how well do Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0's run?

[caboose63]

how well does Bachmann's line of Spectrum high boiler and low boiler baldwin 4-6-0's run? Are they good pullers and no problems when going past turnouts? How well do they operate on 18" to 20" curves. i have that range of curves on my layout

[knewsom]

I have a Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0 Southern Railway (low boiler). It runs fairly well, but it is not a very good puller on my 3% grade. I don't have any problems with it through turnouts or in my yard on the 18" curves though. I have not added any weight to the loco yet, but hopefully that will improve the pulling power.

I should also add that I run DCC so I am not sure how well it runs on DC.

Hope this helps,
Kevin

[jrbernier]

I have one of the 'high boiler' engines. It really runs very nice, but like the previous post, the pulling power is low. I can drag a maximum of 7 cars up my 3% 'hill'......
That said, I really like the engine, and I guess a 'saturated' steam engine like this really would not have a lot of continuous TE.

Jim Bernier

[MudHen_462]

Jr,

I have the low boiler model of the Spectrum 4-6-0, and as Jim and Kevin stated it is not a heavy hauler (but then neither is the prototype). I use it for "locals" and it works well on 2% inclines, 15" radius turns, and now that I have installed a sound decoder in the "midget" tender, it really is a show stopper.

Bob

[dinwitty]

I have one, havent run it much but I do like it, I do not plan on it pulling a lot of cars, thats by design and where it will run wont have much in grades to climb. so maybe 10-20 cars will be fine.

[knewsom]

Bob,

What sound decoder were you able to install. I was barely able to fit a Digitrax DZ123 decoder?

Kevin

[caboose63]

if i get a bachmann low or high boilered 4-6-0 for my Leelanau County Railway, it won't haul too many freight cars or passenger cars. i have seen photos of 4-6-0's and most freight cars i have seen one pull is perhaps 20 cars tops. The terrain of central Leelanau County from solon to cedar and lake leelanau is hilly at times but the grade of the branch to lake leelanau i don't think got over 1%. it will look nice pulling a string of freight cars or a mixed train what i love about the low boiler 4-6-0 is that it looks like something that you would have found on the Boyne City Railroad.

[dinwitty]

Mine I bought to handle the CNW side of things, I look at it as the lowly engine to do everything else, after it used to handle crack passenger trains when the line would then be using push/pulls. I saw a pictur of one hauling a moderate sized train, but the CNW isnt that hilly either, so it could do its share of hauling. If you know your grades
you can drag that freight right over.
But like any railroad, if you have heavy grades, get the loco to handle it.

[MudHen_462]

QUOTE: Originally posted by knewsom

Bob,

What sound decoder were you able to install. I was barely able to fit a Digitrax DZ123 decoder?

Kevin

Kevin,

I used the DSD-090 with a 1.1 inch speaker. You have to do some surgery to get it done (the "tree", or post that the screw on the bottom side of the tender threads into, has to be removed, and when you are finished and ready to "button the tender up", you will have to put one small drop of CA on each side of the tender (front). You'll also need to drill some holes in the bottom of the tender deck... for the speaker sound. I tried to attach photo's, but for some reason (probably me...) it didn't work. I can e-mail them to you if you need progress photos.... If I can help along the way, just PM me.... Good luck.

Bob