Nachoman's EOY 2010 challenge

[nachoman]

Looking good!

On the drive train, does the electric motor send power to the trucks, then the trucks make the crankshaft on the side turn?

Yep. The MDC shays were more like a diesel drive train, with the outside drive shaft just for show. The Bachmann shays are different, and use the outside drive shaft to power the wheels. I can't say which is a better system. I guess one can say the bachmann is more true to the prototype, but then again how true could it be given it is powered by electricity and not steam. The MDC mechanism required a ton of tweaking just to run right, and the Bachmann (I have heard) has problems with gears wearing out quickly.