Need some help

[Anonymous]

I am brand new to this awesome hobby. I received an engine from a HO Scale. So I went out and bought a Bachmann Train Set that was HO, and I noticed that the engines had a significant difference.

The one I received as a gift was far superior is quality (Arthern or something similiar was the company that made it) but the wheels are not metal like the Bachmann engine is. So I am guessing that is why the Arthern engine does not move as its wheels are plastic. The Arthern engine was pretty much pre-built and I just needed to add some cosmetic stuff. Is there a way for me to get this train engine to work? I noticed on the side of the box it came in it shays "Dummy" does that mean that it is not a real engine? Found it odd that this train was $50 and the Bachmann set I bought was $50 (caught it on sale).

Again I am new at all this. Just need me some help :)

[Anonymous]

A dummy does mean that it does not operate. Usually its missing the motor and its just there for show.

[Anonymous]

Hi there,
Yep, a dummy locomotive does not have a motor. They're great for creating multiple locomotive consists on trains. Couple as many as you want behind a powered locomotive. $50 sounds high for an Athearn dummy though. They're usually more in the neighborhood of $15 I believe. Are your two locos painted for the same road? If so you have a multi unit lashup ready to go!
Happy running!
Ralph

[Anonymous]

Hey Darkfox,

As many have pointed out to you, you have a dummy Athearn there. I am curious. What is the model? For $50 it should be quite a large engine, though I have never seen any Athearn dummies that high before.

You CAN convert the dummy to a powered, but it is all a simple method of pulling the shell from the chassis and either purchasing a powered chassis via parts from Athearn, or finding a similar model that uses the same chassis in a powered version and changing out the shells.

Not many people prefer Bachmann as a good HO scale company, probably because of the lack of realism or modeling ability, and the performance of the engines themselves. Most go with Athearn, Kato, Atlas and a few others out there.

Myself, I have over 50 Athearns and the fleet is growing.

The dummy can be used as a static display (ie the engine does not move) or for a lashup, like one of the guys mentioned. You do not necessarily need the same roadname though. I have seen countless times BNSF running with Norfolk Southern, CP Rail, CSX and others. Here in Missouri CSX and UP are lashed up on some of the coal unit trains that run through here. Also, take into consideration some of the merger roads. Older Santa Fe schemes have been seen lashed up with BNSF colored units, and I have seen some DRGW and SP units lashed up with UP trains here.

Hope that helps.

-Wolv33

[snowey]

that's right a "dummy" locomotive doesn't have a motor. That's also why it has plastic wheels!

[Anonymous]

Actually,

There are dummy engines with metal wheels. These are for lighted units.

-Wolv33

[Anonymous]

I have two sets of LifeLike GP-38's powered, dummy and caboose, CSX and Santa FE and both dummies have metal wheels. If the engine has plastic wheels adding a motor won't do you any good there's no power pick-up to run the motor even if you have the gears in the drive, you will have to change out the wheels on the loco., Just as well to set it on the side and purchase another powered loco.
Beeline

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I wasn't talking about adding a motor, I was referring to switching out the shells and putting the dummy shell on a working chassis. I have 12 Santa Fe (blue and yellow) warbonnet GP-38s by LifeLike, and I can do this easily. Plus, he was talking about an Athearn dummy engine, and with Athearn it is easy to interchange dummy shells with powered shells, providing you have the powered chassis for the same type of engine as the dummy shell. I wasn't talking about adding anymore parts, just interchanging the shells and chassis.

Say for instance you get a diesel engine from Ebay. This engine on Ebay is the same type of engine as your dummy engine at home. This engine happens to have a beatup shell with a road you do not care to operate on your layout. Win the engine and switch out the shells. Now you have a working engine with the same shell the dummy had.

Sorry for the confusion.

-Wolv33

[Anonymous]

Wolv33 wrote >Not many people prefer Bachmann as a good HO scale company, probably because of the lack of realism or modeling ability ...

I'm not sure I'd agree with that at all, Bachman's Spectrum range are fine models: check out MR's reviews of the Shay and the new Spectrum N&W J class if you don't believe me. Sure Bachman don't do too many modern units preferring steam and first/second generation diesels, but the Spectrum range are good models.

For Example: my Bachman Consolidation would pull the wheels off an Anthearn Genesis USRA Mikado. The Mike is a real disappointment on the performance front.

As far as deisel units are concerned I think Life Like's Proto 2000 range take some beating in terms of performance and accuracy. You might pay quite a bit more than a standard Athearn or Atlas unit but its probably well worth it.

[Anonymous]

Hi James,

Sorry if my post seemed derogatory towards Bachmann. I was just trying to illustrate to the person who asked the question, that many people do not buy Bachmann. I am sure there is a small following for their line though.

But, I model solely in diesels, and I have not found one Bachmann worth its salt as far as that goes. I stick with Athearn, Lifelike, Atlas, Kato and a few others for my diesel fleet.

I haven't had the pleasure of obtaining any Proto 2000 diesels as of yet, but what I do have of Lifelike, my Athearns run a lot more smoother than. The Lifelikes are much faster, but the motion is somewhat jerky in spots, and the Athearns run smoothly over the whole track area. I do plan to get my hands on some Proto2000 diesels soon though.

Now then, what I HAVE owned or seen of Bachmann, and this is including the Spectrum range...I have been VERY DISAPPOINTED with. Sorry.

-Wolv33

[Anonymous]

Hey guys,

First, About the unpowered locomotive . . .
There are alot of high quality chasis out there if you want to change your dummy over to a powered unit. Check in Model Railroader for advertisements or write them a question for their magazine. Getting a beat up loco off e-Bay might be OK too. Just make sure it is compatible with your shell.

Second, About Bachman . . .
Bachman has different levels of products like Ford-Lincoln-Mercury. The Bachman 'toy' sets just don't cut it for the modeling crowd. The power packs are underpowered. The track is often not nickle-silver. The locos don't have flywheels and the detail is poor. I even have trouble getting couplers for 'em without performing a serious operation.

The Spectrum line produced by Bachman is a different matter altogether. I have a Spectrum F40PH lettered for Amtrak and it is one of my best performing engines. I don't know specifically about any other engines they produce and another fellow said the F40PH was the best they ever did, but I still say they are on the lever of quality expected by modelers.

Most of my enginers are Athern. With one exception, they all run fine. The other one growls alot when it runs and I plan to fix that sometime later. Athern is a good value.

Welcome to the hobby. If I may, go out and get every book you can find, particularly those published by Kalmbach, and read about the different subjects involved in building and operating a model railroad. Enjoy. - Ed

[Anonymous]

Hi Ed,

Man, I haven't heard from you in a while. LOL!

My experience with Bachmann Spectrum was with a Dash-8 locomotive. When I was at a train show in IL, I talked to many people, and they weren't too high on Bachmann either.

But, I was just trying to tell Darkfox that Bachmann doesn't seem to be a line that some modelers take seriously. And as you pointed out, probably because of their earlier standard line they put out in the 80s and 90s.

Perhaps I will give Spectrum another try. Right now I am not sure. I have had excellent luck with Athearn, Atlas, Kato and a few other companies out there. I am going to get a couple Lifelike Proto2000 diesels and see how they run on the test track.

Hey Ed, how about emailing me when you have time. I wanna run some stuff by you and see what you think. Thanks.

-Wolv33