Senior editor Jim Hediger shows you the Bachmann Trains HO scale Schnabel car during a special move on the Model Railroader staff’s Wisconsin & Southern layout.
Video: Bachmann Trains HO scale Schnabel car
By Angela Cotey | September 13, 2012
| Last updated on February 2, 2021
See this HO scale Schnabel car in action on the Model Railroader staff's model train layout
Neat Car,
I'd love to see it produced in "N" Scale
loved it
A very unique freight car. Had to get one. A great short train and will make interesting operation scenario.
An absolute great looking monster of a heavy duty car! I read the write-up of this car in the November MR. The choice of industries that the loaded transformer would be limited. I would imagine that the load could be delivered to an off line destination. The rules for running the car would be a neat challenge for operators. Great edition from Bachmann.
Don Wick -West Bend, WI
I have one and love it. Sure it has a few short comings for the rivet counters but as a member of a Free-Mo organization when it runs at shows; people stop and watch. Is it for everyone and every layout? Of course not – but it sure draws attention and that is great in my books to have people talk about our hobby. BTW, if you google schnabel car you should get links to pictures and videos of this car in action in NA.
A real cool wagon. Good on Bachmann for setting the pace. I have one – sure it is huge and would not go around my friend's layout – and it looks awesome sitting with an EMD Loco, a buffer wagon and a Caboose.
Nice car. I bought one several months ago.
I have worked on this car fully loaded with a large generator 'The car as it travels is normally 1 engine a buffer and schnabel car as well as a caboose. The whole thing travels at a speed of 25 miles an hour. on the main. By the way the caboose has bunk beds a kitcher,bath and a small dining table great job. Almost forgot the car has hydrolics to move load from side tto side as well as up and dowm for clearance as needed Great job
Make this in N-Scale. People who belong to N-Trak clubs will have room to run this on N-Trak set ups. The public will love it.
Also those with large home layouts will want one.
I would like one in "N" Scale, however, I could only use it in my dreams so I don't expect to have one even if available.
The New South Wales (Australia) Railways had a Schnable wagon in the 1970s & '80s. This somat smaller wagon was designed and used primarily to carry electrical power generating equipment. It had a load capacity of up to 385 (metric) tonnes. One metric tonne is approx 1.1 US tons. Because to load forms part of the structure of the wagon, the maximum load depends in part on the strength of the load. It was carried on 12 – 2 axle bogies of 25 tonnes axle capacity, allowing maximum gross weight of 600 metric tonnes.
A great piece of gear.
There is one recently moved into the Dorigo Steam Railway and Museum, at Dorrigo on the New South Wales North Coast .
Fails to mention the hideous rendition of those Barber S2 Trucks. Flat with no detail at all.
N scale please!
I have to agree with the gentleman who posted ahead of me – 99% of the model railroads I've ever seen can't handle something like this. It's just too big. I'm sure there are tons of items out there that Bachmann (or other manufacturers) could make that would be of interest to more people. I don't understand why they would make something so specialized. But, that's just my opinion, of course.
GREAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT,BUT DO I HAVE THE ROOM?
would have been nice to have seen without the load.
get this in n scale and it will sale more!
Very Very cool
Looks like a great model. Most layouts are cursed with far too tight curving. On a true scale curvature of about six feet it would be fantastic,otherwise "not a goer".
Who runs this monster. I looks like the cargo is a marine diesel for a container ship.
An excellent model.Very realistic looking piece of equipment.
What a useless item for 99% of model railroads. Questions: 1) Is your layout big enough to run this? 2) Do you have any idea how to run the special move that this thing requires on the prototype? If "no" to either one ………… you don't need this car.
Bachmann has out done itself with this one. Would be a great display model for me. To modern for my layout. Great video MR.
I've seen one of these monsters in action, both loaded and unloaded. The HO model looks realistic enough for the average modeler. Also have seen pictures of these cars running equipment for Ontario Hydro moving equipment that was just too large for anything "standard".
Thanks for the action!
Saw a video on You Tube and Googled it. Impressive. This is one massive piece of railroad rolling stock. I like it.