Just got my order of locos from a New York firm. All went well and I tried the three engines I got today, all DCC. they are all Bachmann too and HO. THe 0-6-0 ran well but was a bit jumpy at the start (proubly because of the side rods) but OK, bit noisy. Next was a 70 ton diesel (ran but a bit noisy and slow speed was just OK). Last was a 2-6-0 sound value. Ran WOW and good sound, will worth the $100. Now the smaller locos behaved as expected as they have not been run in at all (just a test track as I build my new layout). Just wanted to find out what was out there without spending much (didn't really need any new locos but the two small ones I have different shells for).
I have experience with two Bachmann "Spectrum" steamers. The first was a bust, a Class J 4-8-4. It jerked at all reasonable speeds, so it went back. The second, on Sheldon's recommendation, was the Heavy Mountain 4-8-2. The latter is much better, but it takes a cup and a half of voltage to get moving. My CV2 is set up into nosebleed territory at about 45!! It runs well, otherwise.
My point is that, if a locomotive is going to need something like a 'break in period', it will be a Bachmann. Both in reverse and forward, and for hours sometimes, varying the speed now and then.
That's kind of odd. I have quite a few Bachmann locos, steam and diesel, new, used and new old stock and I've never had any problems like that. I do give all of my new locos break in runs, just because the instructions say to on alot of them, but they've all ran just fine right out of the box. I run straight DC, but I don't know if analog DC vs. DCC would be a factor or not.
Bachmann is not known for high quality they are cheap for a reason.
Your gonna have to spend more money to get quality locos from Atlas, Intermountain, Walthers, etc.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
My Bachmann engines all ran just fine right out of the box. I did have to play significant games with the CV set to avoid the jackrabbit starts and non-existant low speed, but eventually I got them to run pretty well.
Yes, they needed Kadees.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
My layout's DC, and all of my nine Bachmann locos currently in-service run fine at any speed, and all are very capable pullers, too. I have another 3 to rebuild as specific CNR prototypes, and they're great runners, too.
They also run very well with other brands, even on DC, and I've used them with Athearn steam and diesels, Atlas diesels, and various brass steamers, too.
I have no complaints whatsoever about them, and Bachmann does a good job in standing behind the products they sell.
Wayne
My Bachmann DCC/Sound Alco S-4 is a very smooth runner and has given great service for the past 7 years. My only complaint is the overly loud turbocharger whistle.
My DCC on Board GE70 Tonner didn't do so well. The gears cracked after 3 years of service. Before the gears cracked the engine was a smooth runner.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Motley Bachmann is not known for high quality they are cheap for a reason. Your gonna have to spend more money to get quality locos from Atlas, Intermountain, Walthers, etc.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
The only Bachmann I have these days is one of their 2-10-0 decapods with Tsunami sound. It does take a lot of juice to get going but runs well once it does. Don't run it much as it needs accurizing to either Santa Fe which its marked for or erase the markings and make it a Frisco whcih its pretty accurate for.
Steve B
Atlas, Intermountain and Walthers have never made any of the 30 plus steam locos I have from Bachmann/Spectrum? In fact a great many of the steam prototypes Bachmann has offered in the last 20 years have not been offered by anyone, except in brass.
And just like Wayne and others have reported, all mine run very nice, with a lower percentage of problems than the seven Broadway steamers I own.......
OK, Bachmann diesels are mostly purposely at a lower price point than stuff like Intermountain and Atlas. My only Bachmann diesels are 44 tonners, 70 tonners, and some doodlebugs, but they all run just fine.
The Bachmann 0-6-0 is one of their older/lower price point models. But I bet if you open up the tender and remove the noise suppression capacitors from the circuit board, the slow speed problems will go away.
I know this is true for the 70 tonner as well.
All this said, I don't run DCC, so my reviews of Bachmann performance are all based on my DC operating experiance.
Seems like some people have a hard time understanding that Bachmann makes entry level products, mid level products, and high end products (Spectrum).
Detail and performance will vary accordingly, but performance is still pretty good even at the entry level.
And for what it is worth, most of my fleet of 70 plus diesels are Intermoutain and pre Walthers Proto2000.
Atlas makes great locos, but I don't buy them for several reasons.......
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRALAtlas makes great locos, but I don't buy them for several reasons.......
Sounds like there is something you need to get off your chest?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddytlas makes great locos, but I don't buy them for several reasons....... Sounds like there is something you need to get off your chest? Add Quote to your Post
Russell
They had or will have Rs1's, HH600, and S-2's
I have a BS 4-4-0 DCC/Sound. Based on the way it has performed I would buy another BS loco in a heartbeat. I always have that one running while I work on the layout, I wish I could see how many hours it has on it, all I know is it is a lot.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BigDaddy They had or will have Rs1's, HH600, and S-2's
That may be, but Russell is on the right track about me and Atlas. Much of what they offer is way too new for me.
Again, nothing against Atlas, it is just a matter of selection and availablity.
I model 1954, I prefer EMD and ALCO diesels, I freelance, so undecorated models are important to me.
Atlas controls their production rather tightly, I'm not really a "preorder" kind of guy.......
Their selection of undecorated first generation diesels has not really been anywhere near as broad, or as available as Proto2000.
And their selection of proto specific details (like torpedo tube passenger jeeps) has never been as good as Proto.
I like having most of my units from as few different manufacturers as possible, all having the same drives, etc.
I run DC, it makes MU lashups easier, it makes repaires easier.
My EMD F units are all Genesis and Intermountain except for one C&O set from Proto2000 (my only Walthers/Proto locos).
I have a large fleet, about 50 locos, of ALCO FA1/FB1's, FA2's/FB2's, PA/PB's, S1's, RS2's, EMD E8's, GP7's, BL2's, SW1200's, and SD9's (the newest locos on the property), all LifeLike era Proto.
Because of my era, most of these locos run in matched 3 or 4 unit sets, but obviously can be easily mixed as well.
In addition to my freelanced road, I model B&O, C&O and WESTERN MARYLAND.
Again, over the last 20-25 years Proto has filled most of my diesel (and some of my steam) needs........
Without searching real hard or preordering.........and generally at very reasonable prices.......
Now, if I wanted some Fairbanks locos, Atlas would be my go to source......but I don't.....
And, I was completely serious, my two SD9's are the most modern prototype that I own models of, I don't "collect" anything that does not fit the theme of the layout.
selector I have experience with two Bachmann "Spectrum" steamers. The first was a bust, a Class J 4-8-4. It jerked at all reasonable speeds, so it went back. The second, on Sheldon's recommendation, was the Heavy Mountain 4-8-2. The latter is much better, but it takes a cup and a half of voltage to get moving. My CV2 is set up into nosebleed territory at about 45!! It runs well, otherwise. My point is that, if a locomotive is going to need something like a 'break in period', it will be a Bachmann. Both in reverse and forward, and for hours sometimes, varying the speed now and then.
Yes, I cannot speak on the question of decoder performance, don't have any of those in my locos....
But my 9 USRA Heavy Mountains all run really nice:
Some did come with decoders, removed them and sold them on Ebay.....
Henry,
I have all three of those Atlas models undecorated. They all have very nice detailing and fit my 40s era NYC layout theme.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
ATLANTIC CENTRALThat may be, but Russell is on the right track about me and Atlas.
I was hoping for a more salacious reason. I guess that will have to do.
BTW I have a DCC Atlas S1 and a 1980's RS3 that I converted to DCC and I am happy with both.
BigDaddy ATLANTIC CENTRAL That may be, but Russell is on the right track about me and Atlas. I was hoping for a more salacious reason. I guess that will have to do. BTW I have a DCC Atlas S1 and a 1980's RS3 that I converted to DCC and I am happy with both.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL That may be, but Russell is on the right track about me and Atlas.
Henry, that's all there is to it, Proto's selection and availablity has just been a better fit for me over the years.
Atlas makes great locos, I was selling trains when they first came out.
But I have always found great deals on the Proto stuff I wanted. Over 50 Proto locos, dollar cost average price, about $40.00 per powered unit. And a bunch of free replacement wheel sets from LifeLike back in the day, what's not to like?
They run great, the detail is great, they cover the prototypes I'm interested in.
And, having no interest in DCC or sound, no reason to upgrade or replace.....
RR_Mel I had a bad experience with the early HO Bachmann pancake GS-4s, a pair of early Spectrum 2-8-0 and a pair of Spectrum F7s. I ended up selling most of them on eBay keeping the GS-4 shells, they are great for kitbashing. Then a couple of years later just for kicks I sent a pancake GS-4 in for service and was very surprised when I received a DCC GS-4 for the $25 repair fee. The DCC GS-4 has been a great runner for many years. The only problem has been the headlight, it has been intermittent from day one. As that doesn’t really bother me I never looked into the problem. After getting the exceptionally nice running GS-4 I ordered a Shay, it wouldn’t run out of the box. I sent it back and the replacement didn’t run either, the third was the same. I opened it up and found out the motor adjustment screw was also the motor mount screw, I glued the motor in place with the correct gear alignment and it has run great ever since. The Bachmann Shay was my last new locomotive purchased. Now I really enjoy restoring clunkers to look and run better than they did new out of the box. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Mel, I can understand the problems with the pancake motor GS4, and even the early "improved" (not) F7, but I have 7 Spectrum 2-8-0's covering years of different production runs and they have all been great locos?
The 2-8-0's had to be just bad luck.
The Shay, that's a known product problem.
Now, I have sent a few locos back to Bachmann, two steamers and two doodlebugs, but the replacements have all been perfect. And that was all many years ago.
I still watch for good deals on NOS Bachmann Spectrum steam stuff.
I may be a Bachmann fan in some ways, but locos I would avoid from Bachmann:
The N&W J, it's gear ratio is not the best, it needs weight. It can be made into a good piece, but not out of the box.
The newest GS4, and Niagara are much improved, but still not top shelf.
All the newer diesels have a better drive, but not an Intermountain/Proto/Bowser/Genesis quality drive, and detail is lacking - you are getting what you are paying for.
Also, I'm an old school kit builder/tinkerer, so I don't mind doing little things to improve a model.
Examples can be found in my thread about Bachmann loco improvements.
A big example for me is the Bachmann Berkshire. It is more proto specific detail correct than MTH, more available than the Proto2000 model ever was, generally half the price of either of them......all it lacks is weight, easily added.
And I used them as base for some great freelanced heavy Mikes, I build 5 of these, for less than $100 each:
They all run, just I am super picky no mater what price I pay. Fiqured I would have to remove the noise supresion stuff to get good slow speed but this was all just set up on a test track (wanted to make sure they weren't DOA).