I've wanted a rolling road/test stand setup for some time but have been always turned off by the high prices of ones like the Marklin setup.

I came across these, from Bachrus (http://www.bachrus.com/) a few weeks ago. When I ordered, shipping was fast and I received my set the day after I ordered it.
Basically, for under $100 (about $80+shipping), you end up with a setup capable of testing most locomotives.

I purchased the series 50 items, 54RS and the three rail adapter set 50-3RA. The setup includes everything in the photo which is good for almost any locomotive up to 4 driven axles. You can purchase additional roller sets (for driven axles) or saddles (for non driven axles). However, with this setup, I think I can support any locomotive in my collection other than the big BR53's and Bigboys.

Bachrus also makes the 40 series suitable for Z and N gauge stuff, and the bigger 60 series that would work with 1 gauge stuff.

The roller sets look like these, with four bearings per axle. As I mentioned, you can add as many of these as you need.

To use the stand, you provide a piece of track. Each one of the cross bars on all of the pieces are held in place with a small set screw. Using the included allen key, you simply lossen the screw, place it onto the track, press the two sides apart and re-tighten. Each piece has a small lip that then via pressures grips onto the inner end of the rail. This may be the only real downside of this system as it takes some trial and error to ensure that you have the pieces installed securely such that they don't slip off of the track. However, once you get this, it is possible to get them on fairly well.

The following photo shows a setup with them on the track, and then the same setup with a locomotive ontop. The setup seems to perform well both mechanically and electrically.

Hello Tulit,

Thank you for your post, I purchased this set more than six years ago for my 2 rail DCC trains. I'll have to contact Bachrus to purchase the Part No: 50-3RA to have my Marklin locomotives run on this test track!

Michel

Question: would it harm an engine to run a driven wheel without a roller?

e.g., could you run a class 50 steam engine with your set up or would it be bad to free-wheel two of the driven wheels?

Thanks!

I think it would be fine other than you might make it less stable and more likely to fall off the stand? You can buy rollers in pairs of two if you have locomotives with more driven axles.

thanks for the detailed explanation and option one has to buy these test rollers at a cheaper price.

John