Upgrading Motive Power

I have just sent away for the final bits and pieces for three more locomotives.

I have been a dedicated train set Bachmann locomotive purchaser since I started in N scale, and I can certainly say I have gotten what I paid for. The Bachmann train set locos have gotten better in recent years, but they are what they are.

I have older train set versions of their F-9, 4-8-4, and 2-8-0 locomotives. The F-9's aren't so bad, but they aren't so good either. The steam, on the other hand, is mostly horrendous.

I have puttered around with them a bit, adding tender pickups and even re-motoring the Northerns. The results have been mixed at best, they are better than what they were but it is still trying to make silk purses out of sows ears. So, I have been slowly working on an upgrade program for the steam motive power that will pull the Pennsylvania and standard gauge Path Valley trains.

I purchased a Kato Mikado mechanism without shell when they were on sale, and purchased one Atlas Rivarrosi Mikado and one Atlas Rivarrosi Pacific mechanisms off of an Email list, with shells but without motors, later on.

I have just purchased the Pennsy L1 pewter kit for the Kato, one gearmotor each for the Atlas Mikado and Pacific, and three Bachmann medium length Spectrum tenders, one for each locomotive. When all of the pieces get here I will assemble each of the locomotives and will then have a pair of Mikados and a pair of Pacifics.

At that time I will "retire" my train set Consolidations and Northerns. I will retain the Spectrum Consolidation and the Spectrum F-7's, and the non-Spectrum F-9's will become the exclusive property of my 11 year old. I'll also keep the 0-6-0 switcher but it is getting a Spectrum tender as well.

That will give the "PRR" one authentic Mikado, one non-authentic Mikado, and two non-authentic Pacifics. The Mikes will pull the freights and the Pacifics will handle passenger duties.

The standard gauge portion of the Path Valley will have a Consolidation (also non-authentic) and an 0-6-0 switcher (need you ask?) for the processing plant. The narrow gauge will have to soldier on with the collection of two Mikados, one Mogul and one American that it already has.

I suppose I'd better get to work on the new pike so all of them will have a place to live.