This review deals with an Aristocraft BNSF coal train set (ART-29006), comprising one BNSF Dash-9 six-axle diesel and six BNSF 100 ton coal hoppers with simulated coal loads.

SHIPPING & HANDLING

The set was shipped from RLD Hobbies, Aurora, Illinois to Perth, Western Australia via USPS.  There was a period of over a week when no movement was showing on the USPS web site – the train was delayed at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport!  Less than 24 hours after an eMail to the retailer about the problem, the train was on its way, and everything arrived in one piece.

Aristocraft now ships Dash-9s without the extra weights that used to come with these engines, for the excellent reason that movement of these weights during transit can seriously damage the locomotive.  The extra weights are readily available to US customers, but may be more problematic for overseas customers because of the cost of postage.

INITIAL SET-UP

There is some assembly required (i.e., fastening railings) on the Dash-9.  It is a fiddly job, as the pieces do not fit together well.  This task will likely occupy a good part of a rainy afternoon.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 1:  the front and rear railings are the most tedious to fit.  Note the snow plough fitted as standard.

The hoppers are very robust, and require no assembly.  The hatches on the bottom operate, a feature little kids love.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 2:  The hoppers have three sets of hatches.

The coal loads are a snug fit.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 3:  the coal load is made of a stiff, foam-like substance.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 4:  note overhang on 8’ diameter track.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 5:  very realistic, except it’s too clean!

OPERATION

Aristocraft stipulates 8’ as the minimum diameter for the coal train.  However, the Dash-9 manual states that “curve diameters of 8’ and smaller may cause derailments.”  We’ve managed to keep the hoppers on minimum-specification rails using USA four-axle locos, and we’ve also succeeded in keeping the Dash-9 by itself on the same track provided we keep the speed low.  However, derailments were the inevitable consequence when we tried to get the Dash-9 to pull the hoppers on 8’ diameter track.

It’s fair to say that 10’ is a realistic minimum track diameter for this large diesel.  As far as switches are concerned, we have not run the Dash-9 on anything smaller than a USA #6.  It runs fine on that switch, even at speed.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 6: note the rear truck overhang on 10’ diameter track!

The knuckle couplers that come fitted to the loco and the hoppers are perfectly satisfactory.  However, on our Dash-9, we’ve swapped out the rear knuckle coupler for the included hook-and-loop.  We did this because, unlike the coal train, the rest of our rolling stock is H&L and we don’t want to wear the expense of coupler conversion at this point in time.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 7:  truck assembly showing H&L coupler.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 8:  H&L coupler fitted to rear of Dash-9.

Figure 9:  the front and rear detailing is excellent.

If you’re considering installing the coal train’s hook-and-loop couplers, check out Ron Wenger’s article, “Installing Hook & Loop Couplers on the SD45, RS3, Center Cab and Lil' Critter” on the Aristocraft web site, under the Articles & Photos menu.  Although Wenger’s descriptions don’t deal specifically with the Dash-9, they provide useful guidance about an operation that may not otherwise be intuitive.

Using Wenger’s guidance results in a coupler that works fine, although the look is nothing special (the shank is quite long).  If prototypical appearance is important to you, it may be unacceptable.  Swapping out the knuckle couplers on the hoppers is a much simpler proposition.  The size of the hoppers’ H&Ls is noticeably smaller than comparable USA couplers.

Figure 10 SEQ Figure \* ARABIC :  one powerful locomotive!

The Dash-9 pulls from low amps, and has plenty of power.  We’ve read one report that claims a single loco can pull 60 cars.  We can’t verify that, but we can say it would be prudent to keep a close eye on any little children when the coal train is running at speed.  The Dash-9 is a big loco, and the coal hoppers are solidly made, so the potential for serious injury exists if it collides with a small human..

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 11  the coal train set includes six of these.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 13:  note yellow ROTARY END sign.

The level of detail on both the Dash-9 and the hoppers is excellent.  The hoppers are clearly marked with ROTARY END signs.  If you’re interested in how rotary car dumpers work, go to www.boatnerd.com/gathering/duluth01pic.htm and scroll down to the SMET tour.  There are a series of stills about the coal loading process at Duluth, Minnesota, USA (there is also a video, but we’ve never been able to view it.)  While the Aristocraft hoppers don’t actually have rotating couplers, it’s interesting to see how the real thing works.

COMPARISON

Six-axle American diesels have been the subject of several forum posts over the past year, and there has been some discussion about which approach to 6-axle power, USA Trains’ or Aristocraft’s, is “better”.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 14:  Aristocraft Dash-9 at the top, USA Trains SD40 at the bottom.

The differences may be summarised as follows:

1) The SD-40 uses traction tyres and contact shoes.  The traction tyres have been removed from this loco.  Look carefully at the wheels in the third axle to see the grooves the tyres sit in.

2) The outside axle on each SD-40 truck swivels (note the angle of the front outside axle in the photo).

Having run both locos for several months now, we find a lot to like about both of them.

SUMMARY

One of our goals is to construct a model of a Powder River Basin (Wyoming, USA) open-cut coal mine.  There is plenty of information about this topic on the web, and the Aristocraft coal train will be integral to whatever we build.

This a superbly designed, ruggedly constructed train set.  Except for the minor quibble about fitting the Dash-9’s railings, there is nothing to fault about it.  Aristocraft is to be congratulated on producing an awesome model, one that should provide much pleasure for young and old alike.

David Healy 2007.