I have a couple of Bachmann Trams that have been modified into trailer cars, I originally did a much bigger piece on this in MAD days but that appears to be lost and as there appears to be some interest in what to do with older Bachmann Trams when there motor gives up the ghost……
First up is the Toast Rack, this has had the least amount of work to turn it into a trailer. The controllers were removed from each driving position for further use, one being used for a driving Van that would be in a pseudo Rack Train Consist. I have also done some work on the roof to allow destination indicators to be fitted. These reflect the former Ruschbahn where this set was used on a non visible Rack line appearing at the main Station during the schedule on a non-rack part of the journey. Underneath you can see how I fitted up lighting using sliding contacts wired to some 0 gauge Copper Clad sleeper strip. The diodes are to create a AC - DC power from DCC to the DC lamps.
Next is the Bogie Car, this was an enclosed Bachmann car that was hacked about some so was fitted to a shorty LGB USA Bogie Caboose chassis, if you look carefully at the side view you can see that the chassis has been lengthened to fit it so that the end balconies can be used. The body or old chassis as could be seen on the Toast Rack is an easy removal giving a simple basis for a revised Chassis arrangement. The second picture shows a USA Coach that uses the same chassis.
Underneath I have used LGB Ball Bearing wheels for the power pick up to light the car. The small box contains all the wiring and the same A—DC setup as the other car, the switch is in a more accessible place on this one.
This shows a close up of the destination indicator setup. They can be removed with the return destinations on the other side or swopped out for differing destinations, as these lived on the Ruschbahn for a few years I made destination boards for my own line as well for if they would ever return. Sadly as Andy died they returned home earlier than expected.
Both cars were sprayed up in LLB blue, they really should have had a two part livery but I faked out on that. Fortunately the windows on both cars were a simple removal to facilitate the spray job.
First up is the Toast Rack, this has had the least amount of work to turn it into a trailer. The controllers were removed from each driving position for further use, one being used for a driving Van that would be in a pseudo Rack Train Consist. I have also done some work on the roof to allow destination indicators to be fitted. These reflect the former Ruschbahn where this set was used on a non visible Rack line appearing at the main Station during the schedule on a non-rack part of the journey. Underneath you can see how I fitted up lighting using sliding contacts wired to some 0 gauge Copper Clad sleeper strip. The diodes are to create a AC - DC power from DCC to the DC lamps.
Next is the Bogie Car, this was an enclosed Bachmann car that was hacked about some so was fitted to a shorty LGB USA Bogie Caboose chassis, if you look carefully at the side view you can see that the chassis has been lengthened to fit it so that the end balconies can be used. The body or old chassis as could be seen on the Toast Rack is an easy removal giving a simple basis for a revised Chassis arrangement. The second picture shows a USA Coach that uses the same chassis.
Underneath I have used LGB Ball Bearing wheels for the power pick up to light the car. The small box contains all the wiring and the same A—DC setup as the other car, the switch is in a more accessible place on this one.
This shows a close up of the destination indicator setup. They can be removed with the return destinations on the other side or swopped out for differing destinations, as these lived on the Ruschbahn for a few years I made destination boards for my own line as well for if they would ever return. Sadly as Andy died they returned home earlier than expected.
Both cars were sprayed up in LLB blue, they really should have had a two part livery but I faked out on that. Fortunately the windows on both cars were a simple removal to facilitate the spray job.
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