Almost certainly a wrong number

Yes, definitely.  While the higher end models have done better about only being available in accurate roads, schemes, and numbers, there is no such prototypical accuracy.  There was a time when EVERY model came out in warbonnet paint, whether it was accurate or not.  General rule - NEVER assume that a model's paint is accurate, unless you've researched it yourself.

If it's the later all wheel drive, model, then definitely.  If it's the pancake motored, powered truck model, then maybe not.  Of course, if it means something to you, then it's worth upgrading to you regardless of what the model is.

That depends - does the wrong number bother you?  If so, then yes, it'll need to be renumbered.  If not, it won't affect the way the model runs to leave it alone.

Oh, Fudge

It's EXTREMELY common.  It's very much a problem with low-end train set quality models, but just about everybody seems to do it.  Some examples I can think of since I'm more familiar with their prototypes, though not anywhere close to all-inclusive:

• I had an AHM 2-8-2 which was decorated for UP but given the number of a 2-10-2 instead.
• The 1970s production Atlas GP38 was offerred in UP, but numbered as a GP38-2, since UP didn't have any GP38s.
• The first release of ExactRail's PS-2 4427 hoppers lettered for UP was painted and numbered
as a car from class CH-90-12, which instead was an FMC 4536, a completely different car with a different paint color and arrangement of lettering, this despite the fact UP had a large fleet of PS 4427s (which their new release accurately depicts).
• Bachmann and others letter FT diesels for UP, which never rostered FTs.
• Tyco used to use the same number on every one of its GP20 diesels, regardless of road name.
• Intermountain offers multiple road numbers on a Canadian cylindrical hopper decorated in a scheme which appeared on only one prototype car.
• Accurail has made some insulated boxcars painted and numbered as mechanical refrigerators.

Having paint schemes or road numbers on cars or locos that the prototype never had is as old as the hobby.  They're probably more common than ones that are actually correctly rendered.

As for your specific diesel, many of those older Bachmann mechanisms were of poor quality, and aren't worth the trouble to upgrade them (especially the ones with the split frame where each side is a different polarity, or the pancake motor versions which have no potential at all), but take them on a case by case basis.  If you feel like upgrading one, and it runs OK on straight DC, it may be a fun project.

Ken & Rob

Thanks to both of you for the great information!

I'll have to look deeper into the motoring of the model to see what it is exactly.  It does seem to run fairly well on DC right out of the box, so that may be encouraging.  I'm not emotionally attached to the model so if it is not a good candidate for upgrading I'll likely just leave it alone.

It's a little disappointing to discover the lax attitude towards following the prototype.  Trying to be more prototypical is new to me and both interesting and invigorating, oddly enough.  While not so long ago the incorrect numbering would not have been a big issue, it does bother me now. If this locomotive is going to get an upgrade, I think it will have to be re-numbered.

Since posting this I have run into a similar situation with a Bachmann CN 2-6-0 that I recently bought.  It's numbered as #6011, but in my research I am not seeing any CN steam that is numbered with more than three digits and #6011 shows up somewhere as a diesel.  I think I am learning that I need to research before buying if I want numbers and paint, etc. to be correct for the equipment in question.

Thanks again guys!

Regards,

Even the other manufacturer's aren't completely accurate either

I've recently worked on a U30C Atlas Master I picked up last year.  It was numbered as 712 for the D&H from Atlas.  D&H did have these models numbered 701 through 712 - but, only numbers 707 & 710 did not have the nose light.  I had to renumber 712 to 710.  Not a big deal, but Atlas did offer the U-boats with nose lights.  I guess it depends on how accurate you want to be.

-bill

Everybody does it

Athearn is just as guilty.  They are making the NS heritage loco fleet, with highly accurate SD70ACEs, but with AC4400s standing in for the ES40ACs, since they don't make an accurate EC40AC.  I'm not much of a diesel fan, but even I can spot the difference between an AC4400 and an ES40AC.

And speaking of road numbers, does Lionel still use the number as the model number?

Cars, too!

Classic example

The Overton cars are a classic example.  There is basically one one set of numbers and one paint scheme for teh Overton cars  That's because there was on one of those cars ever built for one railroad (the Sierra if i remember correctly).  If its lettered for any other railroad in any other paint scheme, its a foobie. Whether its in Daylight or not, if its lettered for the SP,at all its a foobie.

A lot depends on how accurate a modeler wants his models to be.  A model company made a model of an X29 boxcar.  They lettered several of the cars for other roads that had USRA steel boxcars, a very similar design.  The two differ in some rivet patterns, the construction of how the sides join the frame and the bracing under the floor.

So how picky are you as a modeler?  Does it have to have the same rivet patterns?  Does it have to have the correct underframe?  Does it have to be the "correct" color?  Does it have to be the correct number?  What happens if its a "correct" number and color but the actual car was a variation that was 3" taller than the typical USRA car.  Do you check to see if the number is correct in your era?  Maybe the number is correct for 1953 but not for 1958 when they renumbered that series.  What happens if the dimensional data is wrong/  Do you care that the data says its a 10000 lb. capy car and the model is lettered as 110000 lb capy?  If the built date is 6/1943 and you know the car was built in 9/1943? 

It just depends on what level of accuracy you are willing to live with.  I have found that moving to the 1900 era, my standards have relaxed a bit. I am much more of a close enough modeler now.

Not counting any rivets...

No, I am not counting rivets.  On the other hand, I don't think it would kill Bachmann to number the 2-6-0 I purchased with at least a number that could have been found on the prototype...but it is what it is.

I know I'll be more selective about what I buy in the future and it probably won't be anything Bachmann makes unless they get just a little more real.

If I didn't already have loco's from Atlas, Athearn and Intermountain that are at least correctly numbered for the model of loco, I might not be as bothered.  It's just cheesy IMO.

The very first

train that I got as a kid was an ALCO 430 by Tyco.  Done in the ICG scheme.  Only problem - ICG did not own any Alco 430 engines at all.  Ah well, I ended up giving it away last year to a 4 year old little boy to star this train layou, because it could not be converted to DCC anyway.  Purged all the rest of my ICG stuff at the same time to narrow my focus too.

Now for my other problem, and I'll take  opinions.  I have 4  U30B units for IC.  They all originally came as unit  # 5004, which was a valid IC unit.  Over time, I ended up renumbering them 5005-5008,only as I recently found out, IC only went from 5000-5005.

I basically have 2 choices, to renumber the three engines (1 powered and 2 dummy) downwards, or not.  What do you all think?

Easy...

It's your railroad.  If you are OK with it don't bother.  Otherwise, as Mike Holmes says, "make it right!"

Unless a die hard IC fan shows up to run your layout....

nobody is going to know.  Normal IC fans probably wouldn't notice unless you point it out.  So, how prototypical do you want to be?  Is the amount effort to renumber those worth it to you?

Den

Who knows why they do that.  While Bachmann seems to have been making "some" improvements in the past 5-6 years, they still produce substandard models by modestly critical standards.

I noticed they have a large herald GP40 out and it is numbered 3054, which was part of an group of 30 GP40's which were all delivered in small herald paint.  As far as I know, none of them were ever repainted.  Bachmann never did seem to get the large herald font quite right either.

I think you answered your own question (is it because they are low end model) - the answer is yes, they are a low end model and as such, you are going to find more errors in them than better quality models, like Atlas, Proto 2000, Athearn/Genesis.

Spectrum vs original Bachmann

Though it's not 100%, I've noticed that Bachmann tends to get road numbers (and overall paint schemes) correct more often on their higher-end equipment, notably the Spectrum line. Their older stuff is more likely to be wrong.

For what it's worth, CN did own a small fleet of straight GP40's. Road numbers were 4002-4017, later renumbered to 9302-9317 sometime in the early 1980's. It is relatively easy to renumber a pre-painted model, if this sort of inaccuracy bothers you.

GP40's

Thanks for the info Ted.  I did find the small fleet you refer to and have found some pictures as well, but not much more information.  I was curious if any of the units were still on CN's active roster but it's not crucial information.  It's questionable whether the model in question is worth renumbering, a decision I'll have to make myself of course.

Thanks all for your input and advice!

Regards,

Spectrum steam

Notable exceptions are the small steam locos - Specifically the 4-4-0, 4-6-0, and 2-8-0.  Since the first two are Ma&Pa prototypes, and the last is a modified IC prototype, all other road numbers and schemes are inaccurate.  In some cases, they have at least tried to find road numbers for similar engines, but do not make the mistake of assuming that because it carries that number it is a model of that prototype!

Roadnumber Accuracy

Having been involved in the research and artwork for rolling stock for a number of major manufacturers, I'd like to weigh in on the subject.

Photos are the first reference used for selection of roadnumbers.   Sometimes photos of all the cars or locomotives in a roster series can't be unearthed and some logic has to be applied to decide if a particular paint job was likely to have been applied where you don't have photos of a particular roadnumber.

Some manufacturers offer "stand-in" models.....a locomotive that isn't totally correct for a particular roadname, paint job but seem to be popular.   I don't like doing these but, since they sell and help pay the bills for my clients (including my consulting fees)  I hold my nose and do them anyway.   It helps fund some of the more esoteric, correct projects that are satisfying to work on.

Sometimes a customer will see a photo of a unit and think the model is incorrectly numbered, not knowing or forgetting that railroads do tend to renumber locomotives from time to time.  Some railroads will drive you crazy researching this.  

There is a difference between items intended for the mass trainset market and high end models....but of late the quality level of most entry level stuff has improved so much that isn't necessarily true anymore.   We still see made up colorful paint jobs on some cars and locomotives but not as often as in prior years.

Charlie Vlk

Railroad Model Resources