Advice required Bachmann Overland Limited HO Electric Train Set 00250

[Jaywhwhzz]

I have just acquired a perfect condition, boxed and sealed Bachmann Overland Limited HO Electric Train Set 00250 with original receipt dating back to 1994 (purchased in USA). It has a steam locomotive and 9 freight cars. Given the age of the set and that it has never been used, what do you think the chances are of the locomotive actually working when tried?

I was going to give the set to my boy who is train-mad, but I don't want him to feel bitterly disappointed if you think it probably won't work when connected to a power source (which I don't think is included). I'd really appreciate your thoughts if you don't mind.

 

[Iskra]

I suspect it will work perfectly. Worst case scenario is that some lubricant might be required.

 

[Peter C]

I've no experience with Bachmann models from the USA, but I expect just as @Iskra says, it should work fine. You might need to give it a push or oil it up (though only a tiny bit!) though.

-Peter

 

[pdeaves]

I concur with the others. Run it back and forth a few times to loosen things up a bit.

 

[Jaywhwhzz]

Thank you very much. Also, the receipt states it was purchased in the USA. I can see on the box it states 120v input. My son has a small Hornby OO train set with a controller. The transformer with that is 230v. Do you know if they will be compatible? I think the set only comes with tracks, carriages and 1 locomotive. No electricals. As a responsible mother I'm not keen to set out home on fire!!! I greatly appreciate your help.

 

[Graham H]

I lived in the US for a while and brought back plenty of HO stuff. I can assure you that a Hornby controller works just fine. If there is a controller in the set then its going to be US 110 voltage input so dont plug it in over here although it will have a US style plug so you wont be able to anyway. You can buy relatively cheap 240 to 110v converters that simply plug in to our sockets and have a 110v output with US style socket for £20 or so on Amazon. These are useful for any US visitors that may come over subject to a limit on power output I suspect so fine for small items but might struggle for something like a hair dryer.....anyway thats a digression from your question !

 

[DelW]

If you want to test it out easily, the Bachmann locomotive and wagons will run on straight sections of the Hornby track - since although OO scale is slightly different from HO scale, they both use the same gauge (the distance between the two rails). I've said straight sections as you may find that the Hornby curves are too sharply curved for the Bachmann loco to get round.

If you want to try it out on the American track, you'll need to connect the two wires from the Hornby controller to the running rails (one to each) - the Hornby clip may not fit onto the American track. It's all low-voltage DC so there's no safety risk in doing that. Though as mentioned above, if there is a controller in the box, don't ever try to plug it into UK mains without a proper transformer.

 

[Jaywhwhzz]

If you want to test it out easily, the Bachmann locomotive and wagons will run on straight sections of the Hornby track - since although OO scale is slightly different from HO scale, they both use the same gauge (the distance between the two rails). I've said straight sections as you may find that the Hornby curves are too sharply curved for the Bachmann loco to get round.

If you want to try it out on the American track, you'll need to connect the two wires from the Hornby controller to the running rails (one to each) - the Hornby clip may not fit onto the American track. It's all low-voltage DC so there's no safety risk in doing that. Though as mentioned above, if there is a controller in the box, don't ever try to plug it into UK mains without a proper transformer.

Great info. Thank you. What about the other way round....do you think I'll have success with the HO on the curves of the OO? Also, what is the proper name for the 'clip', in case in need to buy one for the HO? Many, many thanks.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jul 2022 ==

I lived in the US for a while and brought back plenty of HO stuff. I can assure you that a Hornby controller works just fine. If there is a controller in the set then its going to be US 110 voltage input so dont plug it in over here although it will have a US style plug so you wont be able to anyway. You can buy relatively cheap 240 to 110v converters that simply plug in to our sockets and have a 110v output with US style socket for £20 or so on Amazon. These are useful for any US visitors that may come over subject to a limit on power output I suspect so fine for small items but might struggle for something like a hair dryer.....anyway thats a digression from your question !

That's all very reassuring to know. Thank you so much. Out of interest, if there is a controller with US plug, instead of buying the convertor, could I use my iBlockCube Travel Adapter, World's First 35W Dual Type C (can't seem to post link), as it has a surge protector?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/iBlockCube-Worldwide-International-Universal-Compatible-Sliver/dp/B07VMRG9W2

​

 

[Jaywhwhzz]

Great info. Thank you. What about the other way round....do you think I'll have success with the HO on the curves of the OO? Also, what is the proper name for the 'clip', in case in need to buy one for the HO? Many, many thanks.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jul 2022 ==


That's all very reassuring to know. Thank you so much. Out of interest, if there is a controller with US plug, instead of buying the convertor, could I use my iBlockCube Travel Adapter, World's First 35W Dual Type C (can't seem to post link), as it has a surge protector?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/iBlockCube-Worldwide-International-Universal-Compatible-Sliver/dp/B07VMRG9W2

​

I lived in the US for a while and brought back plenty of HO stuff. I can assure you that a Hornby controller works just fine. If there is a controller in the set then its going to be US 110 voltage input so dont plug it in over here although it will have a US style plug so you wont be able to anyway. You can buy relatively cheap 240 to 110v converters that simply plug in to our sockets and have a 110v output with US style socket for £20 or so on Amazon. These are useful for any US visitors that may come over subject to a limit on power output I suspect so fine for small items but might struggle for something like a hair dryer.....anyway thats a digression from your question !

That's all very reassuring to know. Thank you so much. Out of interest, if there is a controller with US plug, instead of buying the convertor, could I use my iBlockCube Travel Adapter, World's First 35W Dual Type C (can't seem to post link), as it has a surge protector?

 

[Ediswan]

Out of interest, if there is a controller with US plug, instead of buying the convertor, could I use my iBlockCube Travel Adapter, World's First 35W Dual Type C (can't seem to post link), as it has a surge protector?

I looked up the iBlockCube. Amazon (a different supplier) say this:

WORLDWIDE COMPATIBILITY - It covers more than 150+ countries with US/EU/UK/AU plugs, but this adapter cannot be used in South Africa, India, Israel, Switzerland and Italy, and it converts the power outlet only. It does NOT convert electrical output into current and voltage.

So no.

 

[Jaywhwhzz]

I looked up the iBlockCube. Amazon (a different supplier) say this:

So no.

Thank you. My question was really based around you suggesting that it should work just fine with a Hornby controller, I guess given that it is very low wattage. The idea of using the adaptor was merely to allow it to fit in the socket, not to convert. Does that make sense?

 

[Ediswan]

Thank you. My question was really based around you suggesting that it should work just fine with a Hornby controller, I guess given that it is very low wattage. The idea of using the adaptor was merely to allow it to fit in the socket, not to convert. Does that make sense?

It is others who have said a Hornby controller will work, I don't have any reason to say otherwise. Using an adapter to make a 120V device fit a 230V (in practice 240V) outlet would be a really bad idea. Expect smoke, or worse. Based on what it says on the outside of the box you would need a suitable transformer to use the supplied power supply.

Another option would be to acquire a suitable 240V power supply and use that with the Bachmann controller. Output AC 16V 1000mA. Use the low voltage connector from the supplied power supply if needed. AC, so no need to worry about which wire is which. That would avoid the problem of needing to connect a Hornby controller to Bachmann track.

 

[Jaywhwhzz]

It is others who have said a Hornby controller will work, I don't have any reason to say otherwise. Using an adapter to make a 120V device fit a 230V (in practice 240V) outlet would be a really bad idea. Expect smoke, or worse. Based on what it says on the outside of the box you would need a suitable transformer to use the supplied power supply.

Another option would be to acquire a suitable 240V power supply and use that with the Bachmann controller. Output AC 16V 1000mA. Use the low voltage connector from the supplied power supply if needed. AC, so no need to worry about which wire is which. That would avoid the problem of needing to connect a Hornby controller to Bachmann track.

View attachment 117371

This is what I have. I'll now get the convertor regardless.

Thank you so much for your time. I know I'm being a bit of a moron but this whole train set world is new to me! I appreciate your patience.

 

[30907]

On curved track: it looks as though the Bachmann track comes in 18" or 22" radius so for a 40" width your set must have 18" curves. Hornby 2nd radius is just under 18" from memory, so the 8-coupled US loco shouldn't have much trouble on those.

 

[DelW]

Great info. Thank you. What about the other way round....do you think I'll have success with the HO on the curves of the OO? Also, what is the proper name for the 'clip', in case in need to buy one for the HO? Many, many thanks.

Either train should be able to run on either track, as long as the curves aren't too sharp (the worst than would happen is that the engine or wagons would derail, i.e. fall off the track, not a big deal).

Hornby call their connector a "power connecting clip" - this is the current one, but they've come in slightly different shapes over the years:

R8242 Digital Power Connecting Clip

R8242, Digital Power Connecting Clip, Hornby, Digital Command Control (DCC), 1:76 Scale 00 Gauge, OO

uk.hornby.com

All it does is make an electric contact between the two wires from the controller and the underside of each rail. Non-Hornby track may not have the right gaps for it to fit into.

The current Bachmann version is this:

Bachmann 36-602 Power Clip OO Gauge

Buy Bachmann 36-602 Power Clip OO Gauge from Jacksons Models & Railways. Bachmann 36-602 Power Clip OO Gauge OO Gauge Accessories for Model Railways Manufactured by Bachmann Scale 1:76/OO

www.jacksonsmodels.co.uk

although there's still no guarantee that it would fit nearly 30 year old US-made track.

As a temporary measure, you could fix each wire to the side of a rail with a bit of sticky tape or similar, it just needs to hold the wire against the rail.

 

[Jaywhwhzz]

Thank you. You have all been smashing. I'm going to unbox today!

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Thank you. You have all been smashing. I'm going to unbox today!

Let us know how it goes.