Help and advice re bachmann Two truck Shay

[dumpy]

I am charged with disposing of the G scale assets of a deceased neighbour. For this reason I cannot just give it away. His railway was battery powered and remote controlled. I know nothing about either being a LGB MTS person. All the other engines, battery packs and remote have gone but am left with this Bachmann Spectrum Two Truck Shay. The engine runs and has sound I am told. The manual says it also has a smoke generator. I presume there is no way I can test it on my track? I also need to put it up for sale. The only identical used version I have seen on sale is in the US at $500. Is this realistic?
Any help, advice, suggestions would be gratefully received.
A photo is attached and shows the connector to a bettery pack/remote control.

 

[MRail]

In a similar position myself.

Mossala Hill, late of this forum, had a three truck version, which he'd converted to battery with sound card.
He'd bought it via a well-known auction site.

His widow was not looking for "top dollar" and wanted to give our local group a good discount.
We sold it for £200 with a pair of log wagons. Widow thought "that was about what he paid for it".

Carnforth Models has one listed at £455.
http://www.carnforthmodels.co.uk/page21.htm

 

[stevelewis]

The most recent Shay I purchased was an as new S/H example purchased from Mike of Lazy Grange fame,

I was Happy to pay around £400 for it which included SAME day delivery personally from Bolton to North Wales on a snowy winters day!!

This was a 'Normal' loco track powered decoder & sound fitted.

I am not sure what effect battery power & remote control has on Prices, BUT I believe that a buyer could convert it back to track power in nescessary,

 

[Neil Robinson]

I strongly recommend having the loco closely examined by a reputable individual with some knowledge of these locos.

Bachmann found it necessary to completely re engineer the power bogies as the originals literally cracked up over time regardless of use or lack of.

Replacement trucks are currently available from Bachmann Europe at a RRP of £238.00 per pair This excludes P&P and any fitting charges if you don't do it yourself

The last example I examined had been sold by a trader in good faith as a little if never used ex shelf queen. The customer had returned it as it didn't run well. After only a couple of minutes pointing out several of the problems the trader decided his best option was to give the customer a full refund and offer the loco for sale at a much reduced price as a non-runner!

Despite this, in my opinion they can be a very fine model. If you're lucky your example will be a later version with the redesigned bogies or an old one that has had the original bogies replaced.

 

[spoz]

BUT I believe that a buyer could convert it back to track power in nescessary,

I wouldn't presume that is so; a lot of us remove the pickup system as a part of the conversion process as it adds drag, and wiring complexity, for no benefit. In such cases converting back would require reinstallation of the pickups, if available (and mine are in the scrap copper bin) and the associated wiring. Even if the pick ups have not been completely removed they will have been isolated from the track, and that isolation will have to be reversed.

Steve

 

[PhilP]

This is all conjecture, unfortunately..

The OP *really* needs to let someone with (at least) a little knowledge have a look at it..

If sold 'in the dark' they will probably get less for it than a dealer would offer. With the right information in the right-up, whether on a Forum like this, or EvilBay, then a much better return should be available.


Having said that.. My two-penneth would be to look if the coal-load is removable, and at the underneath of the tender.. See if you see any electronics, or signs of a speaker. - Which would suggest the sound card (at least) is in the engine.
It may just have used a trailing-car for the batteries, or the RX etc. may have been in there too. - Can you quiz any of the other purchasers? I tmay give an indication as to how the owner tended to operate.