Opinions: Bachmann SP Daylight

[KenK]

Anyone got one of these? What's your opinion of it? Particularly interested in
performance / reliability factors.

[KenK]

One other thing: Is this the only generally avaliable HO GS-4 Daylight?
I don't remember anyone else making one.

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by KenK

One other thing: Is this the only generally avaliable HO GS-4 Daylight?
I don't remember anyone else making one.

The Bachmann GS-4 the only non-brass one available. It's better than it was 10 years ago, but still leaves a bit to be desired. However, Bachmann is coming out with a Spectrum version sometime next year. I understand they'll do both the skirted and de-skirted versions and they'll be DCC ready. Wouldn't surprise me if they offer a sound equipped version.

Andre

[KenK]

My local shop has one for $60.00. Don't know how old it is, it wasn't ther last week,
but it's on the discount table with a tag saying " tested on _____date".
I didn't ask him about it at all yet.

Waht do you guys think? I've wanted a Daylight for 20 years.

[AntonioFP45]

KenK,

Since you're serious, ask the shop manager if he can test it in front of you. Most reputable model railroad shops have a stretches of track hooked to a power pack to test locomoitves.

[cacole]

Bachmann is supposed to be coming out with a Spectrum version of this locomotive some time next year.

The one you saw is no doubt a Bachmann Plus version -- a mid-range Bachmann product. It has a smoke generator in it, but lacks a DCC decoder socket, so if you run only conventional DC block control it is a good locomotive that runs reasonably well.

If you have DCC, you might want to consider waiting for a Spectrum. I installed a decoder into a Plus for a friend of mine, and it was really a chore. First, it took him a week or more to discover how to get the shell off and remove other items so I could open up the frame to gain access to the motor. Relatively major modifications, such as grinding out space for a decoder, replacing the headlight bulb, and insulating the motor from the frame, had to be performed in order to install the decoder. I then gave it back to him and he had to replace all of the drive rods and shell. I install decoders, but I ask the locomotive owners to disassemble and reassemble them so I don't get blamed for breaking something.

After that experience, I will never again attempt to install a decoder into a Bachmann Plus product. Spectrum models are a simply plug-in installation.

[Anonymous]

Ask your shop if they can beat the $60.00 price listed by Trainworld in MR? They have been advertised
for ever.

If still tempted, I believe that Bachmann carries a full one year warranty but you eat the postage.

[fec153]

I have a Daylight consist that is over 12 years old. The engine still works well.
Yes,it is a Bachmann.

[Don Gibson]

THE PROBLEM is:

The OLD Bachman had nice paint job was too light to pull much and had a cheap mechanism. . Press-fit Wheels turned on the axles and locked up valve gear. DON'T BUY at any price

The CURRENT version has a much better mechanism, and a 'smoke' unit that sputters oil all over the top of the engine. OK if you remove the smoke unit. These are available for $60 + $10 shipping from NY. and are worth the money

The NEW version isn't out yet. So everything is conjecture. SO I'd buy one current version now, and the newer one (when it's out) without the side skirts and in Black, like they ended up.

[AggroJones]

I'd just wait for the newer Spectrum one. The old version is horribly inaccurate. Undersized drivers, too skinny boiler. MY Bachmann Plus GS-4 is damn near about to be officially retired. The axles cracked and the valve gear is starting to wear out. I've had it for 6 years and since, have ran it into the ground.

I'm waiting for the unskirted black one when ever the new locomotives come out.

[Anonymous]

My first GS-4 was an old Bachmann with the pancake motor. I repowered it with an Overland repower kit and ran it till it died. Now I have a PLUS with no problems. When I wear this one out I'll buy the Spectrum.

[Don Gibson]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

I'd just wait for the newer Spectrum one. The old version is horribly inaccurate. Undersized drivers, too skinny boiler. ...I'm waiting for the unskirted black one when ever the new locomotives come out.

A.J.:

You don't really expect Bachmann to retire their GS-4 tooling, do you? That, and the paint job are what they have going for them.This is a company retired their AT&SF 4-8-4 and 2-10-4's rather than replace the broken mould. Better to have a new mechanism, and add sound to sell to a new market - and at a higher price.

I agree, that the 'skirtless' version in black & silver is tempting

[KenK]

Thanks for your help guys. I'm leaning towards buying it. I don't have DCC, I don't believe
my 5x8 layout needs it. Sound is nice, I have BLI Frisco Mikado, but only because I got it
from a co-worker NIB for $125.00.

[KenK]

Say what is your minimum radius that you run this thing on? I have 18".

[Anonymous]

I'm waiting for the Spectrum. One way you can tell if an HO steam locomotive is a good one or a crapper, is if it has wires running from the loco to the tender, meaning it has pickup wheels on the tender. I have a 0-6-0 from Bachmann that has all the pickup wheels and mechanisms in the locomotive. The tender connects via a stupid looking plastic bar, and the tender wheels are plastic. The Spectrum GS-4 should prove to be an all-around better runner and looker.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by KenK

Say what is your minimum radius that you run this thing on? I have 18".

18" radius makes it slow down alot. Plus the overhang is immense. If you have anything wider, run it on them. 18" is the manufactures stated minimum.

[Anonymous]

I own a Bachmann plus SP GS-4, ( War Baby ) I have run this little locomotive quite a bit, and it is virtually flawless in performance, detail is rather sparse, but I weathered it just recently, and it looks much better, for an HO Scale steamer, it has decent tractive effort, and will handle a 25 car freight on my layout, with 22 inch min. radius curves, one thing that made it run much smoother was by useing STP Automotive oil additive on the side rod bearings, and valve gear, don"t however use it in the gearing, it could damage plastic gears, but it shure does a great job on the drive rods, a little goes a long way, The model ran well before, but runs great now with the STP removing a lot of friction in the side rods, I think I paid around 60 bucks for it, and it is worth it, but don"t put oil in the smoke tank, it will blow oil all over the place, and dosen"t smoke well unless the speed is turned up to Sputnik ranges, so it is pretty much useless to me, but I like the model a lot, it is a pretty darned good steamer for the money.

Mac

[Anonymous]

Well in my opinion, the current Bachmann Souhtern Pacific Daylight is great.

My local shop had it for $112.00. I thought it was expensive, but I didn't care. So I bought it along with some freight cars to go with my bachmann 0-6-0 Smokey mountain express.

I now am unseperable from my daylight, and since my model railroad is going to be based on the Conway section of my local railroad, I will run it as a white flagged special, or a permenant visitor as a peice for the train mueseum that will be placed on the spur that in real life leads to and electric company. I will buy other engines based on vintage prototypes and paint them for more local railroads.

The Daylight, how ever will stay the same. It was run with 6 bachmann Daylight Heavy weights on my local model Railroad clubs layout. It added the feel of nastalgia against the desils that reside on the layout and the desils that other members brought. They had steam enignes too. Instead of drooling over a prototypically lightted Norflok and Southern Dash 9's complete with blinking ditch lights that one member brought, Every one drooled over my Daylight while it stood in the passenger terminal with smoke wafting up to the roof (A DC loco on a DCC layout with a smoke unit, will smoke) while the desils pulled a long freight around the layout and the club passenger train sat oppisite my beloved Daylight.

When the spectrum version comes out I will buy it, but, I will have the clubs DCC expert put DCC in my first Daylight.

My daylight has performed well, but some light tuning up is needed along with detailing (NEVER WEATHERING). My reason for that is I like the color and don't want to see it spoiled. The tender could use some weighting and I wil convert the original couplings with the metal coiled spring couplers, also from bachmann. My Daylight is very reliable and looks good with freight or passenger (As brits would call it, a down right mixed traffic engine) I would recomend the bachmann daylight to any one. If you have DCC and you don't have the spectrum version, program it for 0000000 or something like that. Thats what the club did.


When you put smoke oil in the engine, ONLY PUT TWO OR THREE DROPS, I PUT TWO THOUGH, BECAUSE IT WILL GET VERY OILEY. AN OILY HO ENGINE IS NOT ATTRACTIVE IN MY MIND. But thats just me. I sent away for the one year warrantee, and have renewed it this year for saftey precautions. I highly recomend the warrantee for those who have a bachmann daylight and love it like I do.

Nicholas Parker

P:S: Locomotive3, how did you come up with a password similar to mine? Oh well, I geuss great minds think alike eh. By the way, do you have a daylight. If you do please send me a picture of you and your daylight and I will send you one of me and my pride and joy.