Your thoughts about Bachmann Niagara

[larak]

Hi all,

I am wondering if anyone has one of these locomotives and if so, your opinions about it.

The price is right for secondary engines. I would keep it moving or hide it behind the BLIs if rivet counter show up.

Note that the description does NOT say spectrum. I have sent an inquiry to the vendor (trainworld/trainland) and am awaiting reply.

I have also heard that Bachmann's DCC decoders are pretty basic. That's OK if they are upgradable later on. I currently run DC but will be making the changeover shortly.

The one Spectrum (10 wheeler) that I have is decent after a bit of surgery on the pilot.

Thanks for your opinions,

Karl

New York Central Niagara
	Manufacture: BACHMANN Category: Steam Locomotive Number: 50302 (et. al.) Scale: HO

DCC Equipped.

[don7]

There was a review on the engine done by Model Railroad News when it first came out. It was given a very good grade.

Note Model Railroad News is noted for harsh interviews on lessor quality items it reviews.

This is proof positive that Bachmann products have come a long way.

I have a number of Spectrum Steamers and can not say anything bad about them, they are all good value for what they cost. I would rate any of my Spectrums as equal to the BLI steamers I have as well.

[selector]

It isn't a Spectrum class of model locomotive.  However, I think it is one of the new and improved basic Bachmann steamers introduced over the past couple or three years.  I have no other information on it, but Bachmann has 'bout the best warranty in the business.  If the price is right...

Crandell

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I used to have one that I picked up NIB for under $10 at a yard sale. It was a good runner but really too big for my layout. I sold it off to a member on my forum.

[dknelson]

I bought one very cheaply, not used per se, but marked that it did not run correctly and needs work.  I am a sucker for deals like that as some veteran members of this Forum might recall from this long ago posting of mine:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/87442.aspx?sort=ASC&pi314=1

One of these days I will try to find time to tinker with it. 

I think it is a handsome model.  If it was going to run on the sort of broad radius curves that are worthy of it, I assume the gap between tender and cab could be tightened, and perhaps something could be done to fill teh very empty looking area around the trailing truck.  Visually those strike me as the two most obvious indications of its Bachmann origins.

Dave Nelson

[JimValle]

I think the Bachmann Niagara has a few problems that we have found running it on our club layout.  For one thing the centipede tender has trouble staying on the track because it's too light and has that long rigid wheelbase.  The engine is also very light which hurts its pulling power and makes it easy to derail.  Its problems are similar to the ones I've encountered with my Bachmann Santa Fe 2-10-4 which is also just too light on its feet.  I believe that with more weight on drivers these engines would be much better runners and more weight in the tenders would improve their tracking as well.  That said, they are handsome and well detailed for their price.  I just wish they wouldn't rattle around our tracks like some "toy grade" engine!

[BRVRR]

I have an early version of the Bachmann Niagara. I came without DCC. I installed a MRC steam sound decoder in the tender and added a little weight there too.

The loco runs well and is quite smooth once it starts. Pulling power leaves a bit to be desired however. One of these days I'll apply a little Bull Frog Snot to the main drivers and that should make things better.

Here she is at the head of a short streamlined passenger train at the east end of the BRVRR layout.

For the money a good engine.

[richg1998]

If you put in a quality decoder, clip the caps on the PC board. They are labeled with a C. Don't worry about the two inductors. They might look like green colored resistors.

I just looked at the Bachmann site and the DCC ready Niagara has a speaker opening. Most probably 28mm. I have some HO Bachmann steamers, not that one though.

Rich

[cudaken]

JimValle

I think the Bachmann Niagara has a few problems that we have found running it on our club layout.  For one thing the centipede tender has trouble staying on the track because it's too light and has that long rigid wheelbase. 

 Jim that is the very reason mine went back to my LHS!  I tried adding weights to the tender but nothing helped. Just to many darn wheels!

 

 I even tried removing some and that did not help either. Now, the GS 4's, great little engines! I added some weights to the engine and they pulled fair, around 18 cars. Only reason I still don't have them is when I went DCC I had no clue on how to add a decoder.

 Cuda Ken

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JimValle

For one thing the centipede tender has trouble staying on the track because it's too light and has that long rigid wheelbase.

That's one thing mine didn't have a problem with. It didn't have a centipede tender. Instead the tender had two three axle trucks.