What are everyone's thoughts about Bachman Spectrum Steamers??

[dano99a]

Ok, so I'm getting a C&O 4-8-2 Hvy Mountain for a really great price and I was just wondering what are people's general feelings about the Bachman Spectrum stuff?

All I own is 13 P2K diesels a A-Genesis Steamer and 1 Atlas Diesel. So I have no experience with the spectrum stuff. Is it: "ok", "trash", or "well thought out" ?

Please tell me your experiences in putting a DCC sound decoder in one if you have.

Thanks ahead, to all of you for your time, thoughts and opinions.

[orsonroy]

Bachmann makes three lines of steam: Spectrum, Silver and "regular". The regular stuff is toy train set poo, the Silver series is OK, and the Spectrum series is among the best plastic steam on the market (P2K and BLI being the other two best, but I won't comment on their order). I usually use the Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 as the "engine to beat" in terms of looks and performance.

I've got over 10 Spectrum engines, including two of the heavy mountains. You won't be disappointed!

[Anonymous]

How easy are the Spectrum steam locos to convert to DCC? Do they come DCC-ready (i.e., with an NMRA DCC plug socket)?

[lupo]

I have 3 of them, and imo they are very nicely detailed, they look great!
run smooth and sell at a very competative prices if you look around.

[AggroJones]

I have the SP Heavy Mountain. Great runner. That and their 2-6-6-2 are the best of the Spectrum line. Them heavy 4-8-2's go for $110, almost a steal. Anf if you get the C&O, it'll be the most acurate unit of all. Over here we get an Espee tender on a basic USRA body steamer. [xx(]

[jrbernier]

I have 4 Spectrum steamers - All are DCC ready and run great:
1 - 2-10-0, with Soundtraxx factory installed
2 - 2-8-0's, added Soundtraxx sound kit
1 - 4-6-0(high boiler version), plan to add sound in the future.

Jim Bernier

[dano99a]

Thanks for the feedback guys, amazingly enough I got this C&O Hvy Mountain for a steal at $89. So I'd say, based on the feedback you all are giving me, I should be very happy.

Another question- Bachman Spectrum says these are DCC ready, now normally this means it comes with a socket already wired and ready for a decoder but I have heard of other manufacturers deem "DCC Ready" as comes a with decoder? I know P2K's are DCC ready but that means they have an 8 pin socket. (which makes it dead easy to install a decoder.)

jrbernier- what Soundtraxx decoder did you get and how easy/difficult is it to configure? I use a Digitrax Empire Builder with a DT400.


Thanks again everyone! [:)]

[Virginian]

The Spectrum 4-8-2 comes with a socket in the tender. It is to my mind the best of the Spectrums.

[Anonymous]

I own a Spectrum Light 4-8-2. Easiest loco to install DCC in ever. Just pop off the tender shell, take out the jumper plug, and put in the decoder.

[Anonymous]

You may have to cut the leads on the capacitors on the DCC socket board that Bachmann puts in the tender. If you don't, the locomotive will act strangely and won't respond properly to your throttle. I have had to cut these capacitors (yellow things on circuit board) on a few of my Bachmann locomotives. I believe the capacitors are for European laws to prevent electro-magnetic interference.

[SP4449]

[#welcome] 2Beagles - cute dogs.

[#ditto] all the positive above. I have 2 Spectrums, the 4-6-0 and the 2-10-0. Both run great, haven't converted to DCC yet. Be careful of the detail tho: very fine and easily broken/damaged. A friend has the Alegehany - WOW. I salivate when I see the pics of the SP Heavy Mountain, plan to get it and the longer vanderbilt tender.

Good luck and happy railroading. Happy holidays. [^]

[twhite]

I have four. Haven't converted to DCC--doubt that I will, since I have such an array of old and good-running brass locos. But I like the Spectrums--have a 2-8-0, USRA Heavy 4-8-2 (C&O prototype) USRA 2-6-6-2 and the 3-truck Shay. Of the four, I find the Shay to be the weakest of the lot, it's not as good a puller as my 15-year old MDC kit-built 2-truck. But the others are fine locos, especially the 2-6-6-2, which is actually MORE powerful than the Proto USRA 2-8-8-2! And for a lot less price, by the way. The 2-8-0 is a little gem and capable of hauling a lot more cars than I usually use it for. The 4-8-2 needed some breaking in, but it's a smooth and handsome runner. Now if Spectrum would just decide to put out a Daylight 4-8-4 as they keep promising-------
Tom

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jsalemi

How easy are the Spectrum steam locos to convert to DCC? Do they come DCC-ready (i.e., with an NMRA DCC plug socket)?

Depends upon when it was manufactured. The older ones don't the new ones are. Watch out for other things that might be on the circuit boards though. Sometimes they have extra diodes or capacitors. Capacitors are a no-no for DCC.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dano99a
I was just wondering what are people's general feelings about the Bachman Spectrum stuff? ... Is it: "ok", "trash", or "well thought out" ?

Good stuff. There are occasional lemons, but they are the exceptions.

QUOTE:
Please tell me your experiences in putting a DCC sound decoder in one if you have.

It has been a long time, but as I remember I perforated the "coal" load and mounted the speaker facing up. Had some trouble fitting the circuit board under the speaker, so I removed the "mount" and put the whole thing on double sided foam sticky tape further back. It was a 1 watt speaker, so you could use a lighter speaker. I don't think mounting it downward facing would be any easier because of the other things on the "floor" of the inside of the tender. The speaker is always the hard part of a sound installation.

[PennsyHoosier]

I have several Pennsy K4s. They are great.

[lyctus]

I have K4 x 4 and i love 'em. Easy DCC plug in and a nephews wife came into the train room to join the boys after lunch at a relly bash on Sunday and saw the K4 running with a train and said, "wow, how relaxing is that".......Praise indeed to my ears