Bachmann Mogul

[Madman]

Does anyone have any experience with one of these;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/380701544622?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648

 

[Neil Robinson]

Yes, seven years ago I purchased new one of the last examples of the first batch cheaply on "close out"
An attractive small loco that needed additional weight and an adjustment to the pony truck spring. On my example the pony truck was lifting the front drivers off the rail!

 

[trammayo]

They are a nice small loco, but as Neil says, they do need ballast adding otherwise they won't haul much stock. Tender plug leads can be a little brittle too (I could do with a wiring diagram to identify which colour wires go where.).

 

[Madman]

I read on Large Scale Central that a 5' minimum radius is required for these locos. Also the newer production models has addressed the lead truck issue. I just don't know about how the lead truck would run through sprung turnouts.
There's a few on Ebay, over here, for $150.00 plus $25.00 shipping. Seems like a reasonable price.

 

[trammayo]

Maybe that's whats help break the wires? Two foot radius only on my trailer layout. But it looks at home on that radius as it's such a tiny thing (2ft gauge?).

 

[Neil Robinson]

Maybe that's whats help break the wires?

I read somewhere, possibly on here, that a blob of hot melt glue where the wires exit the plug reduces the risk of the wires breaking.

 

[trammayo]

I read that too (and forgot) - thanks for jogging the memory

 

[vsmith]

I read on Large Scale Central that a 5' minimum radius is required for these locos.

Oy Vey Dan! 5' R ? really??? 10 FOOT diameter?????:-

I think your mixing your Moguls, this is the Indy, not the Spectrum

This puppy will EASILY do R1's and would probably run on my R0 pizza.
But there are guys over here that will also say categorically that it will only "look proper" on a 10 dia curves better yet 20' diameter and that if you dont have room you should knock down a corner of your house to make room for those curves even if that leaves you with nothing but a giant 20' diameter circle.

Sometimes I wonder about some of these guys

Mine worked well, I regret selling it, but I went thru a purging phase and sold it and my Bmann saddletanker. Never should have done that. Yes it need more weight, sound is not horrible but I never used it. Its really a 1/22.5 engine and works better with 1/24 figures. They are nice but do need a little extra work adding weight to make them really good engines.

 

[Shawn]

I have one and it runs great. Not sure if the one on ebay is the old version? The newer one has the metal gears and the front truck is better. It will handle the 4ft dia with no problems.
Here is a video of mine in the snow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myr4Vyi4upc

 

[Eaglecliff]

I'm thinking of selling mine. Not sure which version but probably earlier. It was an impulse buy because it looks nice and its small size fits in with what I do, but despite a modest amount of additional weight (or possibly because of it?!) it won't pull the skin off a rice pudding, won't pull anything up a 3 per cent gradient and, yes, the wires to the 2-pin plug have snapped. I think they go to the sound (if there is any) because the lights still work and the loco still runs. I paid £100 for it; now I wish I'd put the money towards another Aristo C-16 instead. But maybe later versions of the Mogul are better.

PS Just realised - you're looking at it!

 

[simon@mgr]

Judging by the description it is one of the new ones with a die cast frame

 

[spoz]

Questions come up about it regularly, there was a thread on its pros and cons about 3 or 4 months ago but I can't currently find that. As people have said, out of the box it is a bit light but adding weight does wonders. It'll never pull what an Annie pulls but if you accept that it's a good little loco. It will certainly go around R1s; happily forward and usually happily enough going backward although it's more sensitive to track cross level then. As always, though, it looks better on wider curves.

I've had mine for some years, and converted it to battery r/c about twelve months ago, discussion of that is here: http://www.gscalecentral.net/Bachmann-Indy-260-conversion-to-battery-RC-m237169 . That was bit fiddly but not all that hard and adding the batteries and some lead gave it fairly good performance. I've never had significant issues with the pony truck; like all leading wheels there are occasions when it will come off the rails (unseen stick on rails or wattle pollen in point blades etc) but no more than others. Mine's one of the new(er) ones, the current production anyway as B'mann are still selling them.

Overall, if I was allowed to be in the market for a new loco I would seriously think about getting another, for the price they're hard to beat although I do think overall the 2-4-2T is slightly ahead of it. Certainly, if somebody in the family decided that one would make a great gift I would be delighted.

Steve

 

[Madman]

I hear the issue coming up of "Cross Level" track. Are the drivers ridged ? I had to do some elongating, up and down, of the driver bearing pockets on my Bachmann Thomas to get him to like my slightly, uneven in places, track. The price is certainly good, and I am leaning toward going for one.

 

[trammayo]

Well I managed to repair the wiring/plugs (thanks to Neil Robinson forwarding a copy of the wiring diagram) which, although not too hard, really required nimbler fingers than mine. Everything working - apart from the rear light because a wire has dropped off!

Anybody know how to get inside one of these lamps?

Anyway, whilst testing. I took the opportunity to pose it alonside a Big Hauler ;-

Well, no way to post pics on this thread - will post in my Ox Mountain Railway (G Scale Pictures) thread.

 

[djacobsen]

Mine worked well, I regret selling it, but I went thru a purging phase and sold it and my Bmann saddletanker. Never should have done that. Yes it need more weight, sound is not horrible but I never used it. Its really a 1/22.5 engine and works better with 1/24 figures. They are nice but do need a little extra work adding weight to make them really good engines.

I was the lucky sod to acquire Vics' B-mann Indy Mogul, as well as a few other of his locomotives that I treasure.
Works quite well on my R1 curves & switches. Use it for my "Cow Town" train locomotive, hauling 1:24
HLW stock cars & a Delton Drovers' Caboose.
Dave

 

[Madman]

I hadn't realized that Bachmann made an earlier version of the Mogul. It is totally a different version, and one of their Spectrum grade models. Personally, I favor the newer less expensive version for it's looks. Not to mention it's much lower cost. I went ahead and ordered one in black unlettered off Evilbay for $150.00. Just too nice looking to pass it up.
I intend to convert it to battery power.

 

[spoz]

Yes, the "old time" 2-6-0 is a much bigger loco which derives I think from their earlier Atlantic. I believe it has the same sort of gear issues as the Connie

The drivers of the Indy are what I would call "semi rigid"; the front and rear wheels have a bit of vertical play but they are not individually sprung. The fixed wheel base is only 6 inches though, so it's not that much of a constraint.

Steve

 

[Tony Walsham]

The Spectrum 2-6-0 is derived from the Spectrum 4-4-0.
I haven't seen either model for some time.
They ran just fine but if others say they have gear issues it is entirely possible.
The small 2-6-0 pictured in the above posts is going to be a demo loco for me as soon as I can spring for one. They are sweet runners and have the same basic drive as the Annies.
My neighbour has one converted to an oil burner with RCS battery R/C. It is one of his go to locos.

 

[Tim Brien]

Dan,
I had one when first released around ten years ago. I seem to recall that it had a die cast frame back then.

Out of the box it would not pull the proverbial skin off the rice pudding. Mine I gutted the electrics (smoke as well) and added lead weight to the boiler plus up inside the domes. The thing was good for fifteen plus Bachmann 'Big Hauler waggons after that. I think that I also ditched the sound in the tender as well.

In a moment of idiocy I fitted a cab from a Bloody 'Ell' loco to it to give the atmosphere of a small plantation/amusement park type loco, although ideally the domes needed upsizing.

 

[Madman]

Dan,
I had one when first released around ten years ago. I seem to recall that it had a die cast frame back then.

Out of the box it would not pull the proverbial skin off the rice pudding. Mine I gutted the electrics (smoke as well) and added lead weight to the boiler plus up inside the domes. The thing was good for fifteen plus Bachmann 'Big Hauler waggons after that. I think that I also ditched the sound in the tender as well.

In a moment of idiocy I fitted a cab from a Bloody 'Ell' loco to it to give the atmosphere of a small plantation/amusement park type loco, although ideally the domes needed upsizing.

I know the feeling Tim. :wits::crying::thinking: