Bachman Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation
By Don Strack (June 1998)
(This article is an edited version of the original text used as part of an article published in The Streamliner, Volume 12, Number 3, Summer 1998)
The Bachman Spectrum 2-8-0 is available, and it's a nice one. But is it UP? Well, yes and no. According to comments in the April and May 1998 issues of Model Railroading magazine, this is a generic Baldwin "catalog" locomotive, with 60-inch drivers. In the early years of this century, from about 1900 to about 1910, the largest builder of steam locomotives in the world, Baldwin, built so many 2-8-0 Consolidations for so many customers (the 2-8-0 was the GP9 and SD40-2 of its day) that the company started with a basic boiler and frame design and changed it to match the individual customer's needs. These changes included air compressor and air tank locations, running board placement, steam and sand dome placement, and of course, cab design. Two of these customers were Southern Pacific and Union Pacific, both under the common management of E. H. Harriman. SP received 156 locomotives of this type between 1905 and 1907. During the same time period, Baldwin built 257 for UP and its OSL, OWR&N and SP,LA&SL (later LA&SL) associated lines. All were classed as C-57 locomotives, meaning Consolidation, 57-inch drivers.
So, is it UP? No, but it's really close, with the wheelbase being about two feet too long. Although the Bachman model is lettered for UP (OWR&N) 721 (a smaller, cylindrical-tendered oil burner built by Baldwin in 1903), it is well painted, and runs very well. Buy it , run it, it looks great with Centralia Car Shop's CA-3. Maybe renumber it, or even put a different tender on it -- you'll not be sorry.
Other reviews state that the locomotive is based on the Illinois Central 900 class, the PRR H8, H9, and H10 classes, and Reading's I10 class. These reviews are in June 1998 Model Railroader and July 1998 Rail Model Journal. Both reviews are excellent.
Comparison of Bachman Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation with UP prototype
| Quantity | Engine wheelbase |
Height over stack |
Boiler inside diameter |
Driver diameter |
|
| Bachman | 26' 6" | 15' 9" | 79" | 60" | |
| UP 201-310 | 110 | 24' 4" | 15' 8" | 78.5" | 57" |
| OSL 560-618 | 59 | 24' 4" | 16' | 78.5" | 57" |
| OWR&N 730-765 | 36 | 24' 4" | 15' 9" | 78.5" | 57" |
| LA&SL 6009-6060 | 52 | 24' 4" | 15' 8" | 78.5" | 57" |
In all cases, the Bachman tender needs to be changed, as the rectangular design tender is about four feet too long. The tenders on UP's Consolidations varied, as shown in the following table:
| Type | Water (gallons) |
Coal (tons) |
Height (over tank) |
Height (over fuel bunker) |
Body length |
Overall length (drawbar-to-coupler) |
|
| Bachman | Rectangular | 10' | 12' | 28' 9" | 33' | ||
| Switching | Cylindrical | 7,000 | 7 | 10' 1" | 12' 1" | 28' 6" | |
| Road | Cylindrical | 7,000 | 12 | 10' | 13' 1" | 30' 6" | |
| Road | Cylindrical | 7,000 | 14 | 10' 1" | 13' | 28' 6" | |
| Switching | Rectangular | 9,000 | 14 | 10' | 11' 10" | 24' 11' | 28' 9" |
| Road | Rectangular | 9,000 | 15 | 10' | 13' 3" | 24' 11" | 28' 9" |
| Road | Cylindrical | 9,000 | 14 | 10' | 12' 11" | 34' |
