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8Fs – Heavy goods engines starting with the Bachmann WD 2-8-0

Silver Sidelines

Entry posted by Silver Sidelines

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One of the first engines that I purchased on returning to the hobby was a Bachman Austerity 2-8-0.

 

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I remember seeing a number of these engines on Teesside in the early 1960s and I was keen to have a model of one on the layout. From memory the Q6s, J26s and J27s handled the local traffic bringing coal and coke from County Durham whilst the WD 2-8-0s handled more long distance freight south to York and beyond.

 

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Whilst the detail on my Bachmann WD was superb, its performance I thought was lacking.

 

Out of the box it could barely manage a dozen wagons up and round the layout and was accompanied by what could only be described as a monotonous grinding noise. It was soon banished to the sheds. For the record my Austerity is model number 32-256 (running number 90556), I mention this because I have seen similar models advertised also as being noisy runners.

 

The solution

 

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First a picture showing which screws hold the body on the chassis.

 

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Second a reminder that the cab handrails need to be released prior to lifting the body off the chassis.

 

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How does the chassis run without the body? – In my case very smoothly and relatively quietly. There’s the answer! On my model the soldered connections to the brush holders were pressing against the inside of the firebox causing the noise of the motor to be transmitted to and amplified by the whole body shell.

 

The solution is straightforward, remake the connections using less solder whilst at the same time bending the terminals such that they no longer contact the body. If still in doubt carefully file away a little of the plastic inside the firebox.

 

 

Performance

 

I have recently had the chance to observe first hand some of the new Hornby 2-8-0 freight engines. I am impressed by their smooth and powerful performance.

 

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So, how to improve the performance of the Bachman WD 2-8-0?

 

Pony Truck

 

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A major cause of poor haulage capacity affecting a range of Bachmann models is too much stiffness in the pony truck springing. Sometimes I have completely removed the springing. In this instance I decided to retain the spring but to gently massage it so that the spring effect was reduced.

 

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Then I added some lead shot!

 

Somewhere on RMweb I remember reading a thread, and I must apologise because I did not keep a note of the contributor’s details, but he had taken the WD boiler barrel apart to install a smoke unit. He confirmed that the Bachmann ballast weight only occupies the first part of the boiler and beyond and into the smoke box is a void. Lead shot can be introduced into this void using the slot visible in the picture above. The chimney on the Bachmann model is blanked off and by turning the body shell upside down and by tipping backwards or forwards the lead shot can be added or removed as required. For security the gap at the top of the boiler should be taped over, I used a tiny piece of masking tape, just in case the engine is upended and to prevent any lead shot inadvertently falling back out.

 

I am aware that some modellers are very keen not to upset the ‘balance’ of their models. As bought my WD weighed 290gm. This value is already quite respectable when compared to say the Bachmann O4 at 250gm or the Hornby 28xx at 275gm. In the event I added sufficient lead shot to bring the total weight up to 305gm.

 

The model still sits nice and firmly with all driving wheels in solid contact with the track. More importantly the engine will now

with a representative number of trucks in tow.

 

Some of you might wish to be more adventurous and add more weight. I would say that there is every chance that you could trickle more lead shot into the smoke box space. However too much and you will lose traction on the rear driving wheels. At least with this solution it should be easy enough to remove the lead again if you have added too much.

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Mikkel
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Another great entry. I like the way you make your experiences available to others.

 

Meanwhile I spy an impressive layout in the background! Any chance of some more photos of that?

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Silver Sidelines

Hello Mikkel, thank you for the encouragement.  I was thinking that when I ran out of engines to fill with bits of lead I could start describing the 'route' in more detail.  In the meantime  if you get impatient there is a growing number of pictures on Flickr.

 

Regards

 

Ray

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Richard Mawer

Hi Ray. I agree with Mikkel - as you know. By the way, where did you get the lead from? Finding it hard to find lead these days. Great article by the way. Rich.

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Silver Sidelines

Finding it hard to find lead these days.

Hello Rich, 2mm sheet lead should be available from builders merchants - ours just happened to come off our roof when we slated over the opening for the old oil fired boiler.  Lead shot is available on the Internet.  I have bought two lots in the recent past - both from 'ships chandlers' type sites who supply it for divers to ballast their wet suites.  It is not expensive - even by post.  If I can find an old order I will send you a PM with the details.

 

Regards

 

Ray

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Sasquatch
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My WD wouldn't hardly run, something to do with the axles shorting across the pickups! A small length of insulation tape was the cure, now it'll pull 20 ply loaded coal wagons up the incline on Goathland!!

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Silver Sidelines

Eileen's sell lead

Thanks Paul, I bought 2mm size lead from SimplyScuba - after postage it is considerably cheaper than Eileen's 'Liquid Lead' - which is a different product.  The 2mm lead shot is not dusty and should not have the health issues associated with the very fine material in Liquid Lead.  I have not used Liquid Lead but from what I have read I would have reservations about being able to empty excess Liquid Lead from tight spaces like the smoke box void on the Bachmann WD.  In the past I have also bought 2mm lead shot from Goldstarleisure but I cannot find it on their current web site.

 

Regarts

 

Ray

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Horsetan

Lead flashing is available from sources such as Wickes, and also via eBay. The cost is quite high, admittedly, but you'll most likely have enough to last a lifetime.

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Silver Sidelines

My WD wouldn't hardly run, something to do with the axles shorting across the pickups! A small length of insulation tape was the cure, now it'll pull 20 ply loaded coal wagons up the incline on Goathland!!

Oh that's shame - not something that I have ever come across.  Perhaps one of the wipers had been caught in the wheel spokes and distorted the whole issue?

 

Ray

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Silver Sidelines

If you want weight you should try spent uranium.   The Department leader for my first job after Univerisity at a Scottish Research Institute had a block on his desk as a paper weight.  I think he is still alive and well into his nineties.

 

Regards

 

Ray

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Alan Higgi

I would think that might be a bit difficult to obtain! Also I don't think I could cut or shape it. This is what I have found with the Tungsten. I mean Great for a standard wagon weight but a fixed size for Locos? Maybe in a bunker or smokebox mixed with lead shot? Early days.
In any event 330-350g is plenty for my needs.

Keep 'em coming Ray. Bouncing off each other is great but don't throw any spent uranium at me.  I think we are staying with lead but if you recall the piece in the top of the Jubilee fire box weighed 11. 4g

 we would have had

18.95 g/cc Uranium,11.35 g/cc Lead, 19.32 g/cc Gold, 19.35 g/cc Tungsten,19.84 g/cc Plutonium, 21.45 g/cc Platinum, 22.4 g/cc Iridium, 22.6 g/cc Osmium !

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Silver Sidelines

Now if it 'glowed in the dark' you might be able to use a photon detector rather than a magnetic loop / reed switch for train detection in the hidden sidings?

 

Ray

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sequen_ra

I own two WD. One runs fine, the other not. However, my major concern is about the tenders. Both derail miserably at points. And I only have Peco slimline code 75 long points, with just two exceptions. The wagon load concern does not affect me as my layout only accepts four coach length trains, or their equivalent in wagons. But the derailings of these loco's tenders drive me mad. Help!

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sequen_ra

Hi Ray

Thanks for your comprehensive information. I must check this site more often. I'm presently weathering a J39 which has a tender who occasionally derails too. You can follow that through Flickr. My WD tender is permanently attached to the loco as my friend Marcos added pick ups to tender wheels, so an electric connection was mandatory. That may be the cause too. As far as I noted, the wheel sets have reasonable side-play. I must check the other issues you pointed. 

Thanks!

Jos

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sequen_ra

About comparisons and haulage power, a friend an I once coupled back to back a WD with a Bachmann Spectrum american 2-8-0, and the later was the evident winner. Bachmann could improve copying themselves!

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