According to George Drury’s Guide to North American Steam Locomotives (Kalmbach), 857 Decapods were shipped before deliveries ended due to the Bolshevik Revolution. Another 200 finished locomotives remained in America, so the United States Railroad Administration wound up allocating them to railroads in the East and South.
Erie received 75, Seaboard Air Line took 37, and the remainder were scattered to 25 other railroads. A list of the owners and a drawing of the 2-10-0 were published in the Model Railroader Cyclopedia: Vol. 1, Steam Locomotives (Kalmbach). The model closely matches this drawing including the 52″ drivers.
All these locomotives had to be converted from Russia’s five-foot gauge to operate on American 4′-8½” standard gauge. Wider driver tires were applied to move the flanges inward, and new wheels in the tender and pilot trucks did the job there. The European couplers and buffers were replaced with knuckle couplers and uncoupling levers.
Our sample Decapod came assembled and painted, but without lettering so the purchaser can apply decals as desired. This model came with numerous alternate detail parts so the modeler can match a specific prototype locomotive. Lettered models come with the appropriate parts installed.
The printed instruction sheet contains one 8½” x 11″ page of general information and five pages of exploded isometric drawings. Each drawing is numbered to match locomotives of a specific road name. There is no explanation, so choosing details will require studying prototype photos.
The can motor is clamped between two zinc alloy weights. A rubber drive belt connects the motor to the worm shaft concealed under the firebox to preserve the characteristic open space beneath the boiler. Four wires connect the motor and headlight to the tender.
All of the chassis parts are mounted in a blackened zinc-alloy frame. The blind (no flange) center set of drivers is rigidly mounted while the other four have flanges, are sprung, and have some side play to negotiate curves.
Electrical pickups that contact the backs of the eight flanged drivers are concealed by black acetal plastic brake shoes. Another pair of fine wires carries this current back to the tender.
The tender body is attached to its floor with a pair of plastic lugs at the rear and a small Phillips screw just ahead of the front truck. Inside, there’s a printed-circuit board with a National Model Railroad Association recommended DCC socket and the light control diodes. Space for a small decoder is available in the tender.
Our Decapod came with Andrews tender trucks which pick up current from opposite rails. This means you have to be careful to orient the wheelsets properly if you decide to change the sideframes. All the engine and tender wheels have RP25 contours and match the NMRA standards gauge.
Bachmann E-Z Mate knuckle couplers are provided, including a properly mounted front coupler that’s essential for any freight locomotive. They’re mounted in coupler boxes secured with small screws. These boxes will also accept horn-hook couplers or other brands of knuckle couplers.
Our sample 2-10-0 required a lot of voltage, but started smoothly and operated quietly throughout its speed range. It performed very well at the show and medium speeds typical of its prototype. The drawbar pull is equivalent to 24 free-rolling cars on straight, level track.
Bachmann’s design and production work on this 2-10-0 locomotive is simply excellent! Its size, optional details, and performance will make this model popular among modelers of many railroads.
Price: $170
Manufacturer:
Bachmann Industries
1400 E. Erie Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19124
Description:
Plastic and metal steam locomotive
Features:
Alternate detail parts
Cab interior with crew
DCC socket
Directional headlights
Drawbar pull: 1.76 ounces
E-Z Mate knuckle couplers
Engine weight: 13 ounces
Flywheel drive
Minimum radius: 18″
Road names:
Painted-no lettering
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Atlantic Coast Line
Erie RR
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis
St. Louis-San Francisco
Seaboard Air Line
Susquehanna
Western Maryland
