Bachmann announcements!

[up1950s]

Geez this scenic car is too old and odd , but I guess I will get 2 at least . Maybe I can modify it a touch , maybe some weathering on those side steps . At least it screams scenic and not coach . Filler up with folks and much of the oddness is hidden . Its growing on me the more I look at it . Could make a great project car . See what others do to it .

[3rdrail]

According to The Pocket Guide to American Locomotives, by Walter Lucas, Simmons-Boardman, New York, 1953, the following roads had 44-tonners by then: CN, C&O, L&N, MKT, MP, NKP, PRR, Rutland, PGE, SP.

Before we hear about the lack of pulling power, this locomotive had 350 HP, less than many automobiles, so don't expect much out of it.

[Chris333]

You can bet what Mine will end up looking like:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/loco/erie26b.jpg
 

[Chris333]

http://www.thedieselshop.us/GE_44Ton.HTML
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GE_44-ton_switcher

[Mark5]

I hear it's gonna have a one pole motor ...

[Mark5]

According to The Pocket Guide to American Locomotives, by Walter Lucas, Simmons-Boardman, New York, 1953, the following roads had 44-tonners by then: CN, C&O, L&N, MKT, MP, NKP, PRR, Rutland, PGE, SP.

VGN had one, forget what year it was bought ...

EDIT: Answer 1941 (build date)

[Skip]

BTW my FJ&G had one and it is on order.

[Ryan87]

I hear it's gonna have a one pole motor ...

Hey I already made that joke!  ;D

I wonder how overscale this is gonna be, if they can't find a motor small enough (to be cost effective) for a Ten Wheeler?

oh and I Love Lamp

[Mark5]

I hear it's gonna have a one pole motor ...

Hey I already made that joke!  ;D

Serves me right for not reading the whole thread!

[wm3798]

WM had two for shunting things around Port Covington, but both were sold by the early '60's.  Not enough chutzpah.

(edit) - Correction... these were purchased to work a few remote lines in south Baltimore (Wagner's point in particular)  Cars were ferried across the harbor from Pt. Covington to get to Wagners Point and I believe Fairfield.

I'll be interested in getting one as a curiosity, but not until I see some reports come in, and probably then only after I see one in action.

Lee

[Bob Bufkin]

They would be great for switching around waterfronts (like Baltimore, New York, etc.) around tight curves and turnouts which your normal power couldn't negotiate.  Just about any industrial line or small to large industry could use one.  For those with small layouts, it's the perfect fit.

P.S.

It's a 1/2 pole motor.

Now is someone had the nads to do Baldwin roadswitchers I'd be in seventh heaven or at least a decent beer joint to have a few.

[Dave V]

and here's a shot of their open sided excursion cars. Keep in
mind that this is the HO version.
Jon

Why do I suddenly feel like taking off my jacket and shoes and putting on slippers and a cardigan sweater?

Won't you puh-leeeez be my neighbor?

Actually, looking at it some more...

Looks like the Fire Island Express.

[Walkercolt]

The Russian Decapods were skinny, small cabbed, and would be harder to find a cheap motor for than the 44 tonners, I would think, having seen both in HO. The 44 T looks like it's all motor and weight(frame)...easier to hide in a deisel. I bet 90% of Bachmann's motor problem on the Decapod is getting a small motor that turns slow. Not much room for compound gear reduction, and top speed for the "Russians" on the Frisco was 25 MPH or you'd leave kinked rail behind you. They never got the dynamic augment on the Russians right, with lots of shop work in Springfield, but they'd drag alot of cars up and down the hills in the Ozarks at 25MPH. BTW, the DCC decoder for the 44 tonner is about the diameter of a pencil eraser and not an 1/8" tall, and it doesn't have but 8 functions max, probably only 4, based on their HO and On30 decoders to date. It isn't the smallest decoder built-in either. The Digitrax guys showed me some foreign decoders from German N-scale engines, so tiny that the locomotive shell has metal in it to act as a heat sink.

[TiVoPrince]

Excellent
Hang a couple behind an Athearn 2-8-0 in 'bumblebee' paint on a loop of track, and its instant "Knott's Berry Farm"...

Can't believe that I would actually consider that as a winter shopping holiday display, but number 268 does hold a special place...

[bicknell]

Before we hear about the lack of pulling power, this locomotive had 350 HP, less than many automobiles, so don't expect much out of it.

As one of the more vocal complainers about pulling power in some models.....

6 40' boxes on level track, 2 up a 2% grade and I would call it a success.  I think you could probably get to 10 and maybe 4 in N scale with tinkering.  Less than 4 on the level would be a disappointment.

On the level I'm going to guess that is about half of what they could have done in real life, but also more likely the level they were likely to be used to move around.  On the grade, I have no idea how well the prototype did....