quit bashing Bachmann !!!!!

[Don Gibson]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mr Mekanik

I have Model Power, Life-Like and Bachmann steam locos. My most expensive Bachmann loco is a Texas Steam Loco 2-10-4 ho. 24 years ago I paid $109.00. It was equipped with a working headlight, smoke unit and a sound board inside the tender.
The sound was very realistic and I enjoyed running it. I sent it to Bachmann for repairs, (Bachmann offers lifetime warranty and I like that.) but they do not have parts to repair it. They offer me a replacement, but none of them have the sound board ... The Standard line does offer smoke and working headlight.
So my only gripe is, I sent my 24 year old loco with sound, light and smoke unit and I will be getting a brand new updated loco that only has a working headlight. Is that progress?
Mr Mekanik.

I see you like the 'Toy' aspect of Model Railroading (You won't like my reply). I too had a Santa Fe 2-10-4 Bachmann, so we have something to share.
It had a 'noise scraper' in the tender like rubbing two pieces of sandpaper together. Realistic? - A Sound Board? hardly. The Smoke Unit spluttered droplets of oil all over the top of the engine plus put a layer of oil smoke over my track - (So do the new ones if you want to call that "progress").

I paid approximately $50 dollars for mine when brand new ($109 for yours?) and just sold it for $25 as it was still running - Where did you pay $109 for it?

The reason Bachmann can't repair it is the body mould was broken and they are not making any more 2-10-4 mechaism's. Your replacement engine - whatever it is, is a superior product and you are ahead on the deal. The 'Old' mechanism's use to lock up because some of the axles would turn inside the pressed on wheels and some wouldn't.

If you miss smoke that much, have your LHS install a Seuthe Smoke generator.
If you really want to hear sound, buy the new Broadway 2-10-4 Santa Fe It will sell for about $400 , and you can learn what "Progress" really is..

[Anonymous]

The most recent Bachmann HO diesels are pretty good. I have two of their GP40s and one of the high-nose GP50s, which I have to say are superb value for money. All run as quietly as Proto locos, and have a similar mechanism to Walthers locos - minus flywheels (pity really, as with flywheels these would run better than Proto - they can be a bit hesitant on dirty track without them though they'll still creep at very low speeds). Considering they're priced at around £20 over here (Athearn BB go for about £30 or so, Proto is £39 upwards), I think they're pretty good.

I also have one of the Spectrum Dash 8s, which I bought cheaply from one LHS that had bought a pile of them at a discount. I'd probably be rather disappointed if I'd paid full list price for it, but I have to say that as far as running qualities are concerned it's one of the best locos I have (in a fleet including Proto, up to date new-driveshaft Athearn BB, and Walthers). Only snag is that the loco's proportions look slightly out - it looks too low, too short and too wide. However, it can haul trains that need two Athearn Dash 9s on its own, so I guess that kind of makes up for this!

[Roadtrp]

I don't have any Bachmann locos, but I do have a fair number of Bachmann (N scale) freight cars. To tell you the truth, I see very little difference between them and the Atlas and MDC Roundhouse freight cars that I have.

In fact I would have to put the Bachmann ahead of the MDC Roundhouse since all of my Bachmann cars came with metal wheels, and at least half of my MDC cars came with plastic wheels.

I really don’t see the big issue. Just as there is room for both Chevy and Lexus in the automobile market, why isn’t there room for both Bachmann and Kato in the MR market? They serve different needs for different people.

[BRAKIE]

Roadtrip asks:Why isn’t there room for both Bachmann and Kato in the MR market?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good question looking over the faults..When I was in N scale from 79-88 I had 6 Bachmann GP40s and one F7.These units served me well over those years..Yes,the GP40s was slightly out of scale but one of the better runners of their day and time..These GP40s had the split frame drives and was the first of their kind and before the Atlas/Kato drive.Atlas designed the Atlas/Kato drive not Kato.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry that many do not share my support of bachmann. I still think they are great ! the standard line is awsome ! Ok, so mabey not really good detail, but that makes for gtood projects, right ?

[Anonymous]

I agree about them making good projects.
Like this one.
http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=10856

http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=10032

Anyone with a Bachmann they aren't happy with and wants to see it put to use instead of polluting our landfills with them, let me know I'll recycle them.

[Don Gibson]

IS BACHMANN really good - or just So-so?

Their product's have been 'Uneven', at best It's as though they have 5 different factories in 5 different countries making 5 different products, with 5 different quality levels - In just their 'Spectrum' and 'Plus' lines, alone.

It's your money.

[Anonymous]

Bachmann spectrum steam and electrics are some of the best models out there.


everything else they make is train set quality junk.

[Don Gibson]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Oklahoma Train Nut

I am sorry that many do not share my support of bachmann. I still think they are great ! the standard line is awsome !

Oklahoma Train Nut:

What we are seeing is different points of view either lookin up, or down, on the same product. I guess everyone has a different idea of what 'GOOD' is.

OK TRAIN NUT: take a Bachmann FM HH1644 (one of their 'better' engines) down to a Hobbyshop and put it on the same track as the Atlas version, and sloooowly turn up the power. Forget for a moment the paint job.

[Anonymous]

[}:)] quit bashing Bachmann???[}:)]

Awwwww,, c'mon,,,its so Eeeeeaaaaaassssssyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[;)][(-D][swg][:-,][C=:-)][C):-)][oX)][:-^][yeah][:)][alien][;)][(-D][:-,][swg]

[BRAKIE]

Don,While I fully agree with you I must say that is like me comparing my Escort to a $30.000 car.Nooooo comparison..The real question can Bachmann be compared to any other brand except for IHC,Tyco and Model Power?

[Don Gibson]

Larry: I wouldn't know. I've never had an IHC, Tyco, or a Model Power.

[BRAKIE]

Don,The only IHC I ever own was a 2-8-0.Not a bad runner but lack details and one had to cut the wires to the smoke unit or remove it.If you didn't one ran the risk of the smoke unit over heating and melting a hole in the smoke box.
I only owned one MP.A RS11 that my late wife got me years ago.Only Bachmanns I ever owned was those N scale GP40s and 1 F7..
Never was a fan of Bachmann,IHC,AHM,Tyco,Mantua or MP..Didn't care that much for Varney(except the 2-8-0) or Revell..

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

The Original Bachmann product line WAS cheap.
Their 'Spectrum' line was 'uneven'... fair (GP-30's) to good (GE 44 switcher's).
The 'Heritage Series' is outstanding. An all-out committment.

We'll see what tomorow brings. The only thing I can tell you, is Reputation's are earned.

Actually the Heritage Line is made by Life-Like as part of the Proto 2000 Line. So I guess
this makes Bachmann just cheap and uneven [;)] Dave

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Oklahoma Train Nut

here latley I hvae heard alot of people saying that Bachmann trains are terrible and low quality. THAT IS VERY UNFAIRLY UNTRUE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bachmann products are somke of the best model railroading products ever !!! I don't mean just the spectrum line, the standard line is relly good to !!! does anyone back me up here ????

They made the BQ23-7, so they're definitely not completely worthless. I'd like to see Atlas do that.


uspscsx

[wctransfer]

First of all, there cars suck, most of the engines suck, specially the Dash 8 Widecabs, the windows make them look like crap, and what else is to say? I will never buy a bachman ever, have you seen the SD45 they did? The trucks dont even come close to what they look like in real life.

Alec

[Anonymous]

Deja vue all over again, May 2004? Someone hit the last page button of the forum to resurrect this one?
Will

[Bob Hayes]

Twenty years ago when I worked in a hobby shop, when someone would bring a Bachmann train in for repair, even if we had sold it to them, we would have to tell them to return it to Bachmann, because Bachmann wouldn't reimburse us for the cost of repairs to their equipment. True, they have a life time guarantee, but you have to pay to ship it back to them. As a result, we stopped carrying the line. Their reliability was just too poor.

Bob Hayes

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Oklahoma Train Nut
does anyone back me up here ????

sorry not me
nope no blotchman for me[:-^]

[bikerraypa]

A Bachmann set is what got me re-interested in trains a few years ago. I still have it and still run the engine and cars now and again, and, although not rivet-counter perfect, I like them. In N, my first ever locomotive was a Bachmann Dash-8 and it performs superbly. So, all in all, I like their stuff.

I have, however, had two Spectrum Pacifics in HO. One could barely pull its own tender, and the other never really ran at all.

Ray out

[mmartian22]

just putting ing thought about bachman i used to ba***hem too but there spectrum series is a great inprovement .over their regular engines i have bought thier climaxas shays and heislers i have installed dcc in them and they are great running engines

[Berk-fan284]

My first Bachmann: an ancient 4-8-4 Northern with the "pancake" motor and split drive gear (bought used and abused) became a Bowser repower kit project, rating so-so (it's used). I took the plunge a few months later and bought the Spectrum 4-8-2 Heavy Mountain(new), the USRA 2-6-6-2 and the the 2-10 Decapod, rating 2 thumbs up, A1, NOW WE'RE TALKING QUALITY!!!! I also picked up the regular line GS-4 War Baby not a Spectrum but better than the Northern.

[emdgp92]

Some Bachmann stuff is crap, but some isn't bad either. For example, I have a pair of Spectrum F40PHs. I can't really fault them, since they pull well, and seem to be immune to the "dirty track" problem. One even took a dive to the floor, and once I repaired the bashed-in nose, it still runs great. What I *can* fault, is some of the annoying problems I've had with them. For example, the grab irons come mounted flat against the carbody, and the numberboards don't fit into the housing. We all know that the grabs should be slighty raised. I fixed the numberboards by filing them until they fit correctly. Another annoyance was that the black "Amtrak" lettering on the side...rubbed off just by handling the unit! But, even with all that, I'd still buy another F40 and will still recommend them to others.

I stay away from their older (non-Spectrum) F units though. I don't like how the frame is plastic, and the single powered truck bugs me. But, at least they *finally* gave that thing an 8-wheel power pick up. These units have their uses...they're great for "repowering" Tyco Baldwins :p

[rudywa]

I'm with you Oklahoma, Bachmann has done me right for years, since 1972 or so and I don't care what others think, their price is affordable, their warranty unbeatable and their products are mostly great!!!!!!!![:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Darth Santa Fe]

I love Bachmann!![:D][:D] I have a lot of Bachmann stuff and the only thing that's failed me is an F9A. The F9 is 1 of 4 Bachmann 4-wheel-drive diesels I have and it's the only one that hasn't run well. I think that the Spectrum AND Standard engines are great!! And I don't even have one of their Spectrum steamers yet!!

[davekelly]

QUOTE: Originally posted by emdgp92

Another annoyance was that the black "Amtrak" lettering on the side...rubbed off just by handling the unit!

Sounds like they need a new PR person. "NEW - Self Weathering Lettering."

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[robert sylvester]

[banghead] I agree with those who support Bachman. Early on, the products were shakey, even for mass production, that is in the HO Market. Poor runners, not very good when it came to speed control, and stopping and starting. In fact many were like that, Life Like, AHM, Mantua, Model Power, Walthers; even brass, some of those were the worst, yet still cost a fortune.
Then the bet was made between the presidents of Bachman and Life Like. When I was at the 1996 NMRA Convention in Atlanta, the Vice President of Production was there from Bachman, and we talked about the quality issue.
A bet was made between the two presidents as to which company could produce a plastic engine of detailed quality and ran smoothly, [8D][:D] at a reasonable price. That bet was in the eighty's, it took some time but Life Like won the race and Bachman with spectrum was right behind. I still have my originals and they both run great. By 1996 that same Vice-President was demonstrating to me the correctness of the bull-dog nose of their F-Units and how close their Bachman Plus and Spectrum Engines were to the prototype.
Since then they have produced a line of accessories, Especially the Spectrum buildings, and Bachman Plus line. And Life Like too has produced cars and buildings. Take a look at their Proto 2000 rolling stock, excellent work. And for the most part their costs are below Kato and Atlas, with Athearn in between.
Bachman has allowed many into the hobby with good looking and good running products, at reasonable prices.
And the Life-Like 1000 products are doing the same thing.
Sure, it's a wonderful thing to have Kato, Broadway Limited, or an Atlas running on the Pike[8D], that's cool, but thank goddness for Bachman and others who have tried to keep it affordable with parts of their line. Even the new Tower Line, plastic with the brass look, without the prices, demonstrates that Overland sees a market of those who want the detail but won't pay the brass price.
Robert
WTRR
HUb City Division[;)]

[TrainFreak409]

I'm a Bachmann supporter![:D] Bachmann's products have treated me good, and so has their customer service! I love the Spectrum series, and I love the prices of the standard line. Sure, the quality may not be as good as an Altas or Kato, but where else can you find a 4-8-4 Northern that cheap? And I've heard good about the latest production run in N scale. I'll be getting one soon.[;)]

[Anonymous]

I love bachmann's spectrum steamers, espicaly the revamped PRR K4, while I would love to have the BLI all diecast K4, current bills and high gas prices dicatate otherwise. You all should see the quality and detail of thier Briti***rains, it rivals BLI on every level except for factory sound.

[Anonymous]

but its so fun to bash[:D][:D]
bachman the bashful railroad line