This model is not really a kit bash, just some changes and minor added details to the existing Bachmann
Centennial 2-6-0/4-4-0.
As most know, my favorite Bachmann Spectrum loco to date still remains the Centennial 2-6-0, with my favorite
factory paint job being that of the Kansas Central loco. My favorite of the Bachmann 4-4-0s is the Eureka! Now
I had always wanted Bachmann to release a 2-6-0 with the Eureka (Baldwin #1) paint scheme, as a brother to the
Eureka model. None came, and with the spectrum line moving onto other things, the chances of such a fancy 2-6-0
coming out are slim...so I bought a 2nd Eureka and did a bit of parts swapping!
Eureka & Palisade #6 'Reveille' of 1878 was a Baldwin 8-20-D identical to the Bachmann 2-6-0 model, and according to
records was delivered to the RR with the same #1 paint scheme as 'Eureka'. 'Reveille' was one of the last Baldwin
locos to sport the #1 paint job, before the company moved into their dark green period (see Jim Wilke's 2-8-0 bash).
Reveille, unlike Eureka, did not have a polished wood cab, but was supplied to the RR with a cab painted in dark Lake
to match the rest of the loco's base colour. On the model, Lake has been representes by Bachmann as black, so the cab
was also painted black. Reveille's specs also indicate she was supplied with a crosshead water pump to the fireman's
side and injectors to both sides. I have not seen a photo of Reveille as delievered in 1878, so the model is based on
the interpretation of the written specs. A new Eureka 4-4-0 model was bought for the conversion, and parts swapped over
from an old RGS 2-6-0 I had. While the task of swapping parts seemed simple, the reality was very different, where many
like looking parts on both models were actually not compatable, and indeed the electronics within and cards were different.
It was very frustrating swapping the parts one by one until the thing went togther and actually ran the way it was
supposed to! The decoration came as standard on the Bachmann Eureka model, but the new names and numbers were decals
provided by Stan Cedarleaf.
I now have a neat Eureka & Palisades 4-4-0 #4 'Eureka' and 2-6-0 #6 'Reveille' but no wagons!! That will come!
