I'm considering buying a couple of the Bachmann light 2-10-2s and installing Tsunami heavy steam decoders. Anyone out there own one of these? Care to offer your opinion on how it looks - cast-on detail or separate castings, running quality - smooth or jerky, pulling strength - strong or pitiful? Are you happy with it?
Any help would be appreciated.
Jeff
I have a Bachmann Spectrum DMIR 2-10-2. I got it from Bachmann as a free warranty replacement for a 4-8-2 that could not be repaired because Bachmann no longer had the parts. I was given the opportunity to choose whichever non-sound steam loco that I wanted, but the in-stock choices were so limited that I chose this one. I didn't really want it, so it just sits on my layout ready for an eventual eBay sale.
It runs fine. No jerking or stalling. I also have a BLI light 2-10-2, and side-by side, the two locos look pretty similar. The Bachmann pulls pretty well with no slipping or struggling.
What road names are you considering?
Rich
Alton Junction
The Bachmann 2-10-2 is a very nice loco with a die cast boiler all seperately applied detail. They run good, and pull moderately well.
What is your minimum radius - this loco does not like sharp curves - 22" is the bare minimum and closer to 30" radius would be much better for it.
Sheldon
Our club members have two, and to tell you the truth, I'm less than impressed. First, they look great. we have the DMIR versions.and they look great pulling a long string of ore cars.
When they run, they run reasonably well and can easily handle 30 mixed MDC and Walthers ore cars.
With a blue box Athearn diesel as a 5 and an Atlas or Kato diesel as a 10, I would say their operation is about a 7 and their reliability is about a 3. Both have had problems with the valve gear or drive rods binding, which will stall the locomotive. The rods seem to flex and start bumping the bolt heads that secure them. When they do run, they are quiet and smooth. They are not quite ready for prime time for a display layout that runs many hours a day, but then I have not seen a steam locomotive that runs as reliably as an Athearn diesel yet.
For a long wheel base locomotive, they seem to track pretty well over vertical bumps and around 30" + radius corners. Haven't tried it yet on a yard ladder with No 6 switches.
I've thought about buying one. I think with a little tinkering with the rods, they would be a good locomotive.
All my humble opinion. It's worth what you paid for it.
I had the DMIR version also and loved the looks; in fact that is why I bought it. I had problems keeping it on the track around some of my turnouts and curves so I put it back on Ebay and got what I paid for it. The long wheelbase makes it sensitive to bumps in the track. I still love the looks of the loco and sometimes wish I had kept it just to have in the roundhouse. Great looking engine!
- Bob
PS: My track isn't that bad; I have three articulated locos (Big Boy, Challenger and Y6B) and they don't have any problems with my track or turnouts.
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
I picked up a couple of these in the CNR livery. They pull reasonably and there speed control is quite good.
Not often that I can actually find a Canadian steamer that actually did exist.
These run fine, no complaints and the Bachmann sound is not bad, at least not by my standards. Not the best sound but acceptable.
Hi Rich,
I was considering the KCS version because I like doghouses.
Thanks for your reply.
Hi Sheldon,
My minimum radius is 30", so that shouldn't be a problem.
Thanks for your reply, Redore. Kinda odd that the replies so far have been so split, some really like the engine, others, like you, aren't as happy.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your reply. I have a couple of the Proto 2000 heavy 2-10-2s and they don't have any problems on my track related to the drivers, so maybe this engine won't either.
Thanks Don, opinion seems to be really split on this engine.
Hi Jeff-
I have several of these engines and I am satisfied with all of them. I bought all mine at blow out prices;
+/- $60 so for the price a very good engine. One had a wheel that wobbled but was easily fixed.
Erik
Erik Fiske
I couldn't fix your brakes, so I made your horn louder
If the railroad you model used the USRA light 2-10-2, the model isn't bad. I bought one of these though at the same time I bought a Bachmann Berkshire. The 2-10-2 was disappointing in comparison to the 2-8-4 in terms of performance. It is now in the process of being kitbashed into a 2-8-0. That tells you my satisfaction with it.
Flynn If the railroad you model used the USRA light 2-10-2, the model isn't bad. I bought one of these though at the same time I bought a Bachmann Berkshire. The 2-10-2 was disappointing in comparison to the 2-8-4 in terms of performance. It is now in the process of being kitbashed into a 2-8-0. That tells you my satisfaction with it.
What excatly was wrong with it?
Bachmann gives new locos in place of defective ones.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Flynn: If the railroad you model used the USRA light 2-10-2, the model isn't bad. I bought one of these though at the same time I bought a Bachmann Berkshire. The 2-10-2 was disappointing in comparison to the 2-8-4 in terms of performance. It is now in the process of being kitbashed into a 2-8-0. That tells you my satisfaction with it. What excatly was wrong with it? Bachmann gives new locos in place of defective ones. Sheldon
Flynn: If the railroad you model used the USRA light 2-10-2, the model isn't bad. I bought one of these though at the same time I bought a Bachmann Berkshire. The 2-10-2 was disappointing in comparison to the 2-8-4 in terms of performance. It is now in the process of being kitbashed into a 2-8-0. That tells you my satisfaction with it.
I mentioned earlier in this thread that Bachmann does replace defective locos if they cannot be repaired. However, Bachmann will only replace a defective loco with in-stock inventory which often means that you cannot get an exact replacement. That's how I wound up with a DMIR 2-10-2 as a replacement for a C&O 4-8-2.
The locomotive was not "defective" per se. I was commenting that, in hindsight, I would have ordered their Berk over the light Santa Fe as the Berk was superior in terms of pulling power, detail, slow speed, etc. The pricing (at the time) was similar and I believe it still is very similar; both seeming to be had for less than $90.00.
In terms of performance, the 2-10-2 had more problems on turnouts, which is to be expected, and less forgiving than the Berk in relation to some areas of bad trackwork. It was more... finicky and would have required weighting to lessen the wheelslip I had on grades.
The original poster asked impressions/opinions. My satisfaction was rated about 4 out of 10 on the 2-10-2 whereas the Berk got a 10 out of 10.
I'm not going to ask for a replacement since I didn't consider the locomotive "defective" as it ran; albeit not as well in relation to the excellent Berkshire. Given relative price points and all other things being equal, the Berk is a better value for the money.
Flynn,
Thanks for the clarification.
A few thoughts on steam locos - real and model - and the choices we make in this hobby.
As rigid wheel base gets longer, both model and prototype suffer several shortcomings, and our models suffer a few extra problems.
First, real and model, longer rigid wheelbases require larger curves, larger turnouts, loose traction sooner as radius decreases, and suffer more or track irregularities or grade transitions.
Our models, even with sprung or partly sprung driver suspensions, loose pulling power compared to locos of similar weight with fewer drivers, because the weight per wheel is reduced and even the best model suspensions are less than perfect.
The USRA light 2-10-2 and Heavy 4-8-2 use the same boiler, both in prototype and in Bachmann's models. They weight about the same, yet in model form the 4-8-2 is a much better puller than the 2-10-2. It simply is easier to get 4 axles to transmit power effectly than five.
The Bachmann Berkshire is actually a little light, but does pull OK out of the box - they have lots a room for extra weight and can easily be increased by 5 oz or more.
I have converted five Bachmann Berkshires into freelanced heavy Mikados and added weight to all. Here are some photos:
These "Mikados" will pull 40-45 cars on level track, Two can pull a 60 car train up 2% grades.
As for the 2-10-2, I would suggest BullFrogSnot for added traction as there is no room for additional weight in its metal boiler.