Cleveland, Delphos, & St. Louis RY

The CD&StL received its new Forney. The locomotive arrived at the dealer’s on December 21. Just so happens that was the day we departed for Canada to spend time with the family. So the Forney was picked up on the 29th when we returned.

These are two pictures taken late in the day after the Forney had arrived at Delphos tank.

The Forney arrived in good condition with no damage. Disappointed that the usual DVD that comes with Bachmann locomotives is not included with the Forney. The Owner’s Manual is very complete but it sure would have been nice to receive a DVD.

1-4-10 BIG MISTAKE:
This has already been pointed out on the Bachmann site. The cylinders are mounted too high. Center line of the cylinders is at least 1/4″ higher than the center line of the driver axles. What were the designers thinking? The center line of the cylinders should be on the same plain as that of the axles. This major design error should not impact on engine performance but a little attention to detail would have caught this major mistake. Now to bring cylinders in line with axle center line will take some major modification. Most folks won’t bother to make this correction but it sure is a shame to have such a nice locomotive with this major design mistake.

TABULATED DATA:
Length: Coupler to coupler is 20 inches
Footboard to footboard is 18 inches
Width: Measured at cylinders is 4 3/8 inches
Height: Top of spark arrester is 6 5/8 inches
Weight: 7 lbs. 2 oz.
Wheels Back to Back:
Pony Truck 1.571 inches
Drivers 1.579 & 1.569 inches
Trailing Truck 1.565 & 1.569

The locomotive was given a short test run using track power. This initial run, while short, gives every indication that this will be a smooth runner.

Wheels and counter weights were tight.

Follow up:

The locomotive will be fitted with a RCS PnP receiver. Don Sweet is sending one out in the morning.

ADDED 1-13-10: An in-depth review has been completed and published by LSOL in its weekly E-Magazine.

From what was observed so far the Forney is well detailed. Also, with its pivoting motor block and wide swinging trailing truck the Forney should handle 2 foot radius curves with ease.

A very short video of the Forney with the new skidder tacked on just ahead of the caboose.

Another short video of the Forney with 8 loads and caboose behind the tank.

The Forney with its consist paced around the mainline by digital camera mounted on flat car and pulled by CD&StL’s 2-6-0 Indy.