Viability of shortening the coal bunker of a Bachmann Hudson?

[BraselC5048]

I'm considering adopting Bachmann's NYC Hudson as larger passenger power on my freelance route, but the coal bunker would need to be shortened for something suitable for a railroad that doesn't use water scoops and track pans. Is that practical or viable, or do tender electronics fill the space at the rear of the coal bunker? Is swapping out the tender for something by the likes of Broadway Limited a viable option, (Or swapping and adding sound to an old Bachmann USRA long tender?), or is the wiring diagram simply too different?

Thanks.

[PiperguyUMD]

I'm considering adopting Bachmann's NYC Hudson as larger passenger power on my freelance route, but the coal bunker would need to be shortened for something suitable for a railroad that doesn't use water scoops and track pans. Is that practical or viable, or do tender electronics fill the space at the rear of the coal bunker? Is swapping out the tender for something by the likes of Broadway Limited a viable option, (Or swapping and adding sound to an old Bachmann USRA long tender?), or is the wiring diagram simply too different?

Thanks.

If you’re looking to shorten the whole tender, the frame is pretty beefy. Not to say it couldn’t be done, but if it were me, I’d look for other options. I’m using the Hudson tender frames as the basis for some Western Maryland tenders. If you find yourself with a surplus of Hudson tenders, I’m happy to help fund the project 😃

[BraselC5048]

Let me rephrase - is there anything inside the tender (mostly meaning electronics) that would prevent removing the portion of the tender above the blue line? Metal could potentially be removed, but electronics would make it impossible. (Freelanced route that doesn't have undersized Hudson River tunnels either, trying to hide much of the NYC look - seems to need something with more horsepower then a USRA heavy pacific, and this is the only model around.) (Honestly looking to make it look more like a USRA long tender; any clue if the Hudson's electronics could be directly placed inside one of Bachmann's old USRA long tenders and the whole thing work?)



(Also worried about its pulling power without traction tires; 7 heavyweights, 1.5-1.75 percent grade and perhaps a 16" curve? (Just a 90 degree curve.) But then Bachmann's USRA 2-10-2 and heavy mountain also have to pull a dozen freight cars, and they're the reason I can't use a helix.)

[PiperguyUMD]

I could be wrong - but it appears that all of Bachmann's recent have the same interface. For my project, I started with an econami equipped 2-8-0 and the Hudson tender frame, which came with the PC board, but no decoder. The decoder from the 2-8-0 plugged directly into the Hudson tender frame, and the harness from the 2-8-0, plugged directly into the PC board - both without any modifications! So there's a good chance that if you went the USRA long tender route, the electronics would probably work with minimal effort.

As for the coal bunker, I have noticed that all of that stuff inside the tender is pretty tall. I am a little nervous about whether or not the water tank portion of my WM tender shell will have enough room.

Hope that helps!

[Jimbo]

Let me rephrase - is there anything inside the tender (mostly meaning electronics) that would prevent removing the portion of the tender above the blue line? Metal could potentially be removed, but electronics would make it impossible. (Freelanced route that doesn't have undersized Hudson River tunnels either, trying to hide much of the NYC look - seems to need something with more horsepower then a USRA heavy pacific, and this is the only model around.) (Honestly looking to make it look more like a USRA long tender; any clue if the Hudson's electronics could be directly placed inside one of Bachmann's old USRA long tenders and the whole thing work?)



(Also worried about its pulling power without traction tires; 7 heavyweights, 1.5-1.75 percent grade and perhaps a 16" curve? (Just a 90 degree curve.) But then Bachmann's USRA 2-10-2 and heavy mountain also have to pull a dozen freight cars, and they're the reason I can't use a helix.)

Just a note, if you WERE to cut the bunker out as your picture shows, the rivet line for the bunker would be wrong.  I think it would be pretty noticeable, too.

My 2 cents.

Jim

[BraselC5048]

Thanks! Now I only need to find a sound-equipped Bachmann with a USRA long tender.

[bbunge]

Thanks! Now I only need to find a sound-equipped Bachmann with a USRA long tender.

You might consider using the tender from their 2-8-4 and move the electronics from the Hudson (including speaker) to the Berk tender.  Pricy though:

https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=70_813_678

For a different "look" the B&O EM-1 tender is an option.  And finally the 2-10-2 page has what looks like a USRA chassis with trucks and shell.

As been noted, the electronics from the Hudson might fit in these, or might need some tweaking.  For the past several years, the Bachmann steamers have used the same drawbar, so that part of the swap might be plug and play.

Bob