General Discussion (Garden Railways)

I was also wondering about the comment on the Aristo rail joiners rusting away. I do not see any rust on the joiners or the rails. I'm in Northern Ohio, so not subject to the salt associated with living on the coast, so guess I'll have many years of reliable opperations.

Having fun in Ohio.

Mark

My Aristo switcher, and my bachmann big hauler, have both been back to the shops for repair.  The Buddy L is still going, no problems.

I'm not saying that the Buddy L train is better quality, but not everyone has had a problem with them.  Mine only has about 120 hrs. total run time, but light, smoke, sounds all still work, nothing is broken, and it pulls the 8 cars I have hooked to it just fine.  It has never derailed, even over the 3 turnouts that it traverses every round on my layout.

The set came with Engine, tender (with sound), box car, gondola, and caboose. Plus track and controller.

The track is similar to Bachmann, and not for use outdoors.  I've used the transformer that came with the set.  It works ok, but I've updated with bigger power supply and TE control.

Guess what I'm saying is, for $99, it has served me well.  I will admit that I am the only one running the train.  My kids have grown up and off on their own.  So, the Buddy L might not stand up to the rigors of kids play.  Still for someone on a tight budget, I wouldn't rule it out completely.

OkieRRr

I would like to know how many of you guys have Buddy L Trains.  I have been running one in my restaurant for 2 years, and other than occasionally oiling the moving parts it has been trouble free.  The weight of the metal boiler enables it to pull as many cars as I want it to pull.  My opinion is Buddy L Trains are better than Bachmann, (and I have many trains from both manufactures) and the cars look as if they are made in the same factory as Bachmann, And the Track is nearly the same except the connectors are on the opposite sides.  Both Sets have small trim items that can be broken off by children, but so does LGB and Aristo-Craft.  My Buddy L has ALL WHEELS picking up power from the track, with brass bushings for long wear life.  Lets compare the sound tenders of both Manufacturers,  Bachmann's Chugging gets a little monotonous, where as the Buddy has Steam Sounds on start up, Chugging, and random Whistle and Bells. 

I would highly recommend Buddy L Trains.  They are now being manufactured under the "Keystone" name.

Walt

Don't hit me...I know there a lot of bachman ten wheeler fans out there.  I bought a bachman suwanee special ten wheeler off ebay a year ago....a gear was cracked.  I fixed it but I can't keep it from derailing on r3 LGB track.  I probally need to spend some time working on the drive wheels.  They may have fixed these problems on earlier models but..

I can't say that it is anywhere near the quality of the many 20 year old LGBs or the one RS3 aristrocraft that I have.  I have never had the problems like I had with this ten wheeler.  I can't see the quality there on the bachman.

Do you have a model number for the Budddy L that you are running? 

looe_caboose_cafe wrote:

I would like to know how many of you guys have Buddy L Trains.  I have been running one in my restaurant for 2 years, and other than occasionally oiling the moving parts it has been trouble free.  The weight of the metal boiler enables it to pull as many cars as I want it to pull.  My opinion is Buddy L Trains are better than Bachmann, (and I have many trains from both manufactures) and the cars look as if they are made in the same factory as Bachmann, And the Track is nearly the same except the connectors are on the opposite sides.  Both Sets have small trim items that can be broken off by children, but so does LGB and Aristo-Craft.  My Buddy L has ALL WHEELS picking up power from the track, with brass bushings for long wear life.  Lets compare the sound tenders of both Manufacturers,  Bachmann's Chugging gets a little monotonous, where as the Buddy has Steam Sounds on start up, Chugging, and random Whistle and Bells.  I would highly recommend Buddy L Trains.  They are now being manufactured under the "Keystone" name. Walt

Put it on any kind of a grade and just see what happens.

My wife has a Keystone circus set, the engine can barely pull one bobber caboose up my grades, where my single dismal F-40PH will pull every car in the set plus some around the layout. The older Buddy L version I had hit a spot on the track that lifted the drivers up just barely, but that was enough for them to just sit there and spin. The engine is just plain weak out of the box. Its OK for absolutely dead level track, but on any kind of realistic layout with grades and just forget it.

vsmith wrote:

looe_caboose_cafe wrote: I would like to know how many of you guys have Buddy L Trains.  I have been running one in my restaurant for 2 years, and other than occasionally oiling the moving parts it has been trouble free.  The weight of the metal boiler enables it to pull as many cars as I want it to pull.  My opinion is Buddy L Trains are better than Bachmann, (and I have many trains from both manufactures) and the cars look as if they are made in the same factory as Bachmann, And the Track is nearly the same except the connectors are on the opposite sides.  Both Sets have small trim items that can be broken off by children, but so does LGB and Aristo-Craft.  My Buddy L has ALL WHEELS picking up power from the track, with brass bushings for long wear life.  Lets compare the sound tenders of both Manufacturers,  Bachmann's Chugging gets a little monotonous, where as the Buddy has Steam Sounds on start up, Chugging, and random Whistle and Bells.  I would highly recommend Buddy L Trains.  They are now being manufactured under the "Keystone" name. Walt Put it on any kind of a grade and just see what happens. My wife has a Keystone circus set, the engine can barely pull one bobber caboose up my grades, where my single dismal F-40PH will pull every car in the set plus some around the layout. The older Buddy L version I had hit a spot on the track that lifted the drivers up just barely, but that was enough for them to just sit there and spin. The engine is just plain weak out of the box. Its OK for absolutely dead level track, but on any kind of realistic layout with grades and just forget it.

Byron C.

EMPIRE II LINE wrote:

vsmith wrote:  looe_caboose_cafe wrote: I would like to know how many of you guys have Buddy L Trains.  I have been running one in my restaurant for 2 years, and other than occasionally oiling the moving parts it has been trouble free.  The weight of the metal boiler enables it to pull as many cars as I want it to pull.  My opinion is Buddy L Trains are better than Bachmann, (and I have many trains from both manufactures) and the cars look as if they are made in the same factory as Bachmann, And the Track is nearly the same except the connectors are on the opposite sides.  Both Sets have small trim items that can be broken off by children, but so does LGB and Aristo-Craft.  My Buddy L has ALL WHEELS picking up power from the track, with brass bushings for long wear life.  Lets compare the sound tenders of both Manufacturers,  Bachmann's Chugging gets a little monotonous, where as the Buddy has Steam Sounds on start up, Chugging, and random Whistle and Bells.  I would highly recommend Buddy L Trains.  They are now being manufactured under the "Keystone" name. Walt Put it on any kind of a grade and just see what happens. My wife has a Keystone circus set, the engine can barely pull one bobber caboose up my grades, where my single dismal F-40PH will pull every car in the set plus some around the layout. The older Buddy L version I had hit a spot on the track that lifted the drivers up just barely, but that was enough for them to just sit there and spin. The engine is just plain weak out of the box. Its OK for absolutely dead level track, but on any kind of realistic layout with grades and just forget it. Time for the BUTCHER !!!!! Byron C.