Just received today from the English importer, a set of the Bachrus 50 Series Saddles (Rolling Road). These are made in Canada, and are I think unique in that the gauge is adjustable. The companies website is: http://www.bachrus.com/
Each locomotive axle is supported by it's own saddle and the saddle consists of a pair of blocks, each with 2 roller bearings for the wheel to rest in. Connecting the blocks seems to be an anodised bar (to provide insulation?) Each block also has a small grub screw to lock the block to the bar. Also sold are 4 sections of angle (stirrups) which are also adjustable and allow non powered wheels to rest, e.g.. leading/trailing trucks and tenders. All these pieces sit on track, which with notches on the blocks are self gauging. Also power to the saddles & stirrups comes from the track. I have bought the full set and could run a 4-6-6-4 (assuming I had one). I found it very easy to set up and soon had a 4-6-2 and SW-1 running. The other day the Bachrus website didn't recommend the saddles as suitable for S 'Tinplate'. The SW-1 still had it's Hi-Rail wheels fitted (sorry Don - AF Compatible wheels!) and ran OK. I note tonight that the website has deleted the mention of 'Tinplate'. The Series is sold as suitable for gauges from 11 - 23 mm, with an axle spacing of 13.6 mm. I found I could actually gauge the blocks down to 4.25mm and out to 32mm (or 38mm with grub screws still holding the bar). I suspect Bachrus wouldn't recommend beyond 23mm because the wider gauges mean heavier locomotives and the roller bearings are not meant for those weights. Certainly it was nice to watch the engines working, though getting up close to the mech does reveal those little defects not seen when running, which can be good for tracing faults, apart from the running in the loco would get. My only connection with product is that I know the UK importer. I don't know about US S scalers, but many of the S scale fraternity in Britain model more than one scale/gauge so should find the ability to adjust gauge useful. John Prior Swindon, England Change your membership, change your message settings, use our CALENDAR, view shared files or photos, view the list archives, GO TO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
