Bachmann John Bull & Lafayette | Rare Era1 Steam Locomotives

[@SamsTrains]

Correction: I quoted the build dates as 1900s during the comment section. Of course both of these locos are from the 1800s... even I'm not used to locos built so early!! xD

[@azuma7628]

Haha. XD

[@nicholasbulgarino567]

Fun fact, the B&O Museum in Baltimore has a reproduction Lafayette that was made for the 1927 Fair of the Iron Horse (for which English railroads sent engines for exhibit!) So technically, you wouldn't be wrong saying the preserved Lafayette is from the early 1900's.

[@bluebellsfan8704]

Same XD

[@NoaZeevi]

@Kabuki Kitsune John Bull was built in the UK by Robert Stephenson & Co.

[@Dynamo_11]

LOL

[@danylcoye8465]

These old designs scream "Trust me, I'm an engineer, I think I'll put this thing right here!"

[@adamchmielewski6162]

Yeah.

[@A_sad_sad_loco]

Mh

[@SamsTrains]

haha I won't disagree with that - that's definitely part of their charm though!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@crazypickles8235]

I love the developmental days of steam. The first bogied locomotives must have been daunting to drivers and firemen in the same way that jet engine aircraft were rather daunting to test pilots and the first space craft were nerve wracking to astronauts.

[@the4tierbridge]

@@crazypickles8235 Funny enough, John Bull was the first engine with a front bogie,

[@SushiDoge]

I love how unique these look! Pioneering days were surely something.

[@SamsTrains]

I agree - they sure were!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@Insect_Expert1489]

America was like this but now it’s like…..ew

[@Paraffinmeister]

The best description I've ever heard of John Bull was "an early attempt at the combined lawnmower and tool shed.

[@SamsTrains]

haha that's exactly what it looks like, lol! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@susannefinch5211]

@@SamsTrains I would say that Lafayette is Emily’s grandmother Is it possible to fit a face like you did with Hornby E2

[@joefairclough6215]

@@SamsTrains M

[@smyset111]

@@joefairclough6215 O

[@smyset111]

@@joefairclough6215 O

[@Tzifari_Productions]

Hello Sam, these are great engines! You can fix the cracked gear of Lafayette (at least temporarily) with superglue and baking soda. I have an Electrotren Hellas Sprinter with exactly the same cracked gears on 2 of the 4 axles. Firstly, I cleaned the gear from grease and lubricant and then I filled the gap with a small amount of soda. After that, with the tip of a needle or a toothpick I dropped small drops of CA glue in the gap and on the baking soda. These two materials make a "bridge", that solves provisionally the problem. Then, after it dries fully, you can lubricate again the gear. With this temporary solution, my Hellas Sprinter works continuously for a year now. Hope this helps you fixing Lafayette! Lefteris.

[@BeauMinnick]

The coaches where built here in the US. The lead truck on the locomotive was added in the US along with most of what is going on with the tender.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks for sharing Beau, cool stuff!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@radzieckigraczproductions3]

Sam: uploads this video Me: ** looks at the strange contraptions that they used to call steam engines with wide eyes **

[@Bacony_Cakes]

Wait until you see what they called cars.

[@radzieckigraczproductions3]

@@Bacony_Cakes I’ve seen them lol

[@SamsTrains]

haha I know right... and cars is a whole other thing! xD Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@radzieckigraczproductions3]

@@SamsTrains XD

[@callyemby4587]

Wait till you see what they called a Tractor lmfao.

[@selwynlawton7939]

Hey Sam I am sure the USA was the first country to make passenger coaches with 2 @ 2 axle 4 wheel bogies = 8 wheels in total..... They were so successful that the UK eventually adopted the design as they gave a much smoother ride and did not derail as often as 2 axle 4 wheeled coaches.... So straight away you know those early green coaches were made in USA. Thanks for this great youtube video.

[@SamsTrains]

Very interesting Selwyn, I didn't know that! Thanks for sharing! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@vibingwithvinyl]

I've "fixed" split and cracked plastic gears by inserting a piece of metal in them with a soldering iron, something like a staple etc. works fine.

[@dannyzhao2340]

I just cut a ring from ball pen refill tube and hooped it on the gear. Easy and efficient.

[@TrainMaster2004]

I love these era 1 locomotives! One of the Lafayette locomotives has been preserved at a railroad museum near me, and it's so interesting to see such an old locomotive in this time with all of the more modern locos around it!

[@johnd8892]

Except it is a more recent replica like almost all early locomotives especially those that can run under steam power.

[@AINGELPROJECT667]

Perhaps you can 3d print a sprocket for the Lafayette? Perhaps using a strong material like resin that can withstand a little more movement, though I'm not sure how well it would work.

[@leroyholm9075]

Sam You have a real find here. The idea of the Norris locomotives on the 'Lickey' was purely based on the need for freight propulsion and banking duties.

[@johnd8892]

Made by Bachmann around the late eighties and early nineties. They made a third set of the DeWitt Clinton and coaches. First NYC loco. There were several other sets of the Norris 4-2-0 with different names and four wheel coaches. I have the three different trackless sets bought at my local Australian hobby shop in the early nineties for $50 each. End of line run outs. The Norris worked well on an exhibition layout I helped run with a club I was in. Even coped well with the fairly steep grades and curves. Helped by the Norris loco having all wheel pickup, a skew wound motor and a surprising amount of weight on the driving wheels. The Norris types are the last release and the best refined drive system. Wish your gear did not split, but not helped by big temperature changes of loft storage so popular in the UK. Need to check mine to see how they run after nearly thirty years out of use.

[@johnd8892]

All three Bachmann original historic train pack sets running not too far away from Sam. Search "Bachmann de Witt Clinton yesteryear" to see the video link suppressed by Sam. The Norris type had the most variations of livery, name and coaches. The Norris locos were the first Lickey bankers, but often needed to work triple headed on the B&G. Remember these are all HO scale when comparing to an much earlier Rocket model by Triang from 1964. Also included in the vid are a few more era one locomotives.

[@HeavyTanker1945]

I got to see John Bull in person, amazing how much the locomotive has changed over the 100+ years it's existed,

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah the same is true of our Rocket - very interesting stuff! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@lucasquintanilla1673]

@@SamsTrains you said, in the video that you wondered how on earth did they put coal in the locomotive. The simple answer is that they didn’t. It was wood-burning, and from what I remember from looking at some video footage of when it last ran in 1981 there was small piles of wood where the engineers were standing that they would put into the fire box. It’s rather unusual when those old west and Civil War era 4-4-0 locomotives like union pacific 119 and central pacific Jupiter look positively space-age in comparison to stuff like this

[@furripupau]

The coaches were made in 1836, so they're a little later design than John Bull, but those coaches were displayed with John Bull for many years and ran on the same railroad. When the locomotive was new, it was used with four wheel coaches which were almost identical to those used on the Liverpool & Manchester. The dome on John Bull was added decades later, and it is also crooked on the real thing, so the angle on the model is true to prototype.

[@mylesfairhurst9481]

Hi sam! I am glad to be back watching the channel. The locos look so good! Good job as always!

[@nostalgiccameralife]

I have the Lafayette set and the loco is more than strong enough for the three coaches. I'm currently building some 1830's style freight cars for it to haul (look up the 1927 Fair of the Iron Horse (you can find film of it on youtube) to see the replica hauling some 1830's freight cars).

[@DoubleX8620]

I have the John Bull for three years and it still runs like a dream after a service. The other one looks extremely cool interesting. I heard some people calling it Jervis or Norris. I'll put it on my wishlist. Coincidentally I got the John Bull in a box stored away for months as well and I was looking for it just like you did . I have to say that your tender has a missing piece on the rear like a cylinder and the boiler doesn't look straight, but it's sill one of my favorite models. A perfect video for my Saturday. Thank you for this great review, Sam

[@cadetkohr5508]

I love the way John Bull and the entire consist is rocking around, it makes it look like it's running on the really poorly built track it actually ran on.

[@HolyKhaaaaan]

I always wanted to have the Lafayette! I had the John bull growing up, and it was my favorite, but I so wanted the Lafayette. Awesome that you made a video on these two lovely engines!

[@smyset111]

I had a model of an engine called Pegasus that was the same type of engine as Lafayette. She was destroyed due to me being 7 years old at the time. Also, because my brother broke her tender off. Today, I started a project: making an HON3 gauge locomotive. I still have no cab for her, but I’m going to try and find a suitable cab. I came across her funnel a few months ago, and today was the first time in 3 years if not, more, that the funnel and her smokebox reunited. This project involves stealing the boiler, mounting it to an N Scale chassis, and painting the entire thing blue. I might make a 3D printed cab, if I can find one. Pegasus will be reborn anew as an 0-6-2! Have a fabulous day, Sam.

[@Gordons1888]

I looked up pics of the coaches, turns out the B&ORR had double decker coaches aswell, very interesting

[@WritersCrusaders]

Yeah! A new video and a new loco! Great review of that loco mate!

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks so much - glad you liked it!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@ShootFirstSev]

The Lafayette is actually preserved at the B&O railway museum here in America and you can still see it today. It also starred in the old Walt Disney movie the "Great Locomotive Chase" as the Yonah.

[@davidawalkerjr2905]

Hi Sam, Thanks for reviewing these early Locos. A couple of bits of Info to fill in: Bachman made the John Bull, DeWitt Clinton, and the Lafayette. The DeWitt Clinton Model is propelled by the Tender, Hornby Style ;-) Lafayette was named after General Lafayette, who played an instrumental role in the War of Colonial Independence of 1776. John Bull has some interesting background: Build in England and shipped to the US. Converted to Wood, because Coke was not widely available in the Colonies. The Tender and Pilot Truck (Bogey) was added because it needed the wedge shaped "Cow Catcher" because Lines in the US were not as well fenced as in Britain. There is a replica of John Bull in a Museum that was build by the Pennsylvania Railroad for historical Demonstrations.

[@lewiscarty5517]

These are amazing locomotives to look at, and it’s nice to have models of pre-Victorian locomotives and you could make a pre Victorian era railway layout, even in either England or America, etc.

[@jensenleblanc]

I have a fun story, I’ve always loved the color green so my Mom actually got me the Lafayette set brand new many years ago. I still have it and it still runs. It came as a higher end set with the better nickel silver track over the normal bachmann starter set steel track. I will say the coaches have very fragile pins and I have broken two of them, I managed to glue on a plastic pin to replace it recently and I can now pull all 3 together again. You must clean the front bogey wheels often or it will stall a lot, it also doesn’t particularly like hills due to the low weight. Thanks for the video Sam! - Jensen from the United States haha

[@SamsTrains]

That's awesome Jensen - glad to hear you got one too, they are very cool! Thanks for the tips - I'll remember that! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@adamwilliams192]

Fascinating! You do realise you have got at least one (and of you fix the other, two) new most requested loco for live streams?! And bonus for the first person who asks for John Bull with Bullman...

[@GerardScroogeGoes]

Hi Sam, this is what DK's Train has to say on the John Bull: Built by Robert Stephenson & Co., John Bull was exported to the US, where it worked on the Camden & Amboy Railroad from 1831 to 1866. US engineer Isaac Dripps added his two-wheel bogie, to which he attached the first cowcatcher, as well as a headlight, spark-arresting chimney, and covered tender and cab. There's even a nice linedrawing of how it looked when Stephenson build it.

[@Tombola1993]

These are some cool retro locos. Very steampunk-like. Love how the tables have turned for each loco, with Lafayette being made in America to work in the UK and John Bull’s history is vice versa.

[@ROBERTN-ut2il]

Except it ne er got to Britain, but was owned by the Baltimore and Ohio

[@richbuege6491]

Sam, you could try putting a thin ring of heat shrink tubing over the two cracked flanges then shrinking it. You'd have to remove a driver, slip the gear off, reassemble then shrink it. I've done that with a couple that weren't worth bothering with the unavailable new gear.

[@richardsweeney197]

John Bull is in the Smithsonian Institution. And Pennsylvania Railroad built an operating replica also in the 1930's or 40's. John Bulls coaches were built here.

[@harryprince5472]

That’s such a cool locomotive,how have I never heard of this before XD

[@SamsTrains]

I know right!! I guess they're not terribly well known!! :O Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@Insect_Expert1489]

Because American text books hates locomotives ?

[@jamesbuckner4791]

Because American steam really didn't take off till the 4-4-0s. Hell I'm not sure if anyone remembers what the best friend of Charleston was.

[@crazypickles8235]

I have awaited Lion since I first read about the Liverpool Manchester back when I was a tike. I watched Wind In the Willows with my grandad and asked him about old British railways and we spent an afternoon looking through some old paintings and books. I have a fond place in my heart for the early days of British and American steam.

[@nilanjanmoitra4249]

This is one of the best video ever made by you and I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. Never actually had any idea that such locos existed once & I'm glad you brought them out from your junkyard even though you had to crawl a bit to save your head!!!!!!!!!!

[@SamsTrains]

That's lovely to hear - so glad you enjoyed this my friend! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@ianhartley395]

Fascinating!! I do hope you get Lafayette running. I love this era. Surprised you didn’t run Rocket as a third train. And if ever Bullman was called for hahaha!!

[@muir8009]

3 of mine burnt out the motors, still got about 6 of the 3 different sets somewhere: the boxes have some gorgeous artwork. I remember when they were new and they were having massive clearance discounts so I'm guessing they weren't that popular when new

[@casiofi]

Hey Sam, I had a Lafayette set when I was younger, not many in the UK! The locomotive ran really well given its size, and hauled the coaches no issue. Sadly, stopped working a few years ago - seems to be a fate most of them encounter. I recently got my hands on a Bachmann Prussia, a near identical Norris 4-2-0 but an older model, and just yesterday won a US auction for another Lafayette set with a working loco.

[@louisbuscarino7330]

I have the John Bull and several other era one train sets that were made by Bachman and none of them ran right out of the box . I had to get them to work but they do not last . They look great detail wise but mechanically they don’t cut it .Good luck with yours. Keep these great videos coming.

[@Dronesword123]

Pretty sure John Bull was a wood burning engine, so the tender unit was like a sort of wood shed on wheels

[@BMMEC6000]

Exactly

[@johnd8892]

As modified much later in the life of the loco as an improvement.

[@SamsTrains]

Ahh interesting - would love to see a real thing, to see what it involved! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@BMMEC6000]

@@SamsTrains well you would have to visit her in the Smithsonian museum in DC

[@robertbartender591]

@@SamsTrains there is a short video of John Bull running on the National Museum of American History KZbin channel.

[@pettra1]

Such unique trains, are these. I look forward to the day, Sam, when you will be able to get the La Fayette engine running. Probably definitely a 'puller' rather than being pushed along! I wonder if they would come up on an internet search? Let's take a look........ Best, Pete.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks a lot Pete - so do I - fingers crossed it'll work some day! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@2soupbone]

Thank you for a fine video. I have both engines, but they haven't run in a number of years - they were my 'around the Christmas Tree' trains, and they apparently picked up too much carpet dander. You can dress up John Bull quite easily with some stretched sprue - run a "bar" between the valve handle on the boiler and the nib on the steam dome valve and a fine sprue from the bell to the boiler as a pull cord. Simple, but they improve the looks of the engine, IMO. It's hard to fathom that these were the SSTs of their day, racing along at 50 Kph. The Norris engine was used by the Baltimore and Ohio RR, on the mountainous portion of their routes - they had a lot of pulling power. I think this was the reason that a couple were exported to England, to work on some of your grades there. The Bull stayed in service a long time for an early engine. IIRC, it ended it's working life as a shunter in the late 1860's or early '70's. They added a cab and cut down the tender for that role. John Bull was also involved in one of America's first railroad fatalities: the engine separated from the tender and a crewman fell into the path of the oncoming train. Safety chains were added shortly thereafter. I very much enjoy your videos, especially those featuring the smaller engines, and appreciate the time and effort you put into them.

[@aunulimansfield3277]

I had stored my first set of lighted passenger cars somewhere "safe" and haven't seen them since... It's been like 5 months and I've moved since then and have absolutely no idea where they are

[@cheapbastardmodeltrains7210]

Hi from North Carolina! Sam I am a Postwar Lionel head and love your channel. Man I wish they made these in O gauge. Beautiful !!!🚂🚂🚂

[@johnd8892]

Your wish has been granted. A KZbin search for Lionel's amazing heritage series will show some much more reliable but costly larger versions of these and one or two even more rarely modelled early US related trains.

[@cheapbastardmodeltrains7210]

@@johnd8892 I appreciate that. I will check it out.

[@mattsmocs3281]

The coaches on John Bull were built for the Camden and Amboy by the same US company that built the Delaware and Hudson co’s gravity coaches. This more modern design was pioneered on the gravity railroads first

[@dannyminxe5807]

Great video Sam. Just had an idea I thought I'd share, I recently repaired an old Trix A4 with a quartering issue and I thought you could do the same for Lafayette before attempting a tender drive. Separate the wheels from the axe, give all three a moderate sanding with a rough grit and then use superglue to fill in the cracks and glue it all back together. The sanding will help the glue grip better. Anyway, I really enjoyed the video and you are quite an inspiration to me and my railway, thank you!

[@AtkataffTheAlpha]

Wow! Now you have the Rocket, Lafayette, and John Bull! Small locomotives but full of history

[@churroman183]

John Bull is my favorite out of the two. Great video overall Sam. Have a good one and enjoy these awesome locos.

[@SamsTrains]

Good choice - I like that one too because it works ;) Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@zerosen1972]

Excellent Video Sam! I own the third set missing from this Trio of Era 1 Sets - The Dewitt Clinton. Picked it up from the NYC Museum in Elkhart, IN when it was first released back in the early 2000's. I've been thinking about picking up the other two since I got the DC but I just got the opportunity to pick up the Lafayette while I'm in Delaware for Engineer Retraining. I was on the fence but your video just helped me make my decision. Keep up the great work mate! Can't wait to see what you review next! XD

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

I’m not really much of an era one modeler, but those are some beautiful little engines. I’ve had that same problem with split axles on some of my older Bachmann split-chassis locomotives. What I used to fix them was some gorilla glue superglue that I bought from the local home improvement store. It’s not the recommended fix, but it works really well. None of the locomotives I did that to ever had any axle problems ever since their repairs. I mainly model the early to mid 20th century (from 1904 to about 1965. I do have some modern locomotives in my collection (usually older locomotives painted in modern railroad paint schemes). The most modern engines I have are an Atlas c30-7 and a Bachmann sd40-2.

[@SheffieldNo14Productions]

Whoa! That’s interesting! I’ve only ever seen Lafayette and John Bull in my visual history of trains. Nice models and video, Sam!

[@SamsTrains]

Thank you!! Yeah it's cool to see them as models too isn't it? :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@RobA500]

Have you not thought of looking at the replacement split chassis gears made by Peters Spares, maybe one of those will fit. Great little locomotives, I’d love to seem more pioneering stuff made.

[@NJEsperantist]

I was given a similar set of these for 'safe keeping.' They are really cool little trains and fun to compare to the larger motive power.

[@mattstrainroom]

Got the Lafayette in my display case - it was a great runner until the valve gear disassembled itself. Since then I've returned to my roots with 3-Rail O and my HO collection stays in the case. looks great and I'm excited to get Lionel's version of the John Bull this year

[@fozz1437]

I think Lafayette is my favorite of the two, very unique design!! It reminds me of Stephenson's Rocket :)

[@SamsTrains]

I don't blame you Fozz - I love them too! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@Insect_Expert1489]

It reminds me of seeing a early human fossil basically like how a British standards grandfather is the Early locomotives

[@trr94001]

Aside from the front bogey it looks a lot like Lion.

[@dasmann3904]

I do love the older engines, their unusual and look nothing like more modern engines but they laid the foundation for steam.-Das Mann

[@CrystalLakeRailway]

Its always interesting to see the designs of the era 1 steam locos, they just look cool!

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks mate - I think they do too!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@rucarnuts13]

Good ‘ol Bachmann split chassis locos. They never fail to fail. I actually had a Lafayette split chassis loco as well which had the same issue, but I managed to repair it using a 1/10th scale RC Car metal pinion gear and some Krazy glue. See if you can get that gear out and find out the diameter and tooth count. Once you know that, I’m sure you could get a suitable rc car pinion gear to get it working again.

[@SamsTrains]

haha they never fail to fail! xD That sounds good - I might have another go at fixing it... won't be so critical now I've done a video already! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@davidstrains4910]

@CarNutz Split chassis locomotives fail because some people like you clearly don’t look after them, as long as you keep on top of them they will work how they are supposed to

[@rucarnuts13]

@@davidstrains4910 - Please enlighten me then. If light running and regular servicing (which includes greasing the gears and oiling the axles, crank pins and other contact points of the rod assembly), isn't enough to keep them from breaking, then what is? I employ all the methods of care I apply to my live steam locomotives, is that not enough?

[@davidstrains4910]

@@rucarnuts13 regular checks of the axles can help you identify if a crack is appearing instead of just leaving it before it becomes too late, if a crack is present you can take the plastic axle out of the wheel and applying a small bit of superglue to the end of the axle and inserting the wheel back onto the axle so it still has good grip on the axle and stops if put from expanding and making the crack worse, I know Sam said in the video that he put some glue onto the Lafayette and it hasn’t worked but thats what has happened to him, I have done this to a fair few bachmann split chassis locomotives and they all work for me and still work even today.

[@rucarnuts13]

@@davidstrains4910 - I've done that with a few of my split-chassis models to some success, but my Lafayette model didn't take well to it. It held for a little while, but the plastic was old and brittle enough to literally disintegrate during a running session. I look after my locomotives incredibly well. With how fragile and rare some of my older brass engines are, I have to be. There's only so much glue can do that can help in holding cheaply-made plastic parts together though and to be honest, the split chassis design was a poor inherent design to allow for such breakages anyway and one that Bachmann themselves admitted was a bad design and later fixed by doing away with that design entirely in subsequent years.

[@seankash8546]

The case of the John Bull is a very interesting example of how the differences between British & American locomotive designs came about, and what influenced them. When fresh built by Stephenson, John Bull was delivered as a normal 0-4-0 with an open tender. As Sam mentioned, upon coming to the US the B&O quickly found that the rigid, coupled wheelset of an 0-4-0 frequently derailed on the rough American track. The removal of the con rods & addition of a leading wheel set & cowcatcher (also used to push away track debris, including actual cows sometimes), were done to remedy this. In addition, a headlight for overnight operation and a covered tender to keep coal dry during rain were added. These home-grown American improvements to Stephenson's original product were specifically designed to meet the challenges of railroading on a larger continent. Even later on, the B&O added a balloon smokestack (not represented on this model) to keep sparks from lighting the thick American forests ablaze, as well as a full cab to better house the crew during their long shifts. All of these early innovations set the first example of what special equipment an American locomotive needed to complete the longer journeys on US railroads. Many of these features, like larger tenders & guiding wheels, pilots/cowcatchers, and enclosed cabs are what continued to differentiate American and British steam locomotives well into the 20th century. Fun note; "John Bull" was early-American slang to refer to any gentleman from England (kind of like calling someone "Tyrone", "Bubba", or "Pablo/Jose" these days). Makes quite an interesting point of how American culture has(or hasn't) changed since back then (but that's another story).

[@henriknilsson7851]

I love the “cupboard of doom!” I have to wonder what else you might have squirreled away in there.

[@SamsTrains]

haha thank you - there's really no telling! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@reliantrailways]

Great video Sam! May I ask what the music is at 17:45 ?

[@highbrookendmodelrailway]

I'm not Sam, but I can give you the answer! It's called Tablespoons, from Epidemic Sounds I believe.

[@bustedsiderods8544]

I would like a video on that 4-4-0, it looks stunning. I also spotted a mysterious bunker in shot while you were looking at the 4-4-0, any intel as to what that is?

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

I would, too. I imagine that's another Bachmann loco, maybe The General from the Civil War?

[@SamsTrains]

A bunker?! There's no telling, lol! I might do another video of my junk box one day - then I might show whatever it was! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@rwjenkins]

@@JDsHouseofHobbies I believe the 4-4-0 is an AHM/Rivarossi "Reno". The Rivarossi 4-4-0s were better quality than the Bachmanns of that era, but still a far cry from today's standards.

[@jimmyduncan7650]

Lovely set there Sam. Fascinating to see the roots of steam locomotion. Thanks again 👍 I'm sure you could source a brass gear for Lafayette, would be noisier. Maybe mold a replacement would be easier 🤔

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks very much Jimmy - yes that would be nice actually, will look into it! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@cabowerks3973]

Thanks Sam for showing us these! John Bull is one of my favorite locomotives. I have a request/recommendation for you. If you’re interested in early American steam locomotives try and find a model of a BnO Grasshopper locomotive. I’m sure you’ll love their unique look. Best wishes & stay safe.

[@SamsTrains]

It's a pleasure Cab - and that sounds fascinating, I'll do that for sure! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@chasesrailwaylinesrr6447]

I've just realized to companies make the same mistake with the gears cracking Bachmann and playart Keep reviewing good models Sam and don't forget to take a look at what I suggested Bachman on30 scale and Tyco super turbo train

[@SamsTrains]

Ahh really?? Yeah this era of Bachmann is awful for it... real nuisance!! :( Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@RiliansMusic]

Sam: shows the cabinet of Do0M... Me: hmmm that would make a good video. the video Sam's magical cabinet of stuff. seriously though that would be a cool video to look and see all whats in in there.

[@jameshatfield1194]

Most men have a cupboard of doom great places to visit

[@SamsTrains]

haha maybe actually - I did once do a video with my scrappers - sounds like a good idea!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@lorrydriver7961]

Hi Sam, I think you will find two easy fixes for Lafayette, 1st is a piece of brass tube cut to length and appropriate diameter to fit over very snuggly the two halves of the broken drive gear. the second is I believe i saw on a you tube Video someone in the UK is making 3d plastic replacement split chassis parts to replace the plastic broken parts. The guy who ordered the 3d parts is 00 Bill. The brass tube acting as a fixed sleeve does work and I have used this method in the past, what it does is to close the split back to its original diameter so it can take up the drive to the axle once more. Good luck I love your videos.

[@SamsTrains]

Fantastic ideas there - I love the idea with the brass tube, very clever stuff! I might look into the 3D printing idea too - reckon that might be worth knowing how to do! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@lorrydriver7961]

@@SamsTrains Hi Sam just found the video, its not 00 Bill. Its Lawries mechanical marvels. the printed parts are made by Asis3d Hope this helps I know nothing of 3d printing. Good luck

[@johnd8892]

@@SamsTrains no quartering problems with the model either, being a single driving wheel.

[@andrewpalm2103]

As far as I can determine, the coaches that came with the John Bull are American. I found a picture of such a coach at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the Camdon Amboy Coach No. 3. It is the oldest preserved coach in the US and was retired in 1865. Cheers from Wisconsin.

[@lewiscartwright3609]

Hi Sam please could do a review on the Locomotive that on top of the box that contained Lafayette Locomotive and John bull Locomotive

[@SamsTrains]

Sure!! I'm hoping to do something with that soon!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@lewiscartwright3609]

@@SamsTrains OK thanks Sam Looking forward to seeing the Review Cheers keep up the informative and inspiring videos cheers. Lewis

[@tobyyoder8350]

Yes, I would like to see that locomotive resurrected the one you mentioned, and great video Sam

[@billystanier6327]

The Lafayette can be used on UK railways. Several were imported in the 1840s. The Birmingham & Bristol Railway used them on the steep Lickey Incline near Bromsgrove.

[@rickytucker6832]

I had the same issue with the split cog I used a very fine drill bit threw the cog and into the spindle then inserted a piece of a staple cut down with super glue to stop it slipping around worked a treat on a few of my older tired models 👍hope this helps . All the best .Ricky

[@SamsTrains]

Sorry to hear that Ricky - it's such a common problem with Bachmann locos from this era - shoemaking quality really! Good idea that - thanks for sharing! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@clivewilkinson6076]

Loved watching these, I think they will be a popular request. In answer to your question, yes do get that US old-timer in the cupboard out and running, I would love to see it. And how about an extended video-tour of the cupboard itself?

[@waveryders77]

Very nice Sam. There's something quite cool about these older engines. I have a bachmann DeWitt Clinton and of course the Rocket. Very nice. Cheers

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks David - ahh that's one I've been looking out for - fascinating models!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@Legomastr365]

I saw the replica of the John Bull locomotive at the railroad museum of Pennsylvania. It's right next to a GG1 which is very weird to see the size comparison of the two.

[@funkyglider1216]

You, sir, are a real gentleman. Greets from Vienna.

[@Tuggster]

Nice locos Sam! I wish I could have a collection as big as yours!

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks so much! Be careful what you wish for - they take lots of work to maintain!! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@MSR_Studios]

It’s so satisfying to see these historic locomotives run in such a tiny scale

[@SamsTrains]

It is isn't it?!? :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@marty6779]

An engine similar to Lafayette built by Norris was also one of the first steam locomotives in Austria, it was named "Philadelphia". An engine of the same build named "Austria" was intended to be the first steam engine in Austria in 1837, but never reached the country. Instead it was sold to the Birmingham and Bristol railway. The actual first engine (also named "Austria"), was a Stephenson design.

[@tomozbot]

As I commented in a KZbin poll you put out, investing in a 3D printer would be very useful. Imagine how easy it would be to fix that gear if you could just print a new one! It would also assist you in building your own loco for the 100k special.

[@survivingworldsteam]

I have the Lafayette as well. When it ran, it had little trouble pulling it's three coaches. Unfortunately it no longer runs; but not due to cracked gears. I have it on display now with a static model of a Union Pacific Big Boy. The Lafayette with it's train is as long as the Big Boy by itself!

[@SamsTrains]

Very nice James - sorry to hear you've had the same problem... why can't they build models that last? :( Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@greatandpowerfulSUZI]

Hey Sam ive got the same problem with my Lafayette. Also you might wanna watch out for the trucks on john bull's coaches. The wheels dont like to stay in them lol

[@Orlandov12]

I’m not sure if someone has pointed this out yet but Bachmann still has parts for Lafayette on their US parts store if you wanted to repair it. Although I don’t know if they ship to the UK, the locos are pretty cheap on us ebay though too

[@SamsTrains]

Ahh sounds good - thanks for this, I'll take a look! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@lindaoffenbach]

Oh a new one out from Sam. I like, I watch, I smile :) Quite the cute little era one locos hahah. What a joy :)

[@HarryC_640]

They really were fascinating locos!! I love how unique they looked, but they certainly got the job done back in the 1800's and paved the way for modern-day rail around the world!

[@SamsTrains]

They sure were Harry - me too!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@mr.e1944]

I like your enthusiasm. I love these era one locos. I have the John Bull engine and tender, the Dewitt Clinton engine. one Prussia with tender and coaches and one with just the tender. I would like to get the coaches for the John Bull. I am wiring mine for pro-rail on dead rail with sound using Ring Enginerings chips, sugar cube speakers and 3.7 volt LiPo batteries. Of course I have to add these chips to a box car behind the tender, but it allows me to create any track plan and the steam chuff sound makes them come to life. I didn’t know the front could come off the John Bull. I might try running it that way, or buy a second one to run like that. Thanks!

[@shaldurprime7154]

That room is so cool, I don't often see rooms built that high up into a house, maybe it's just an American thing, but all the houses I've seen have unused attic space. There's an identical V rafter area in my garage, albeit completely devoid of floor or furnishings of any kind, all that's left up there is wood; planks and boards and trim leftover from when the house was first built however many decades ago, there's even a frame thing that might have been a sort of jig for when they built the chimney

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Hi Sam. It's so rare to see Era 1 locos these days, so thank you. I think the gizmo on the front of the John Bull is more likely to have been a cowcatcher rather than a snow plough; please leave your comments below (LOL)!

[@MatthewChenault]

There’s a reproduction of Lafayette that’s operated by the B&O Museum. It’s also a movie star, appearing in Walt Disney’s “The Great Locomotive Chase” along with B&O’s _William Mason_ (the second oldest operational locomotive in the world) and Virginia & Truckee’s _Inyo._

[@victoriaharvey8374]

john bull actually ran on wood with a wooden water barrel at the back of the tender and there was a little compartment for someone at the back to apply the tender brake

[@psamaury]

I'm a from belgium French speaking just to say that your prononciation of "Lafayette" is quite good, not to say perfect 😉. Keep doing good things as you do, it's great!

[@SamsTrains]

haha really? Well then that's better than normal, I'll take it! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@rynodynomyte2755]

Beautiful models Sam! Very well detailed!

[@odenviking]

Nice locos, i like them they are difrent thats why i like them. You got two gems of locos. Keep up the good work Sam. 👍👍👍😀😀👍👍

[@ahalfsesameseedbun7472]

You might be able to find a replacement gear for Lafayette if you haven't looked already. Glad you were able to save them from the bin!

[@User58747]

Up my street as well - beautiful little machines were the early locos.

[@SamsTrains]

Glad to hear that - they certainly were!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@User58747]

@@SamsTrains Hey Sam, I think these would make for excellent O gauge models.

[@gigaxacku]

I wish they did more models like these, there's totally a market for them. Plus, they just look really friggin cool

[@muir8009]

When they were new it looks like the market was a bit overestimated as when I got my sets they were getting dumped at wholesale prices. From memory $39 a set I got mine for, and $25 a loco, all new.

[@johnd8892]

Like Muir I got my three sets much cheaper than original retail. Were only in production for a few years in the nineties due to lack of demand. All three Bachmann original historic train pack sets running not too far away from Sam. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppikdWmrna51Z9U The Norris type had the most variations of livery, name and coaches. The Norris locos were the first Lickey bankers, but often needed to work triple headed on the B&G. Remember these are all HO scale when comparing to Rocket. Also included in the vid are a few more era one locomotives.

[@bowser5678]

Many Norris locomotives were shipped across major railways around the world due to their massive success in the States. And yes, the John Bull was an English import built by Robert Stephenson that was modified with an extra bogie at the front of the engine with a wooden pilot, a large headlamp, and a covered tender that’s a pseudo cab with a brake man’s perch on top.

[@traktor4560]

If the gear can be removed have you tried getting someone to 3d print a replacement in nylon? With the right settings and by copying the size of the original you can probably get that fixed quite easily

[@dannyzhao2340]

Among all the era I locomotives of Bachmann, many people said John Bull was the best one. I have only John Bull so there is no way to compare. But actually I like my John Bull very much. Almost all the Bachmann plastic axles have the problem of crack after years of operation but it was still quite easy to repair them even without parts supply. I managed to get my John Bull to run greatly after restoration. BTW, I noticed your John Bull lost a pin part as well as a spring between the main frame of the loco and the pilot wheel rack/cow catcher, it won’t be difficult to repair it and it will be in excellent shape again after restoring it.

[@johnbenedictbarriosquimpo8336]

Congrats sir im from Philippines 🇵🇭 🎉🙏🎊 will support your trains in Asia