Large-Scale Diesel

No doubt, the Bachmann spokesman indicated it was from the Aristo tooling.

Why this loco? The video has him mention twice the high prices being paid on ebay for Dash 9's .... money to be made, more expensive diesel.

Unfortunately many people become enamoured with large diesels and don't have the layout to run them.
 
Greg Elmassian said:
No doubt, the Bachmann spokesman indicated it was from the Aristo tooling.

Why this loco? The video has him mention twice the high prices being paid on ebay for Dash 9's .... money to be made, more expensive diesel.

Unfortunately many people become enamoured with large diesels and don't have the layout to run them.
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The supposed popularity of the Dash-9 may be because it's a more modern loco - that sometimes pushes up sales, particularly when the bulk of the old Aristo catalogue lived in the past.
 
Was a lot of speculation on why people were buying Dash 9' SD-70, 2-8-8-2 Mallet... most people were just in awe of the size of the loco, and cannot tell you how many people could barely run the locos by themselves, without a train.

Mostly bought by newbies that had no idea that there was some restriction in curvature.

Been there done that here in the USA...
 
Greg Elmassian said:
Was a lot of speculation on why people were buying Dash 9' SD-70, 2-8-8-2 Mallet... most people were just in awe of the size of the loco, and cannot tell you how many people could barely run the locos by themselves, without a train.

Mostly bought by newbies that had no idea that there was some restriction in curvature.

Been there done that here in the USA...
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In G Scale, that would probably be the length of my garden
 
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ARIA31 said:
The dash 9 has articulated trucks ? or the middle axle can move freely on each truck ?
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Unless that is meant to be a statement, rather than a question, I think we will have to wait and see..?

Although Bachmann have the rights (and probably the moulds) for the Aristocraft range, I do not think the motors are still available? The power-trucks were articulated at one end (from memory) so two axles were fixed, and an end axle articulated. There was also a fair-bit of side -play on all the axles.

Some of the range really did not like LGB R3. - I don't see Bachmann addressing this issue, some how? :wondering::nerd:
 
The big Aristocraft locos had fixed 3 axle trucks with two motors in each truck. All three axles had a fair bit of side play.
It is the big USAT locos that have 2 x fixed axle and one flopping around.

It would not surprise me in the least to find out these Dash 9's were actually built some time ago and never got delivered to Aristocraft.
As long as they have the revised axles with accurate back to back measurements, they will be very good. If not, expect the wheelsets to be somewhat out of gauge.
 
Yes, as Tony says, although the Aristo gearboxes also could pivot around the longitudinal axis of the motor block. Not as good as springing, as lifting a wheel on one side, lowers the wheel of the same axle on the other side.

prime_mover_contacts_1.jpg


Just before going "poof" Aristo changed the axle/wheel interface, from a simple taper, to a "D" shaped cutout in the wheel, and the matching "D" shaped end on the axle.

A full dissection of the motor block can be found here, there are a number of very interesting things in the design:

Prime Mover Motor Blocks

Greg Elmassian web site on large scale trains and garden railroads, cigars, and computers
elmassian.com elmassian.com

Now, I would guess that they will use the same molds and designs for the motor blocks, but wondering if they will have the "D cut" wheels or not.

The new wheels and axles solved some issues, and introduced some new problems. I have a Dash 9 and a SD45 with the D cut wheels, and 3 E8 diesels with the "original" ones.

Greg
 
Thank you Greg.
Going through your detailed web pages led me to expect Bachmann redesigned the motor blocks !!

In their newsletter they say that the design is not finalized.
So if they got the Aristocraft tooling and rights, they might have kept the outside body which looks fine as is, but doing some modifications inside.

:speechless: :rolleyes:
 
The motor blocks and the loco itself will (at least did) handle 8 foot diameter curves, BUT the body mounted coupler has so much overhang that at this tight curve, it would derail most cars coupled to it, so 10 foot minimum diameter is about right from a practical perspective.

Some people have added an extension, or made other mods to allow the coupler to swing more.

Greg
 
At this moment I still have four SD45s - they run beautifully, but since I sold around sixty cars a few years back - via the late Steve Warrington - they have very little to haul around. Great shame, I think. My four BNSF Dash 9 went the same way, now I have just one left, with the full sound system remotely operated. It's very sad to see it trundling around the track at Ramsey Mereside with only ten-twelve cars...

They are, however, mobile works of art - the grilles on the vast Dash-9 wing radiators are of such great detail - multi-layered, it is hard to see how they could be made so cheaply.
 
Yes, I have often said the SD45 was the best loco they have ever made, I only have one, but it was of the last production, high nose Norfolk Southern, big enough for me!

It was also the favorite of George Schreyer, the DCC and LS pioneer who has that great website that has helped so many over the years.

A small correction for Aria31: Kader is the company that owns and has ALWAYS owned the tooling. Aristo NEVER owned the tooling, but had the tooling made at a lower cost by not owning it. This was known for many years.

Kader also bought Sanda Kan, the company that USA Trains, Aristo and many others had making their trains.

Kader also OWNS Bachmann completely.

So, it seems highly unlikely Kader would redesign any of the Aristo stuff, and the motor blocks have plenty of room inside for smaller motors, but again Aristo products always had standard sized Mabuchi motors.

The only thing I anticipate changing might be wiring, elimination of incandescent bulbs and maybe some of the intermediate circuit boards.

But time will tell.

Greg
 
The lights on my remaining Dash 9 actually CAN light up the track ahead, just like the real thing!! Amazing!!
 
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