N-SCALE J

[Anonymous]

Hey guys I'm looking for info on where I can find a good pulling J class 4-8-4, I've been digging around and all I have been able to find is a Bachman Spectrum........ I have had bad expeirence before with bachman and have tried to stay away from it, do any of you have this loco and how well does it preform, and does it convert to DCC well???

Ray don't worry, I'm just dabbleing in steam nothing too serious..... YET.

Andrew[8]

[Jacktal]

May be I'm lucky but I own a Bachmann 4-8-4 and it does run fairly nice,though it can't be compared to my Kato locos.And I have converted it to DCC with an older HO decoder I had.Fairly easy I might say if you don't mind having the decoder inside the tender (wires in between) as no decoder will fit in the loco,even an "N" scale one.My two cents..........

[Anonymous]

I do not own a Bachmann version, but I do own the Sunset Models brass version which was produced over 15 years ago. They may still be available somewhere, but expect to pay a lot for one, like a few hundred bucks. This is a respectable puller, but I have had trouble with the pilot truck derailing because it is so light. The Bachmann engine has inaccuracies, in that it stands a little too tall, and the fattening of the maroon stripe at the engine's firebox is exaggerated; on the real thing, there is just a slight dip. I do think the basic mechanism of this engine is slightly better than other Bachmann steamers, but as I said I don't own one to really know.

[Wdlgln005]

The Bachmann model is the only game in town for a N&W J. It's a few years old. If you finf one, try it before you buy it. Most likely it needs improved contact with tender pickup. You may get by with a cheater boxcar/tender. There's a roumor Bachmann might do an improved Spectrum version based on their Connie & Mountain.