Moose has been wanting to obtain a reliable 2015 or newer Bachmann 0-6-0 for some time now. Moose looking online and see that hobby stores are all still using stock photos of older versions of this locomotive and offer little or no information on the models. Bachmann model numbers never change, even it the model evolves drastically over time... Moose no sure if Moose will get the newest 2015 era model, and Moose's experience in asking questions of online shops is they usually don't respond to emails with silly questions like Moose's... Question: Do you think it's a safe bet that the bigger stores like the ones listed below would only have the latest 2015-era stock? some train store, trainworld, hobbylinc Told you it was a silly question.
If it helps, the lesser quality old gen Bachmann USRA 0-6-0 with Slope Tender was Item 4806 (PRR) and 4807 (Santa Fe). Bachmann's better new gen 0-6-0s are in the 505xx series. Keep in mind that even the new gen models won't win a beauty contest. For me at least, I wouldn't order anything until I was certain as to what would be shipped.
I was in the local Hobby Lobby just the other day and they had a Bachmann Yard Boss N scale with a 0-6-0. I would think that it would have the newer locomotive in it. What I’m wondering is if the online shops would be running these sets at good after Christmas clearance prices? I have seen some of the older Bachmann locomotives languish for years on hobby shop shelves so I understand your hesitation. Maybe you can find someone with a good return policy that would be worth taking the risk with. Hope this works out for you. I wish more manufacturers would focus on the smaller steam locomotives and switchers. Even people in HO scale are longing for these types of engines. Ralph
@Martin Station Thank you for the reply. Moose has been having a very stress last few months. Was hoping to get this little locomotive as a pick-Moose-up sort of thing ... Unfortunately, trying to get the 2015 version of it is adding more stress...
@Hardcoaler Thank you for the information. Moose hopes you're right. Weird thing is, Bachmann's website has the parts diagram for the 50551, which appears to show the older version with the motor that protrudes out the back of the cab with its clear plastic insulator. Things like that are why Moose nervous about ordering this thing...
Moose could always go to the BLI site, check out the refurbished loco's, https://www.broadway-limited.com/69...F3423AsAppearsTodayParagon4Sound/DC/DC-2.aspx, and maybe find a great deal on something.......
@badlandnp Thank you for the suggestion. Moose is looking for the 2015 version of the Bachmann 0-6-0. Hoping to get for below $70. Been wanting to get a reliable version of this locomotive to convert to DCC & modify cosmetically ever since Moose first saw photos of one that Tony Hines @skipgear had done years ago. https://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/0-6-0-makeover-done-for-now.43757/
You must be careful of directly mentioning stores as this site does have a policy on it. Original Poster did leave out one well known East Coast train store that works both on-line and brick and mortar. The prices also are pretty good. If this particular store has it, likely it is the newer version. While B-mann has updated several things on this locomotive, it never did update the tender. The forward truck on the tender is the only one that is live. It is designed in such a way as to put a tremendous amount of drag on the locomotive. What you do is swap out the original equipment tender for a Bachmann SPECTRUM tender. That tender is all wheels live and has needlepoint axle pickup. The swap is not difficult. The major feature of the swap is that you must invert the drawbar on the tender. There are several tutorials out here on how to do that. The difference in performance is truly amazing. Why Bachpersonn never switched the tender shall remain one of the minor mysteries of N scale model railroading.
Spookshow covers the inverting the tender drawbar in his review to fit a new al wheel pickup one instead of the single truck one
@brokemoto Thank you for the information. And apologies for the faux-pas regarding the mentioning of non-advertiser stores. Oddly, spell-check "auto-corrected" one of the stores as "some train store". Dag'gum'it! Moose didn't pick up on the slope back tender used on the current 0-6-0 model still being the old version (pun intended). Looks like Moose may have to look into the 2-6-2 with the modern tender, although it's a longer wheelbase than Moose wanted...
Moose, I am not aware of either the 0-6-0 or the 2-6-2 having the Spectrum tender. Both of these models have the single truck pickup… so if you want all-wheel tender pickup, you’ll need to find a Spectrum tender a la carte… and they are increasingly difficult to find, unfortunately. As far as being sure you’re getting the latest version, one suggestion would be to purchase one that was never issued in a road name except for this latest version (e.g. B&O, CNJ, BLW). Otherwise, I have had success in the past with emailing a retailer to ask what version I’d get if I ordered (different model in my example… but the retailer responded promptly!) So don’t dismiss this as an option. Hope this helps! Jim
@Jim67 Thank you for the information, and might Moose say: "Doh!" Yeah, Moose re-read what Mark aka Spookshow has on his website regarding the 0-6-0 & 2-6-2 tenders. Poop... Looking at road names not previously issued? Okay, that's a good thing to know. Moose will look at just the ones that you mentioned. Where does one even find Spectrum tenders for sale anymore? Moose may have a wait with the few retailers Moose was able to email a few days ago. Well, technically, Moose emailed them last year, like a long time ago... It does help Jim. Thank you!
Moose did something ... Thank you all for contributing to the delinquency of a moose -- especially Jim & Mr. H. Coaler ... Photos when it arrives...
Moose has three of them already. At least one is waiting for a sound conversion... Sooo many projects...
I take it you didn't read Tony's post thoroughly Mr MOOSE!!!! He starts with a 2-6-2 prairie and removes the front and rear trucks, that also gives him the medium sized tender. The 0-6-0 and 2-6-2 are the same mechanically. The 0-6-0 comes with the slope back tender.
Moose wants the short wheelbase of the slope back tender. When you see what Moose does with the tender and locomotive "some day", then you'll understand...
