Bachmann GE 45 Tonner

JorgeC

New Member
Hello,

I would like to know what the length of the model GE 45 Tonner is, as I would like to purchase one but I need to now if it will fit in a really tight spot on a new micro layout I'm building.

Thanks,
Jorge
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
I just played with one last night... it's sweet! A great runner, and those little siderods are just too much!

It's just under 4.5" over the couplers. And has a surprising amount of pulling power for such a little loco.
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
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Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
how well does it run?

With the wheels on the track and the siderods going 'round and 'round. :p

Same old unreliable Bachmann drive?

No. That's been out of production in HO for a couple of years now. They've re-tooled all their HO diesel chassis to a centre-mounted motor, flywheels in some, cast metal frame and universal joints. They run as well as old Athearn Blue-box locos. Maybe a bit growly, but they're cheap $$$ for what they offer. But it's a Spectrum, so the drive is very nice. Smooth and quiet.

How much does it cost? Or is it a spectrum?

It sells for about $100, give or take $20. DCC on board.
 

JorgeC

New Member
Thank you everybody for the info. I will definately go out and buy a 45 Tonner. I was the guy that was building the layout featuring the mythical Empire State Cement Company, but because of uncontrollable changes in life that layout didnt get far. I currently have extremely little space and I am building an HO Scale micro layout in a box. Yes a box! I have seen some British modelers build some great switching layouts in boxes. I will post pics as sooon as I have something presentable.
 

sgtcarl

Member
once upon a time...

I've been reminising a lot, lately, (it happens when you get old, or bored, or both,) and I remembered seeing a strange little engine pushing and pulling flats and freights around on the old J.I.Case tracks at their plant in Bettendorf, IA. I've often wondered what it was! Now I know! A GE 45 tonner! Thanks, guys, for solving a 50+ year old mystery!!! :mrgreen:
 

diburning

Member
I've been reminising a lot, lately, (it happens when you get old, or bored, or both,) and I remembered seeing a strange little engine pushing and pulling flats and freights around on the old J.I.Case tracks at their plant in Bettendorf, IA. I've often wondered what it was! Now I know! A GE 45 tonner! Thanks, guys, for solving a 50+ year old mystery!!! :mrgreen:

GE also made other locomotives that look alike so it might now have been a 45 tonner. The 44 tonner and the 50 tonner both look like the 45 tonner.

I just got a Bachmann Spectrum 44 tonner on ebay for less than $20 shipped. (it's factory painted although unlettered. I'll put decals for GECX when I get it)
 

Fluesheet

Member
I've always like these. It's amazing how much interest some visible moving parts add to an otherwise dull diesel... :)

I'd consider one, but it's unfortunately they are too "young" for my 1930's railroad. :p
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
how well do they run? Do they take off at 200scale mph? How many cars can it pull?

I'm guessing you've never seen a Spectrum loco before.

They are a quality piece of work, and run very well. Smooth and quiet. It doesn't take off at 200 mph. It creeps very nicely. I don't know how many cars it will pull, since I've only got access to an 8' switching layout. It shuffles half a dozen or so cars on the flat with no problems. How it would handle the same number on a 4% grade with 18" radius curves is another story.

It's not a great clip, but it'll give you some idea of the slow speed running. This is about 20% throttle (I found out after I shot the vid :rolleyes: on 28 speed steps, instead of 128, which is why it seems to leap ahead 1/2 way through).

 

diburning

Member
I got my 44 tonner today and it runs good and slow (although prototypically it might not have been THAT slow) I'm surprised that a spectrum loco doesn't even have flywheels. It looks like an overlubed Life-Like drive.

It works though. I saw your video. It's not that quiet though.
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
Did you get the 44-tonner or the 45 tonner?

The 44 is a little older, and doesn't have quite as nice a mechanism as the 45. They're not Kato, but they're (IMHO) as good as or better than Athearn, flywheels or no.

The one in my vid has been broken in... mostly by shuffling back and forth on the switching layout. ;)

Give it 15 minutes or so in forward, and another 15 in reverse (if you've got a loop it can run on). It should quiet down quite a bit.
 

diburning

Member
mine is dcc ready, how does one go about installing a decoder in this little thing? It doesn't look like it has room for a decoder.
 
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