Improvements for a Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-2 Mountain

[tompm]

I have a number of these 4-8-2 Mountains that came with DCC. They are the C&O versions with the vandy tenders.

The one item I am NOT fond of is those lousy wipers they used to pick-up track power by the main drivers. i found that Backmann utilized the same design for their later 4-8-4 Northerns also.

Does someone know of an alternate arrangement for electrical pick-ups,....perhaps something using phosphor bronze WIRE rubbing against the flanges of the drivers ??

I agree about the pick ups. I have a NYO&W version and half of the pick ups are either broken or mis aligned. I was able to order extra pick ups from Bachmann. I have not yet replaced them.