QUOTE (34C @ 10 Nov 2008, 12:07)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>As you probably know, Kader were the manufacturing contractor to Replica and Mainline; and are the owners of the Bachmann brand which continued production of models formerly marketed by these businesses. Mainline to the best of my knowledge used a split chassis with a pancake style motor and spur gears in this model; Bachmann than reintroduced this model with a redesigned split chassis with their can motor and a worm gear drive.
Keep in mind that Bachmann offered their fully compatible split chassis units as spares for this and other models. As a result it is possible to find Mainline and Replica boxed locos second hand, which have Bachmann split chassis units installed, replaced by the owners as the original chassis clapped out.
Be very cautious when buying split chassis locos second hand: these chassis are shorter lived then a conventional steel axled unit with wiper pick up, and the Replica and Mainline units with the pancake motor will by now be in pretty flaky mechanical condition
even if they have never been run. In particular the insulating axle muffs and gears were all vulnerable to cracking and splitting; and this occurs whether or not the loco has been used. It's your choice, but I buy these for the body mouldings alone, reckoning the chassis to be junk and expect a very low price in consequence.
Many thanks, yes I have ditched all my Mainline locos as I could never get a smooth runner with the rear wheel drive, and as you state the "insulaters" did have a habit of splitting.I thought however they must have used a similar mechanism to the Bachmann to hide it.
It looks like I will have to fork out for a Bachmann Collett as I want the chassis for a Hornby Dean Goods as I am fed up with the atrocious running of this model
