I've owned this Bachmann Spectrum high
boiler ten wheeler for almost 7 years. This model has the distinction
of being the first sound equipped steam locomotive I ever owned.
Equipped with a Tsunami medium steam decoder, it's sound system is
acceptable at best. The B-mann claims no particuler prototype for
this model other then being a representative of Baldwin Locomotive
Works designs of the early twentieth century. Its size and
proportions indeed reflect that era. The locomotive retains the
slide-valve cylinders of the era when it was supposedly built, but
has more-modern Walschaerts valve gear, a MASSIVE USRA tender,
electric lighting, and a steel cab which as stock suggests a
locomotive that was modernized in the 1920s or later, and may have run
into the 1950s.
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| The locomotive as she appeared under a previous rebuild. |
When I did my original backdating upon
purchasing the locomotive, the first thing I did was alter the
tender. I got rid of the USRA tank, and instead cut apart a Mantua
ten wheeler tank from their Sierra Railroad #3 model. The new tank
went on the original frame, and was further detailed. Over the years,
the locomotive lost all of the modern detailing, such as the cooling
coils for the air lines, the Walschaerts valve gear, and a box
headlamp found it's way atop the boiler.
She has carried three names over the
years. First named “Enterprise”, she later gained the name
“Vitani”, and finally “Scamp.”
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| Kipcha, looking spic and span. |
Mechanically, this locomotive has been
a very reliable performer. Never missing a beat, nor giving me any
real trouble. However, she is starting to get one in years, and a
small quirk has started to emerge where if the locomotive is left to
sit for an extended period of time, as she often does in my display
case, the decoder doesn't like to respond to commands properly upon
the first run. However, this quirk vanishes after a few rotations of
the drivers. As well as vanished completely if the locomotive is run
regularly. She has been slated for a new LokSound Version 5 decoder.
In the meantime, the locomotive was
starting to look rather shabby. So, looking for quick projects to do
while I sit at home hiding from the Big Bad Itus, I felt it was time
to pull her out of service and go through her with a fine toothed
comb. The locomotive underwent a full servicing that involved the
removal of the boiler and cab. The boiler may be removed by
unscrewing four screws, one between the cylinders and three at the
rear of the frame and under the cab. The two deck braces must also be
removed from the sides of the smokebox. The cab can be removed by
releasing two screws and loosening the upper ends of the rear
handrails. Use care to avoid damaging the piping and railings running
into the cab's front wall.
The motor and flywheel are enclosed in
a metal housing that fills a cavity in the boiler casting. A cogged
belt drives a worm shaft that runs horizontally below the motor, and
the worm drives a worm gear on the main (second) driver. All moving
parts where cleaned and greased. The old paint was stripped, and the
old detailing removed. A new wood MDC cab was fitted to a newly
detailed and painted backhead. Finally, a new coat of paint and new
paper decals were applied to the cab and tender. The box headlamp was scratch built over the end of the LED post.
As a last touch, she received a new
name to go with her new look. “Kipcha”, follows my railroad's
tradition of naming locomotives after characters from the fantasy
book series “The Sight”. A tradition that goes back to my Middle
School days.
Hopefully she will give me many more
years of pleasurable operation.
