Adding a working front coupler to Bachamann Anniversary (Annie) 4-6-0

beavercreek

beavercreek

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Well, in my striving to get three lcoos interspersed between about 12 to 15 stock cars, I need to replace the dummy front couplers with working Bachmann jobbies. I found the following site on the interweb and it does give a good idea but as it was based on replacing with a kadee coupler. http://4largescale.com/trains/P24.h...44/187c499e532b46a7ba53c743ba468860.jpg[/IMG]
 
If it were me I would shorten the pilot, pilot deck front pony and smoke-box to reduce the overhang. I did that on my Annie T-19 conversion. I eventually gave up with the working coupling as it looked clunky. None the less for the short time I used it it was better than standard, and the shorten front end made it look more Colorado-like.

Some stuff for you
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Howto. http://www.smegworld.org.uk/spaf/t19/t19-key.htm
 
Lovely conversion Wod. I may well try to do a bit of what you managed to do (like the detailing .....if I have the skills) but for the moment I just want to get a working coupler on the locos. The idea of doing a complete front end conversion like yours on three locos is a project that I feel may sit on my 'to do' list for some time....................
 
J2s said:
I did my three ages ago........ ask Tony if he still has them.
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Thanks Johnnie, I will. I know that he has passed on a couple of locos recently.
 
I know what you mean, when I was making my K-27 it took me a year to go back to it and make the valve gear for the other side after the first hit.
 
I have replaced both original front couplers on my two Bachmann 'Annies'.
It was a quick and simple job.
The original dummy was removed, slight removal of some of the pilot using s sharp craft knife,, then a replacement, working, Aristo-Craft was coupler installed. There is a little shimming needed to lower the new coupler to the correct height.
I used an Aristo-Craft coupler as that is the coupler fitted to all my stock, even Bachmann 1:22.5.
I like the look of an Annie running tender first: it was often done where no wye or turntable was provided on a branch.
 
Hi Ian
Well I have the three weathered and customised motorised stock cars, four more weathered and detailed and another 5 ready for conversion and weathering. The three Annies will need redecaling and weathering besides the couplers.
I bought one of the Annies from a member on the forum but it has a distinct 'sticking' point at each revolution when at slow speed so it is probably a 'quartering' problem so that will need attention.
I hope to have the lot finished by the late spring.

Thanks for the tip Alan. How much swing does your Aristo coupler have?
 
I used a Kadee 791 on the front of this 0-6-0 I'm cobbling together Mike. It fits flush to the front buffer beam (attached by screws or glued) and the Annie cowcatcher fits nicely beneath.

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Thanks for the tip Alan. How much swing does your Aristo coupler have?
I don't know off hand. But all my curves are 8ft. dia. (R3?), Aristo switches which are 10ft., and the locos negociate them fine with out any problems.
 
Well, thanks for the tips lads and the ideas for a full conversion Wod.
I had a hunt in my coupler box and found some metal Bachmann offset couplers. They are meant for 1:20.3 scale Shay and Climax but they look sort of okay and 'workman-like' on the front of the Annie. What I did was to cut off the 'tangs' and then replace the 'dummy' coupler with the offset jobby. It fits into the dummy coupler bay perfectly and the offset clears the cowcatcher on the pilot and is just about correct height for the normal bogie mounted Bachmann coupler.
It is not as good looking as using a kadee but as all of my stock cars and the other Annnies' tenders have bachmann couplers this made a very quick swap without having to alter the loco itself.
Only problem is that I have now run out of the offset and I will be needing a couple more to use on the Shay and Climax.

Here is a piccy of the coupler and the alterations that were to be done.

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Hi Tony
goog news indeed. Are they the metal ones? Just popping out, will be back in about 3 hours.....
 
Ingenious Mike!

I'm in the same boat and was just wondering whether to try adopting the drop-shank jobbie when I saw yours. Does it swing OK? A piccy would be wonderful, there must be thousands of other dummies out there.

Mike
 
Hi Mike
Yes it swings a good deal and clears the pilot cowcatcher as well. It is obviously not sprung (as I had cut of the 'tangs') but as I would manually couple up the Locos with the stock cars, or other Annies, I am not bothered about that.
The 1:20.3 scale offset coupler is a little bigger and deeper than the one found on the 1:22.5 scale stockcars (and other non fine scale Bachmann rollingstock) and it does ride a little higher so they match up okay with enough clearance for trackbed etc.
I will get photos later to post.
I will also put it under a 'stress' test to make sure that the two couplers work well together in the real life situation. If not I will just put non offset 1:20.3 couplers on certain stock cars and on the tenders and that will cure it...provided i remember which car is which!!
 
Tony said:
Yes They are alloy type Metal
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Great I will pm you. I may need some non-offset ones as well if this paired arrangement does not pass the stress test!
 
Hi Mike
Will take a look at my Annie later as i fitted a working coupler so that i could push the Snow Plow OY i think i used a spare Bachmann metal coupler from some 1:20.3 stock .
 
Richie said:
Hi Mike
Will take a look at my Annie later as i fitted a working coupler so that i could push the Snow Plow OY i think i used a spare Bachmann metal coupler from some 1:20.3 stock .
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Hi Richie
Depending on the height of the coupler on your plow I suspect that the coupler that you used will be the same as the ones that I have discovered to be a 'straight' swap for the dummy one on the Annie...the offset jobby.
 
Hi Mike
Have taken some pic's for you my Annie has a plastic Bachmann coupler thats the same height as the AMS body mount on my snow plow and the other Bachmann Big Hauler has been fitted with a Bachmann drop down metal one that couples to the tender of the Annie .
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