassis is not the Niagara?

Many years (decades?) ago thinking the chassis were all the same, I purchased the Bowser replacement chassis for the "Overland". It did not fit the Santa Fe unit that I had. That project still sits there unfinished in a box some where.
 
Iron Horseman said:
Bachmann made several Northerns. The Santa Fe what they call a 3700 class, the N&W J class, A CB&Q O5, the NYC Niagara, the SP GS4, and the UP Overland are the ones that come to mind. Why do you think the chassis is not the Niagara?

Many years (decades?) ago thinking the chassis were all the same, I purchased the Bowser replacement chassis for the "Overland". It did not fit the Santa Fe unit that I had. That project still sits there unfinished in a box some where.
Click to expand...
Actually the Santa Fe they did is fairly close representation of 2900 class, falsely marked as 3700 class. Also the CB&Q is just "repurposed" 2900 class with CB&Q markings and paint job. I am not sure what the chasis for Southern Pacific is out of, or if it was actually specifically designed as relatively to scale for the GS4. The Union Pacific "Overland" is actually a "Niagara" repainted, just like in the case of CB&Q "O5". I do have the newer Norfolk and Western J class (plus version?) and it does look the part. So really Bachmann did only two or three different "Northerns", and then chose to use the ready platforms to make some fantasy schemes in order to boost sales.
 
Iron Horseman said:
Bachmann made several Northerns. The Santa Fe what they call a 3700 class, the N&W J class, A CB&Q O5, the NYC Niagara, the SP GS4, and the UP Overland are the ones that come to mind. Why do you think the chassis is not the Niagara?

Many years (decades?) ago thinking the chassis were all the same, I purchased the Bowser replacement chassis for the "Overland". It did not fit the Santa Fe unit that I had. That project still sits there unfinished in a box some where.
Click to expand...
The reason I think that the chassis is not a Niagara nor a Northern, is because the motor mounting is completely different. There is no securing plate above the worm gear and the entire split 'blocks' look completely different. This is all in reference to the readily available exploded diagrams of both the Niagara and Northern on Bachmann's website, I'll attach them here too:
Screenshot 2025-10-07 100126.jpg

The front mounted LED is different too, as on my model it isn't an LED and more of a lamp which very primitively uses two metal prongs to make contact with the two different sides of the split chassis. I also think the model I have is some kind of 'special' or 'plus' edition due to the running number being #5016, which I cannot find much about other than on online auction houses (which don't give many details).
 
You have to remember that these are being produced since 1970s, so several changes were made over time. I've had a 1980s version of the CB&Q 4-8-4 which still had the pancake motor. If you have all the valve gear parts and the wheels are quartered properly on the axles, there's no reason not to get this thing running. We can help you along the way, but finding exactly matching parts will probably be a waste of time. You can manufacture some missing stuff in the comfort of your own home. I did notice that the worm gear on your model is rather large, almost like doing a double duty of a drive gear and a flywheel at the same time. Maybe you can type that in the net and see when that change was made.
 
KriegslokBR52 said:
You have to remember that these are being produced since 1970s, so several changes were made over time. I've had a 1980s version of the CB&Q 4-8-4 which still had the pancake motor. If you have all the valve gear parts and the wheels are quartered properly on the axles, there's no reason not to get this thing running. We can help you along the way, but finding exactly matching parts will probably be a waste of time. You can manufacture some missing stuff in the comfort of your own home.
Click to expand...
Really the only part that I need, which I can't make at home, is just one screw for the valve gear that connects the side rods to the connecting rod and the eccentric crank
 
These are available in just about any model train store: https://share.google/rTHSwk30JmjpM5lNY
There are flathead screws which would be my choice for the main rod to side rod connection. A small pack is only few $ and you can maybe match the thread to the one in the wheel. The bushing can be cut and made out of brass pipe also available in hobby shops.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top