The Kipcha

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. 

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.”

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.