whats bachmanns best

[Budliner]

can someone tel me whats the best bachmann steam
I will like to get the best one and need to know what one runs
fast and pulles sure some of you got some new bachmann
engins
I have the texas 2 10 4
the 4 4 0 the 2 8 0
and was wondering if that has a good one or one thats not bad !!!

[Anonymous]

Opinions will vary, but I subscribe to the belief that Bachmann's Spectrum line of locomotives are best. The mechanical underpinnings are superior to that of their regular line.

[Anonymous]

I recenty purchased my first Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-2 Heavy Mountain($120.00).
and have no regrets(Surprise)
MR did a Oct 03 review on this 21 oz baby. It will travel forty feet in 20 seconds w/o
cars and that's approx 120 MPH.
I also own an IHC 4-8-2 Heavy Mountain and the Rivarossi Allegheny. The Bachmann
is a good performer and carries a 12 month warranty on operating parts, three months
on non-operating parts.

[Anonymous]

Any bachmann spectrum steam is good, stay away from their standards.

Jay

[Anonymous]

Spectrum

[Anonymous]

I have my eye on the Spectrum 2-6-6-2 that I think would be Bachmann's best work yet. I already own the Heavy Mountain and the J-2 (C&O)

Steam in the regular line, you need to turn around and run as fast as you can. There are other engines that will perform better than these.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BUDLINER

..... one runs fast and ....

Model Railroaders want locomotives that run at prototypical speeds, not fast.....maybe you should consider slot cars or R/C cars/boats instead of trains.....

The best HO scale Bachmann steam locomotive to date is the Spectrum 2-6-6-2 which runs nice and slow, and will pull a heavy train. See: http://peachcreekshops.com/page.php?id=coreview

[Eriediamond]

I have only one Bachmann locomotive that came in a train set from Santa a couple years ago. OK, my wife!!! It's a Spectrum 2-8-0 in a green Southern scheme. It performs exceptionally well for me. Only problem was from my own doing in that after disassembly for lubrication purposes coulden't get all those wires rerouted like it came from the factory. Again, it is from my own doing, but wi***here was a better way for running those wires. Because of the flawless operation of this loco, the 2-10-0 Decapod in Erie, of coarse is very close to being ordered.

[Budliner]

hmm I also love the Heavy Mountain units and no I dont want slot cars but if it runs fast than thats a sign it runs good!!!!


B-

[aegis2]

Hmmmm. I have a Bachmann heavy Mountain and it runs at prototypical speeds. At full throttle (13.9 volts) mine does a scale 75 mph unloaded and 68 mph with 11 passenger cars. I dug out the Oct 2003 MR and they have the top speed at 71 mph at 12 volts. Loco 3 - have you juiced yours up? If not I'd check your power supply, because it's providing too much voltage.

[Anonymous]

I've got a Spectrum LIGHT (not heavy) Mountain in UP scheme and it runs great. Pulls a lot (but my cars are not weighted so i don't know), too. But, take my advise, DON'T RUN THEM AT CRAZY FAST SPEEDS!!!! Bachmann even states in the sheets that come with their locomotives DO NOT RUN AT FULL SPEED. This is bad for the motor and can wear it out.

[Budliner]

thanks for the good info better to find out here than to smoke out one train
will the steem units run on my tight 18s

B-

[Anonymous]

I can get my 4-8-2 around 18", but it looks sevearly strained while doing so. Better stick with 22".

[Budliner]

sun of a g-


B -

[lupo]

I have 3 spectrum locomotives; the same one 4884bigboy mentioned and a 2-8-0 and a small 0-6-0-t they all run very fine and look great!

[Budliner]

are the diesels made as well as the steam spectrum

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BUDLINER

sun of a g-


B -

[?][?][?][?][?] Son of a what?[?][?][?][:0]

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

I've got a Spectrum LIGHT (not heavy) Mountain in UP scheme and it runs great. Pulls a lot (but my cars are not weighted so i don't know), too. But, take my advise, DON'T RUN THEM AT CRAZY FAST SPEEDS!!!! Bachmann even states in the sheets that come with their locomotives DO NOT RUN AT FULL SPEED. This is bad for the motor and can wear it out.

Thats right. I don't know why anyone in their right mind would run a model steam locomotive at 120 mph. It might cause the valve gear to flow improperly and bind up, derailing the engine. [:(] And it's prototypically incorrect. This is also bad for the motor as you're helping burn it out. Trains don't usually exceed 35 mph on this man's layout.

[Anonymous]

Greetings,

I have a 2-8-0 GN Plus series.

Also BN SD45 Plus and Northern Pacific SD45 Spectrum.

I am very pleased with all the above.

Mark in Texas

[AggroJones]

Bachmann's best locomotives period are the USRA heavy 4-8-2 and USRA 2-6-6-2. Both are extremely smooth runners and are capable of great low speed operation. Lots of fine piping, beautiful running gear, and relatively high tractive effort.

[Anonymous]

The only thing that high speed running will do is to wear out the commutator (its what the brushes contact, the brass thing on the end of the motor). As an R/C guy as well as a train guy, I know about motor maintenance. If the commutator is discolored, then there are a few things you can do to fix it. If you can take the armature (the thing that spins) out of the case, you can find an R/C guy with a motor lathe and have him true the commutator. If you can’t take the armature out, then you need to purchase a commutator cleaning stick. It’s about an inch and a half long and about 1/8” in diameter and is made (I think) out of fiberglass strands. You will probably be able to find one at a local hobby shop that caters to the R/C hobby. I have used one to clean the commutator on my locomotives, and it has worked well.

[Budliner]

Train-Master
motor lathe and have him true the commutator. If you can’t take the armature out, then you need to purchase a commutator cleaning stick. It’s about an inch and a half long and about 1/8” in diameter and is made (I think) out

hey I use an eraser


B-

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Bachmann's best locomotives period are the USRA heavy 4-8-2 and USRA 2-6-6-2. Both are extremely smooth runners and are capable of great low speed operation. Lots of fine piping, beautiful running gear, and relatively high tractive effort.

What about the 2-8-0? I hear a lot of good things about it.

[dharmon]

Since we're telling this gent how unprototypical it is to run fast...(after all, how he enjoys the hobby is his business), the NYC and PRR routinely ran NYC to CHI at in excess of 100 mph. While it is true that most ran well below that, going fast is not completely out of reality.

[Anonymous]

I like the K4. Of course, that's the only Bachmann steam I have. My friend has some Bachmann steam and he said he likes the Daylight 4-8-4 they have.

[Anonymous]

Oops, I posted it twice.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Bachmann's best locomotives period are the USRA heavy 4-8-2 and USRA 2-6-6-2. Both are extremely smooth runners and are capable of great low speed operation. Lots of fine piping, beautiful running gear, and relatively high tractive effort.

What about the 2-8-0? I hear a lot of good things about it.

Their Spectrum 2-8-0 is pretty good, but not up to the level of the Heavy mountain and 2-6-6-2. The electrical wipers are shaped weird and cause erratic running on curves. Plus they are fragile and don't stand up well to bending them back in position. [V] All the 2-8-0s I've seen run have had a slight limp with each driver rotation. Not too objectionable though. And they are not capable of smooth low speeds like the 2-6-6-2 and heavy 4-8-2. I know, I own one and have seen several run. [;)] Remember, the Spectrum 2-8-0 is was the first of the "new wave" plastic steam.

[Budliner]

I see the 2-6-6-2 has the traction tires is that a bad thing
oh that 4-8-2 whats Odyssey System for speed control Command Control system is that fluff or is it something I will need


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[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Since we're telling this gent how unprototypical it is to run fast...(after all, how he enjoys the hobby is his business), the NYC and PRR routinely ran NYC to CHI at in excess of 100 mph. While it is true that most ran well below that, going fast is not completely out of reality.

Of course, the "reality" of the same time period is that the average train speed of the Pennsy and NYC during the same period was somewhere around 25 MPH. I guess the rest of the railroad was waiting around for those one or two speeders...