Bachmann Spectrum made a very

Bachmann Spectrum made a very nice one in several versions, but it is no longer in production and seems to be so popular that it's hard to find used.

Life Like

Life like had one too back in the 90's. Ok runner even at slow speeds. Keep looking they are out there somewhere. Also I think MDC had one in it's kit manufacturing days.

Jack

Cyclic production

Locomotives seem to be done in cycles.  Eventually the 4-6-0 will come up again.  Just be ready to buy.

Otherwise, train shows are probably your best bet.

Good luck

Paul

Spectrum did two

The Bachmann model came in two versions, small and large driver, and they both show up on ebay frequently.  I have several, and they are excellent models.  The only complaint is that they are not the best pullers.

If you're into cast metal kits, MDC, Varney/Tyco, and (I think) Bowser did ten wheelers as well.

The Model Power 4-6-0 was really just their 2-8-0 with the lead driver removed and a different lead truck, and the result was kind of an odd-ball in my opinion.  They're not bad, but not great either.  I have one of the 2-8-0s, and once I repower the tender, I expect it to be a decent running engine.

If do not mind a bashing/detailing project

Brazilian manufacturer frateschi currently offers ten-whellers, but only in PRR, DRG&W, ATSF and Brazilian railroads colors. It is supposed to be based on a baldwin prototype. However the couplers and wheels are NEM (european) standard and is a tender-drive model...

http://www.frateschi.com.br/site/index_eng.php?page=loco-tenwheeler_eng

May or may not be worth of your time...

Regards,

Daniel Kramer

Thanks

I appreciate all the thoughts.  Right now, bashing isn't on my agenda--have a few too many projects on hand.  I hadn't heard of the Brazilian company, and might consider it at some point.  Thankfully, the 4-6-0 is not an urgent need...

Varney made an O scale ten wheeler that is very common

Maybe they also made it in HO scale? .DaveB

4-6-0

No doubt the Bachmann will come back again.

You can ask at the Bachmann forums. They have a couple reps there.

There is an HO forum also.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php

I have both versions. They look quite nice.

They have come DCC ready with eight pin socket and DC adapter. DCC on board, non sound and low end Lenz decoder. DCC and sound with SoundTraxx decoder. The SoundTraxx is not a full Tsunami decoder either.

Bachmann appears to be expanding their Sound Value line so they might start offering DCC ready and DCC with sound.

I have seen mentions of a 2-8-2,DCC ready with eight pin plug and DCC with sound. I notice they do not say Tsunami, only, Sound value SoundTraxx steam sound package. All Bachmann have stripped down SoundTraxx decoders.

I am suspecting they will come out with the 4-6-0 again.

They advertise a "low Boiler" but that is only because of the smaller drivers. The boiler is still the same distance from the frame as the larger driver version.

Rich

Frateschi=Model Power

While I cannot speak to the overall quality, the Frateschi 4-6-0 is externally identical to the old Model Power model.  If they are not made from the same molds, I would be very surprised.  Maybe it's just because of the import costs, but I also generally find them to be rather overpriced.  For the cost, I would expect something of at least Spectrum quality, but they are not even in the same ballpark.

Also, I forgot about the old Tyco/Mantua old-time 4-6-0.  They show up on ebay frequently,and are in the $20 price range often, sometimes lower.  They are as good as any other cast metal, open framed motor model, and can be made into excellent models with a little tuning.

In other words, there are a number of options.  It would be helpful to have a better of what sort of 4-6-0 you are looking for, as there were quite a few different sized and styles out there.

Pictures

The Varney/Bowser Casey Jones:

AHM Casey Jones:

Model Power:

Tyco:

Roundhouse/MDC (also available in PRR version with Belpaire firebox):

Bachmann Spectrum, Low Boiler:

Bachmann Spectrum, High Boiler:

Thanks!

This image collection should help me know what to look into when I see it floating around for sale.  I'll be wanting a ten-wheeler that can haul both freight and passengers in the 1920's, preferably B&M or Maine Central.  So, now it's just a case of keeping my eyes open.

...

You'll want the Spectrum model, out of that whole bunch...trust me here.

MP 4-6-0

While the MP-Frateschi 4-6-0 may look odd to some, its actually a very useful wheel arrangement for early (1870-1880) 4-6-0's.  Its a very similar driver arrangement to the P&R "gunboat" ten wheelers.  The boiler and cab would have to be replaced and the tender modified.

Agreeing with Benny... again?!?

If you're looking for something ready to run, then I completely agree.  They're by far the best bang for your buck, the best running, and the best detailed models on the list, and they would definitely make good light main line mixed use locomotives for your era.

Quick tip:  The simple way to tell whether you're looking at the high or low boiler version is to look at the tender.  The high boiler version has a larger tender with a sloping coal bunker and consequent angled row of rivets on the side, and raised coal boards.  The low driver version has a much smaller U-tank tender.  Other than that, they can be a little hard to tell apart because the only other major difference is the driver diameter, and that's fairly minor overall.

The question is....

Where is all the small steam in general?  There are very few non-brass offerings in the smaller sizes of any smaller wheel base configuration.  When you weed out the older technology with so-so running characteristics and detail, you are pretty much left with Spectrum and P2K (0-6-0).  We are lucky to have Spectrum.  I currently run eight on the roster and will undoubtedly have more in the future.

On the 4-6-0, I recently kit bashed a loco by pulling the boiler off of a Spectrum 4-6-0 and fitting a brass shell on the mechanism.  I was surprised when I laid the Spectrum boiler shell next to the 1970's vintage brass shell and found the spectrum details to match or exceed the brass....This speaks well of the details on the factory model.  The brass donor loco cost twice as much, was unpainted and needed serious re-working to run well, hence the kit bash. 

I do have a number of smaller brass locos running but would ditch some of them in a heartbeat if there was more variety in the small steam category that came close to matching the prototypes I run.

Guy

I Agree!

I too have been lamenting the lack of a decent 4-6-0. This was a very popular wheel arrangement, especially in the 1910-1920's, Canadian Pacific had literally over a thousand of them at one time. This smaller size of locomotive is particularly suitable for most Model Railroads where we have short trains and sharp curves, a lot more suitable than a Big Boy and there must be four different manufacturers making Big Boys!

I have one of the Bachmann models, its OK but not even close to anything the CPR ran. In particular most of the ten wheelers that I have seen pictures of have the drivers spaced unevenly, generally the last set of drivers is set back further than the first two sets. The Varney/Bowser model had this configuration but it is a pretty crude model by today's standards. That is a characteristic that would be hard to kit bash out of an existing mechanism.

I am considering modifying one of the Bachmann 2-6-0's into a 4-6-0 by changing the lead truck and modifying the front end. Given that these models are relatively cheap, it seems like it would be worth attempting. Just another thing for the project list...

Brent Ciccone

Calgary

Spectrum 4-6-0

I just asked at the Bachmann forums and no release date yet for this loco.

Rich

Make Our Own?

MRH has announced that they are producing an EBook that covers building a loco out of plastic instead of brass. If small decent running locos are really this hard to come by could really be worth a look.

Jack

Why so little smaller steam?

Simple - the "Wow!" factor is not as great. 

And frankly, the cost of producing a diecast/plastic 4-8-8-2 is only about 3-5% more per unit than producing a 4-6-0. 

But if it is was your money which one would do you think will sell faster? 

Sizzle sells - that's why there have been so many runs of brass Big Boys, Challengers, and Cab Forwards and nowhere near as many 4-6-0s, 4-4-0s, 2-6-0s and the like. 

I have several redetailed Bachmann 2-8-0s

they have been modified to look really, really close to Central Vermont N-5-a consols. In fact, on the layout it's almost impossible to tell the difference between the painted brass models and the Bachmann engines - the biggest giveaway are the cab and the tender. They look okay, but they're just not the right proportions. 

I have a way to fix that problem -a Phase II CV 2-8-0 conversion?  Perhaps that should be the subject of a future Getting Real column? 

Is bigger really better?

I guess if you're shopping for a $1,000 shelf queen, that makes sense.  Buy the most impressive model you can!

On the other hand, if you plan on actually using your model to pull a train, the opposite would seem to be true.  Smaller models would be more likely to fit on most layouts, and a lot of the larger, more famous engines have already been done (usually several times over, in brass and plastic), so a model of e relatively unknown, small prototype ought to sell at least as well if not better.

I suspect there is something else going on here as well.  It's easy to put a big powerful motor into a big powerful locomotive.  It's not so easy to make a little 4-4-0 which runs well and looks good.  Larger locomotives have more wheels to pick up power, more room for plenty of weight, decoders, speakers, etc..  From a purely practical point of view, I would much rather build a model of a large locomotive than I would of a small one - it's just easier.

If anybody could it, and do

If anybody could it, and do it good, it would be you, Marty.

 Barry

Bigger equals better?

Then how comes blackstone makes HOn3 consolidations that are tiny, run great and have an awesome sound? I have a K-27 that is smaller than my HO 0-8-0, runs better and has sound, meanwhile the 0-8-0 has a motor and light only decoder since nothing else would fit...

And narrow gauge also has a wow factor...

Daniel Kramer

I'm all in favor of smaller steam

My comments were based on my experience in the industry. Not saying it makes sense, or it's right, just explaining how it is.