Well, today we went to the train show in Sprifield, MO. For over 60+ years of going to shows I have never won the door prize but today my 5 year old Grandson won at his 3rd show! What luck! So they handed him a nice Bachmann Canyon Chief tran set. Needless to say the 2 hour drive home was excruciatingly long for him.
By the time we got the car unloaded and got in the house he had opened it and had assembled the track, hooked up the wires and had the train running. Pretty impressive for a kid that had never seen a train set before. Unfortunately he earned a punishment for plugging the cord into the wall as it's not allowed at 5.
The train operates extremely well, has KD clone couplers and the track with roadbed is very nice. I was surprised by the quality of everything it came with as I remember Bachmann toy trains from years ago.
So maybe we need to rethink our poor opinion of what Bachmann puts out in the non-Spectrum world?
Just my observation.
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
Nice! thats a $142 set! Bachmann has come along way since the pancake motors of the 70's. I have a few of the Bachmann Plus locos, and they run excellent, heavy, and very quiet. The Hawthorn Village series of various sets, from sports teams to movie stars, etc., uses the Bachmann Plus.
Mike.
My You Tube
oldline1 Well, today we went to the train show in Sprifield, MO. For over 60+ years of going to shows I have never won the door prize but today my 5 year old Grandson won at his 3rd show! What luck! So they handed him a nice Bachmann Canyon Chief tran set. Needless to say the 2 hour drive home was excruciatingly long for him. By the time we got the car unloaded and got in the house he had opened it and had assembled the track, hooked up the wires and had the train running. Pretty impressive for a kid that had never seen a train set before. Unfortunately he earned a punishment for plugging the cord into the wall as it's not allowed at 5. The train operates extremely well, has KD clone couplers and the track with roadbed is very nice. I was surprised by the quality of everything it came with as I remember Bachmann toy trains from years ago. So maybe we need to rethink our poor opinion of what Bachmann puts out in the non-Spectrum world? Just my observation. Roger Huber Deer Creek Locomotive Works
Roger, respectfully too many people still judge Bachmann based on products they sold in the 1980's or before.
Bachmann has been on a steady program of higher quality across all its product lines for more than 20 years, while still holding down prices and offering beginners and those on a budget very nice entry level products, as well as offering a number of superb higher end items in the Spectrum line.
Bachmann On30 runs around my Christmas tree, the same set for 20 years now - zero problems - often operated by the grand children.
My five year old grandson has Thomas and Chuggington which run on HO track, zero issues.
My layout features a fleet of over 30 Bachmann steam locos, Spectrum and regular line, all great products.
Is every item perfect? Well can we say that about any brand?
Sheldon
Roger,
Congrats on winning the door prize! I can imagine how excrutiating that trip home from the train show might have been for your grandson.
With most trainsets, per say, anything can run decently initially because the track is nice and shiny and the wheel pickups aren't crammed full of carpet fuzz. Things might change once the track starts to oxidize and parts aren't quite as pristine. I would agree that Bachmann's products have gotten better since those earlier boxed sets.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Well, I've been away, basically, from Bachmann's non-Spectrum stuff for many years. This set really impressed me a lot.
I have one of the early G scale Bachmann 4-6-0 train sets I bought at Sam's maybe 30 years ago. I think it's called the Rio Grande Special or something like that. It has an early 4-6-0 without valve gear but has smoke and 3 or 4 cars. It has run around the Christmas tree for all that time. I finally gave it to my Daughter when she had the lucky Grandson.
Nice stuff!
Its great that its working out so far. I have not really ever had that kind of luck before.
oldline1The train operates extremely well, has KD clone couplers and the track with roadbed is very nice.
Are the KD clones metal or plastic? Plastic from the photos. Do they have coiled springs or plastic leaf springs? This cannot be determined from the photos on the internet. If leaf they will fail over time. Replace with actual Kadees as this happens (or before).
Is the roadbed black or grey? The set from menards shows black roadbed. Answered my own question. At some point you will need to replace the track due to rust causing intermittant contact with the rails. The rail is steel vice nickel silver, unless they have changed their brand. If I had a choice between steel track and brass track, I would choose brass track.
oldline1So maybe we need to rethink our poor opinion of what Bachmann puts out in the non-Spectrum world?
My experience has been mixed. I like some of their silver series rolling stock (log cars are well detailed if pricey). My only gripe with those is that they dont make their coupler pockets deep enough for easy replacement on some cars.
As far as locomotives go, I wish they would make 2-6-0s with slide valves and the 4-6-0s with piston valves. It seems that would be a relatively simple change to accomplish on their end.
Their customer service has been helpful. And they have had parts available for most things that I have needed to repair.
That having been said, Ive got a little over half a dozen Bachmann locomotives, all but one are steam, and most have given trouble free operation. 4 of them are the Sound-Value (red box) vareity. 1 diesel was the blue box version, and the others are all Spectrum. They pull decently and have good enough detail.
mbinsewiBachmann has come along way since the pancake motors of the 70's
They were still making train sets with pancake motors in the 90s.
BMMECNYC mbinsewi Bachmann has come along way since the pancake motors of the 70's They were still making train sets with pancake motors in the 90s.
mbinsewi Bachmann has come along way since the pancake motors of the 70's
And for the most part, the 90's was twenty years ago......
ATLANTIC CENTRAL BMMECNYC mbinsewi Bachmann has come along way since the pancake motors of the 70's They were still making train sets with pancake motors in the 90s. And for the most part, the 90's was twenty years ago......
I dont remember exactly when those sets were purchased, but yes that is correct. I had not read your comment until after I hit post.
I have not had good luck with the Sound Value locos but the regular DCC on board have served me well except that the decoders have an annoying hum. As for the track I has noticed that the turnouts are a bit better than the used to be but i still perfer Atlas turnout.
Joe Staten Island West
mbinsewithats a $142 set!
Yes, a nice set. But not $142. A distributor says they are $77 list, and probably sells to vendors for maybe 20-30% less. We have a yearly raffle at the club where we give sets similar to this away.
But that's just in the interest of setting reality. As long as the youngster enjoys it, that's the important thing.
OK, I was going off of Bachmann's site. But still.....nice prize.
mbinsewi OK, I was going off of Bachmann's site. But still.....nice prize. Mike.
Overall its not bad. I suspect that it will probably last longer than the one I had did (well technically I still have that set somewhere, but not much is servicable).
You should generate some positive feedback to the Bachmann forums. Couple comany reps there also.
Lots of usefull info there.
[Non-MR forum link removed due to violation of forum rule: No selling or advertising.]
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Apparently there is a new rule. Just search for bachmann foums. The link will pop right up.
BMMECNYC Its great that its working out so far. I have not really ever had that kind of luck before. oldline1 The train operates extremely well, has KD clone couplers and the track with roadbed is very nice. Are the KD clones metal or plastic? Plastic from the photos. Do they have coiled springs or plastic leaf springs? This cannot be determined from the photos on the internet. If leaf they will fail over time. Replace with actual Kadees as this happens (or before). Is the roadbed black or grey? The set from menards shows black roadbed. Answered my own question. At some point you will need to replace the track due to rust causing intermittant contact with the rails. The rail is steel vice nickel silver, unless they have changed their brand. If I had a choice between steel track and brass track, I would choose brass track. oldline1 So maybe we need to rethink our poor opinion of what Bachmann puts out in the non-Spectrum world? My experience has been mixed. I like some of their silver series rolling stock (log cars are well detailed if pricey). My only gripe with those is that they dont make their coupler pockets deep enough for easy replacement on some cars. As far as locomotives go, I wish they would make 2-6-0s with slide valves and the 4-6-0s with piston valves. It seems that would be a relatively simple change to accomplish on their end. Their customer service has been helpful. And they have had parts available for most things that I have needed to repair.
oldline1 The train operates extremely well, has KD clone couplers and the track with roadbed is very nice.
oldline1 So maybe we need to rethink our poor opinion of what Bachmann puts out in the non-Spectrum world?
Jeeze and my wife says I'm usually negative! It's just a kids toy train he won. I never expected a brass import from Glacier Park or something. Besides.....by Monday he'll probably be back studying dinosaurs.
Roger, don't let the nay sayers get you down. A Bachmann train set with a 2-8-0, is the same 2-8-0 that came in that Spectrum box.
The F7 in the set, is the same as the seperately sold regular line F7, much improved from years ago, actually a very nice loco for its modest street price.
While some items are still partly based on older tooling, trucks, couplers, loco drives, have all been upgraded and have much more consistant quality than back in the "old days".
I will admit, I am selective in buying Bachmann, mainly from a detail standpoint, not over any quality concerns.
But again, the Thomas and Chuggington stuff my grandson plays with has held up well to his little hands.......
oldline1 BMMECNYC Its great that its working out so far. I have not really ever had that kind of luck before. oldline1 The train operates extremely well, has KD clone couplers and the track with roadbed is very nice. Are the KD clones metal or plastic? Plastic from the photos. Do they have coiled springs or plastic leaf springs? This cannot be determined from the photos on the internet. If leaf they will fail over time. Replace with actual Kadees as this happens (or before). Is the roadbed black or grey? The set from menards shows black roadbed. Answered my own question. At some point you will need to replace the track due to rust causing intermittant contact with the rails. The rail is steel vice nickel silver, unless they have changed their brand. If I had a choice between steel track and brass track, I would choose brass track. oldline1 So maybe we need to rethink our poor opinion of what Bachmann puts out in the non-Spectrum world? My experience has been mixed. I like some of their silver series rolling stock (log cars are well detailed if pricey). My only gripe with those is that they dont make their coupler pockets deep enough for easy replacement on some cars. As far as locomotives go, I wish they would make 2-6-0s with slide valves and the 4-6-0s with piston valves. It seems that would be a relatively simple change to accomplish on their end. Their customer service has been helpful. And they have had parts available for most things that I have needed to repair. Jeeze and my wife says I'm usually negative! It's just a kids toy train he won. I never expected a brass import from Glacier Park or something. Besides.....by Monday he'll probably be back studying dinosaurs. Roger Huber Deer Creek Locomotive Works
Not trying to be negative, just pointing out facts. Some of which are negative....
I've never had good results with their EZ-mate couplers. The MKIIs are fine under normal operating conditions.
They only 2 things Ive had to repair was a second hand decapod, and a 4-4-0 that was missing its cab roof vent. Not bad considering what shows up from other manufacturers.
My point was I guess is that you cant really judge a bachmann starter set based on just having brought it home. A few months to a year and still working, well maybe things are getting better in their starter line.
Well, Sheldon, it doesn't bother me. I just remember that opinions are like........well....you know! I have plenty of my own too. lol
I consider myself a serious modeler having done it for 60+ years and had a custom painting & building business since 1973. I have quite a few Spectrum engines and Silver Series cars and they are excellent items for the money. I prefer my brass steamers to anything and truly appreciate where the hobby is as far as detailed & sophisticated equipment goes. I still have quite a few Varney plastic cars running with my Exact Rail and Fox Valley stuff.
My point was my Gradnson WON a nice train set that surprised me with the upgraded toy train equipment. He's almost 6 and understood how to put it together and make it run by himself. Now.......how long it will last......who knows but it's already lasted way longer than anything I ever saw in a Tyco train set box, early Life Like or Bachmann so that impressed me.
He and his youger brother have had it spinning on the 36" circle since we got home at 4PM and no smoke, flames or broken gears. Not too bad to me! Cudos to Bachmann!
Reposted edit from above
The steel track is a known failure point, and has been for years. And while yes it does lower the price point, etc, making it easier for people to get introduced into the hobby; wouldn't Bachmann (and the hobby as a whole), be better served by not having designed to fail components in starter sets?
If your only exposure to the hobby, and therefore your first impression of the hobby is a Bachmann starter set, with those plastic couplers that stop working and steel track that rusts until it stops working, would you stay in the hobby?
BMMECNYC Reposted edit from above The steel track is a known failure point, and has been for years. And while yes it does lower the price point, etc, making it easier for people to get introduced into the hobby; wouldn't Bachmann (and the hobby as a whole), be better served by not having designed to fail components in starter sets? If your only exposure to the hobby, and therefore your first impression of the hobby is a Bachmann starter set, with those plastic couplers that stop working and steel track that rusts until it stops working, would you stay in the hobby?
Admittedly some of the low priced sets come with the steel track, it has yet to be a problem with my grandsons Chuggington/Thomas stuff, but it is used in a climate controlled invironment.......
My On30 set came with nickle silver EZ track, still working fine after 20 seasons under the Christmas tree.......
oldline1 Well, Sheldon, it doesn't bother me. I just remember that opinions are like........well....you know! I have plenty of my own too. lol I consider myself a serious modeler having done it for 60+ years and had a custom painting & building business since 1973. I have quite a few Spectrum engines and Silver Series cars and they are excellent items for the money. I prefer my brass steamers to anything and truly appreciate where the hobby is as far as detailed & sophisticated equipment goes. I still have quite a few Varney plastic cars running with my Exact Rail and Fox Valley stuff. My point was my Gradnson WON a nice train set that surprised me with the upgraded toy train equipment. He's almost 6 and understood how to put it together and make it run by himself. Now.......how long it will last......who knows but it's already lasted way longer than anything I ever saw in a Tyco train set box, early Life Like or Bachmann so that impressed me. He and his youger brother have had it spinning on the 36" circle since we got home at 4PM and no smoke, flames or broken gears. Not too bad to me! Cudos to Bachmann! Roger Huber Deer Creek Locomotive Works
Understood and agreed. I think we are likely very similar from a modeling standpoint, except I'm not real deep into brass.
I too am still runnng lots of Athearn and Varney metal cars next to my craftsman kits, and stuff like Fox Valley and Spring Mills Depot, and lots of Blue Box Athearn with various levels of upgrades.
But Bachmann has really impressed me in terms of bang for the buck on a lot of items, so hopefully the kids have a good time for a good while.......
Well I started with a Tyco set in 1971 - quickly added another Tyco locomotive and more cars. I didn't know that they were supposed to be junk. Those Tyco engines and cars with hornhook couplers worked just fine while I learned about the hobby. Eventually, I bought some better locomotives, couplers, cars, changed scales, etc. But I still have fond memories of Tyco.
So yes, I think those Bachmann starter sets will get some folks started in the hobby. For others, they will lose interest and switch to another toy - but they would regardless of the quality of the set.
Paul
Once a manufacturer has "earned" himself a reputation of bad quality, that reputations stays around for the next 30 to 40 years!
Bachmann (UK), Graham Farish and Liliput - all Bachmann brands - are premium brands enjoying a reputation of good quality, nice detail and a still reasonable price.
In my On30 days, I had a couple of Bachmann locos and found no fault in them.
I think it´s about time that the "sneering" at Bachmann ends.
IRONROOSTERFor others, they will lose interest and switch to another toy - but they would regardless of the quality of the set.
I dont believe this to be true. If Bachmann made a decent quality of product back in the early/mid 1990s in their RTR sets, I would not have stepped away from the hobby for so many years (I was not aware of the existance of other manufacturers).
Sir MadogBachmann (UK), Graham Farish and Liliput - all Bachmann brands - are premium brands enjoying a reputation of good quality, nice detail and a still reasonable price. In my On30 days, I had a couple of Bachmann locos and found no fault in them.
I like I said previously, I have had relatively few bad experiences with their high end products. My beef is with the designed to fail starter products.
Sir MadogI think it´s abou time that the "sneering" at Bachmann ends.
Im not sneering, Im stating facts about steel track and plastic leaf spring Kadee immitations. They already make a superior product, EZ mate MK II. There is a $12 difference between the price points of their two coupler bulk packs. That works out to a $1.92 price difference. They could increase the cost of the starter set $1.92, and have a significantly better product.
Almost 25 years ago I bought a Bachman white box N scale Mikado and tender (very much a trainset loco) for $10.00 brand new .Why you may ask,well it was a Bachmann and everybody knew it wouldn't last more than a couple of weeks.
Well fast forward to 2017 and that little Mikado is still going strong while my KATO unit died 10 years ago.The only problem I've had with it is losing one of the siderod rivets but it has run for hours on a NTRAK layout with no sign of overheating or stalling.
Would I buy another one? Probably not as I no longer model steam railroading ,but if I were I would not hesitate to buy another one.
Sir MadogI think it´s about time that the "sneering" at Bachmann ends.
Now Ulrich, if no sneering is allowed, that'll leave some us of here rather speechless
I have a few things Bachmann in HO, a log loader, several of those neat upright boiler logging skidders, maybe some Silver series hopper cars, and a scattering of other things. Good stuff if you need it and don't choose on price alone. Just wish they'd update the trucks on their 44- and 70-tonners a little more, while still leaving them hackable to HOn3. Even better would be to make them like several of their Europen models, like this Liliput Gemeinder (Austrian) diesel that comes in HOn30 (9 mm), has a reasonably priced ($20?) conversion kit to make it HOm (12 mm), and is thus really easy to hack to HOn3 (10.5 mm). This loco runs like a top and retails for around $150 in the US market. Don't blame Bachmann for the Rio Grande paint, that's my own doing
Then there's my G, or more properly 1:20.3 collection -- or whatever you want to score it as in that rubber gauge. It's not LGB, but it is good-looking US pattern rolling stock. I use LGB track for durability, but otherwise really enjoy the affordability of Bachmann. Been dusting off my big Shay for conversion to battery/RC, a hefty model that is the pride of the large scale fleet here.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Glad your grandson is enjoying his new train set. As mentioned earlier, Bachmann has improved their products since the 1980's and 1990's.
As for opinions, it depends on what group of hobbyists you talk to. Running qualities and paint jobs are reportedly improved a good deal; for those interested in fidelity to prototype, from what I'm reading, not so much. A five year old won't notice those things and it seems to be running well and as my wife would say, aught for naught (northern England for: something for nothing!).
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983