Cheap Bachmann Set

[Anonymous]

My only firsthand experience is with O/O27, and I have only just started looking at HO.  A couple questions for the many experts out there...

My father-in-law just bought a Bachmann set and an additional steam loco for my sister-in-law's kid.  Now I know you get what you pay for and he did buy the cheapest set, but shouldn't we expect the caboose wheels to stay on the chassis and the hopper's couplers to stay closed, at least though the first few playing sessions?

In addition, the extra steam loco he bought wasn't at the lowest end, and either I'm missing something or the steam fluid just doesn't work.  I wanted him to turn around and take it right back to the store, but he's the sort to just deal with it.  I hate to see him quietly disappointed, so I thought I'd look into it.

Thanks for any advice.

Randy

[Anonymous]

I don't think this is the place to complain, try the forum at http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.html

  

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice.

[jecorbett]

Trainsets are generally have the worst equipment you can find and he bought the cheapest trainset so the results do not surprise me.

I'm guessing that the add on loco was a Bachmann also given that it has a smoke unit. The regular Bachmann line is also a lower end product. Bachmann also produces locos under the Spectrum labal and those are a quality loco. They are a mid-price range item but you can expect decent quality in that range.

Most knowledgeable people recommend against starting out buying a packaged trainset because for the most part they are junk. You are better off spending a little more money and buying good quality locos, rolling stock, track and power pack separately and making your own trainset. You will be buying something that likely will still be on your layout in the coming years. The only reason I can see for buying a packaged trainset is if you are buying for someone you think might lose interest in it anyway. In that case, you will be out the least amount of money. If you are buying for someone that you are confident will remain committed to the hobby, you are better off buying quality upfront.

[lvanhen]

Trainsets are generally have the worst equipment you can find and he bought the cheapest trainset so the results do not surprise me.  The only reason I can see for buying a packaged trainset is if you are buying for someone you think might lose interest in it anyway.

A cheap train set is almost a guarantee the child will become frustrated in not being able to get it operating properly and going back to the Gameboy/computer/whatever!  Good quality sets are now made by Athern, although they are available in hobby shops, not Wallymart, Kwhatever, Toyswhatever, where unfortunately many grandparents look for Santa's gifts.  Take the buyer to the LHS and let him see the difference - he'll thank you & the child won't become a computer geek!  (Apologies to the model RR computer geeks out there - we wouldn't have DCC without them!)

[Texas Zepher]

My father-in-law just bought a Bachmann set and an additional steam loco for my sister-in-law's kid.  Now I know you get what you pay for and he did buy the cheapest set, but shouldn't we expect the caboose wheels to stay on the chassis and the hopper's couplers to stay closed, at least though the first few playing sessions?

No I would say that is about normal for that level of train set.

In addition, the extra steam loco he bought wasn't at the lowest end, and either I'm missing something or the steam fluid just doesn't work.

Well, it it has a smoke unit it is a pretty low end unit.  They are basically a heating element inside a plastic tub.  If it was run without fluid in it, it could easily be burnt out already.     The only high end HO units I know of with smoke generators are Trix and the new MTH.  Either of those would have cost over $100, probably closer to $250.   

I wanted him to turn around and take it right back to the store, but he's the sort to just deal with it.  I hate to see him quietly disappointed, so I thought I'd look into it.

I think that is wonderful advice, if it is possible.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

You are better off without the smoke unit, as the residue (smoke) from the oil settles on the track and makes it slicker than oiled glass.

[cacole]

I have one of those really cheap Bachmann locos with the smoke generator in it, and my advice is to forget about the smoke.  The heating element doesn't get hot enough if the engine is not running at full throttle, and then the smoke oil just boils out and splatters on everything.

I never try to run mine at all anymore -- it just sits in a railroad scrap yard setting.

[Anonymous]

Oh I run my B-man's with smoke units...I just opened it up and took the smoke units out.  Those Bachman Plus's were pretty good engines.

[jecorbett]

I had a Bachmann Consolidation with smoke unit. I got tired of refilling it so I did without the smoke. I thought it was a good looking piece but not a good runner. The pilot wheels wouldn't stay on the track no matter how I adjusted them. I finally gave up and removed the pilot wheels making it an 0-8-0. My current layout has been DCC from the start and I judged this loco not to be decoder-worthy so now it sits on an unpowered track in my backshop building as a static model. Probably where it belongs.

PS. I have since bought a DCC-equipped Spectrum Consolidation and is one of my favorite locos. It will get a Tsunami installed.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to everyone for their responses.

Wow, I guess I'm naive to think that low-end shouldn't be complete garbage.  Oh well.  Anyway, I'll try to get my father-in-law to return it, but the ironic part is, based on who's receiving it, it's doomed to be all busted up in a couple months anyway.  Now that I'm thinking about it, he must know this, so he probably wouldn't see the point in returning it.

Your comments were all very enlightening.  When I eventually get into HO myself, I'll remember these pointers.

Thanks.  Randy