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B'mann HO K4 - What do I do with it? Locos and rolling stock
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Prolific poster 3,069 posts DKRickman Prolific poster 3,069 posts
DKRickman

At a train show yesterday, I purchased a Bachmann PRR K4 Pacific for the princely sum of $20.  I don't really need a K4, and I seriously doubt that one ever ran on the Danville & Western, or even that it could have made it if they tried.  However, the price was just too good to pass up, so I bought it.  Now I'm asking for some advice on what to do with it.

First of all, I suspect that this is from the early run (late '80s?  Early '90s?), and the tender is not connected electrically in any way.  The locomotive is completely self-contained electrically and mechanically - no DCC here!  I'm not opposed to completely tearing the engine down and cleaning/repairing anything that needs it, but I'd like a little advice from people who have already dealt with these models.  Are there any potential trouble spots?  Anything I should watch out for, or make sure to repair or improve?

Once the engine is running well, I have a second question.  What do I do with it?  Three possibilities have occurred to me so far:

  1. Sell the model as-is.  I'm pretty sure that it would bring more than $20, so I could recoup my investment easily enough.
  2. Add DCC, possibly wipers on the tender, and sell it.  Given the trend toward RTR models these days, having DCC on-board might be a good selling point.  On the other hand, I doubt that I'm likely to add enough value to cover the additional cost and time.
  3. Keep it, and convert it to On30 or 55n3.  It would make a pretty little narrow gauge Pacific or Ten Wheeler, with a completely scratchbuilt superstructure, boiler, etc.  It's something that I want to do, but I'm not sure I really want to encourage myself to diversify even further than I already have.  I need to concentrate on a single scale, gauge, and prototype, not add more to the list!

So what would you do in my shoes?

Ken Rickman

Danville & Western HO modeler and web historian

http://southern-railway.railfan.net/dw/
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Nelsonb111563 Moderator 2,265 posts
Nelsonb111563

Turn it into profit!

Sell it for a profit and use the proceeds to fund your hobby with things you need or want.  I do this all the time as I go specifically to swap meets and look for e-bay fodder as I call it.  Sounds like you got some ebay fodder as well!

Nelson Beaudry,  Principle/CEO

Kennebec, Penobscot and Northern RR Co.
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Selector Regular poster 427 posts
Selector

My advice, since I don't know

My advice, since I don't know you, is for you to think of a list of items you wish to purchase, assign each of them a priority in terms of both importance and urgency (they are different concepts), and then act as seems prudent with your newly gotten dollars.

-Crandell
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lestuder3 New member 24 posts
lestuder3

Maybe.....

You could also use it as a static display in a city park on your layout or as a load on a heavy flatcar perhaps going to a scrap yard or leaving from a roundhouse or engine facility.

Lyle E Studer III

CEO Michigan Northern Railroad
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IrishRover Prolific poster 1,660 posts
IrishRover

Heritage train

You could collect a mish-mash of heavyweight coaches and run a tourist train, or have it at a shop near the tracks, being restored...
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DKRickman Prolific poster 3,069 posts
DKRickman

Too many irons in the fire...

It's kind of hard to justify a PRR K4 as a park display in Virginia in 1940, and equally hard to explain it as a tourist excursion!

I think I ought to see the engine.  As much as I'd enjoy kitbashing something out of it, I really want to get started on a D&W layout, and I need to get rid of non-D&W projects.  I told myself when I tore down the old layout that I'd try to focus on finishing the projects I had already started - so now I have more started and no more finished!

Maybe taking a little time to test & clean the engine will et me motivated to do some other modeling as well..

Ken Rickman

Danville & Western HO modeler and web historian

http://southern-railway.railfan.net/dw/
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Bernd MRH Author 5,547 posts
Bernd

Pieces Parts

Well, 20 bucks of parts. Motor, wheels, side rods, tender trucks. Who knows what else. Use the parts for the next D&W engine that you are going to kitbash.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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trainman6446 Frequent poster 667 posts
trainman6446

You could have it parked on

You could have it parked on an interchange track "waiting for the signal".

Tim S. in Iowa
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JRG1951 Frequent poster 786 posts
JRG1951

PCM

Ken,

What you are describing is a form  of Possessive-Compulsive Myopia. A closely related form of  this disorder is found in many women. They will go into a shoe store to shop. They will find shoes with a design that does not go with any of their current outfits, but the shoes are such a bargain the will buy them anyway.  This type is known as Shoe Syndrome PCM. A troubling aspect of this disorder is the subject's inability to to part with the shoes, so many sufferers collect an amazing number of shoes.

A similar malady can be found in model railroaders. The subject will buy a locomotive that does not fit correctly on his pike. His justification is the same as the shoe lady, It was just such a bargain. If this behavior is not controlled, soon all the modeler's resources, effort, and room will be used up by this obsession. This form is called Locomotive Era Syndrome PCM. If you have more locomotives then freight cars, you are probably under the influence of this affliction.

To overcome this syndrome one must make a list of the required locomotives needed to complete the roster for one's personal layout. He must then persevere to only buy locomotives on the list. It is also a wise practice to avoid Hobby Shops, Train Shows, and eBay if possible.

Regards, John ******************************

I think I am, therefore, I am. I think.  <>   George Carlin

BBA_LOGO.gif 
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Larry of Z'ville Frequent poster 984 posts
Larry of Z'ville

Do as little as possible

It needs to be made to run well. But adding DCC will cut the market by more than half. I find that most people who want DCC will want to do it themselves. I find that you will make more income from a well running DC model than by adding DCC. It will also sell faster. Good luck with it, Larry

So many trains, so little time,

Larry

check out my MRH blog: https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/42408

 or my web site at http://www.llxlocomotives.com
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