Rich,
Sure would like to find out, what You decide,,,,,,while I'm young.....LOL...
Cheers,
Frankie
For $99, I am tempted, particularly because I would like to add a Santa Fe switcher to my stable.
The fact tthat it is DCC with sound, albeit perhaps not the best, is an added incentive.
The one thing that worries me is that some have said it runs noisy. The YouTube videos seem to support that assertion. I had to mute the volume while watching the YouTube videos. LOL
Still thinking about it.
Rich
Alton Junction
BRAKIE I fear a lot of Bachmann prejudice will need to be overcome on this and other forums when ever Bachmann is mention. More the pity when a simple question can't be answered without needless bashing.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Most of the manufactures at one point or another put out, for lack of a better word, crap! Walthers original SW1 is a prime example from them, Bachmanns original Spectrum steam engine for the Pen is another and there are lots more. Now these ran better than some others but when they came out, the standard was much higher.
I agree with Brakie on this issue. There has been a lot of talk on this forum about the high cost of locomotives with sound and when Bachmann attempts to provide a lower cost alternative it is belittled by many who have not tried out these offerings. Admittedly some of the Bachmann offerings in the past were less than stellar but it seems that they have been making an attempt at correcting past flubs (like their non-sound decoders). Or perhaps I'm just way out in left field.
Joe
dti406 The $60.00 to $80.00 will pay for the postage on the lifetime guarantee when the engine has to be sent back for repairs. My 30 year old Atlas and Kato engines never need to be sent back, they always run. Rick J
The $60.00 to $80.00 will pay for the postage on the lifetime guarantee when the engine has to be sent back for repairs. My 30 year old Atlas and Kato engines never need to be sent back, they always run.
Rick J
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
I guess I have the exception. I have the Santa Fe version and it has so much whine in the drive train you can hear it even in the sound mode. It’s a smooth runner for the price but really noisy. I wouldn’t take a chance on another one.
mobilman44Understand, I am not knocking anything. I am simply curious as to what the difference in price gives us......
A Alco switcher with DCC/Sound?
Looking deeper..
That extra $80.00 could buy some needed items like a structure or two,3 fright cars, switches or other needed items..
When modeling on a budget one needs to be savvy in spending and get all he can get instead of blowing his budget on one item..
When I was working I had fairly deep pockets and now I'm retired those pockets isn't as deep.
On another note time was a modeler on a budget could put a high dollar item in layaway and make weekly payments.Of course that is still possible but,with the lack of hobby shops that may be a impossibility for some.
I have several BLI switchers and one Bachmann S4. The Bachmann runs better than some of the BLIs and as well as the rest. The sound on the Bachmann is as good but has fewer options to adjust it. Also the Bachmann has less detail than BLI but for me this is OK because once on the lay out it looks fine.
Yup, if one had limited funds the Bachmann sounds (no pun intended) very attractive - no question about that. My question remains however......... what will the extra $80 or so get you with a BLI switcher?
Understand, I am not knocking anything. I am simply curious as to what the difference in price gives us......
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
mobilman44 Well, I didn't want to bring it up, but ................ The Bachmann "DCC Sound Value" moniker may mean that it is not of the same sound quality as an equivalent BLI (or Genesis, etc.) ATSF switcher. I realize there is a good $60 - $80 difference in price, and wonder what those extra dollars gives us in the BLI - as compared to the Bachmann. Of course, beauty, sound, & performance are in the eyes of the beholder.........................
Well, I didn't want to bring it up, but ................
The Bachmann "DCC Sound Value" moniker may mean that it is not of the same sound quality as an equivalent BLI (or Genesis, etc.) ATSF switcher. I realize there is a good $60 - $80 difference in price, and wonder what those extra dollars gives us in the BLI - as compared to the Bachmann.
Of course, beauty, sound, & performance are in the eyes of the beholder.........................
We talking about a $99.00 engine that sounds and runs good and that makes a good value for those that has a limited hobby budget that can't really afford the extra money and the DCC/Sound equipped Genesis and BLI is roughly twice the amount of the Bachmann engine.
Consider neither Athearn(Genesis) or BLI offers a Alco switcher with sound and if they did you will be looking around $200.00 or more street..
mobilman44 Yep! There are several folks on this Forum whose opinions I trust to give me the right scoop. I use Google/Yahoo for a lot of things - but for MR advice/opinions, this is the place to go. Mobilman44
Yep! There are several folks on this Forum whose opinions I trust to give me the right scoop.
I use Google/Yahoo for a lot of things - but for MR advice/opinions, this is the place to go.
richg1998 may have thought that I was looking for comments on the quality of the sound after reading my subject title to this thread. But, I only added the words "DCC Sound Value" to clarify the fact that I was considering that version of the Bachmann ALCO S4.
I have several Bachmann Spectrum steam engines and a couple of DCC On Board steam engines, but I have never purchased a Bachmann diesel, so I was anxious to get the opinions of other forum members who own this particular diesel, namely how it runs and how it holds up over time.
richg1998 There is a DCC forum here and the Bachmann has forums with a couple Bachmann reps. You would want the HO forum. Lost of good reviews on the loco and other of the sound value line, plus loco diagrams and CV list for the sound versions they sell. Google, You Tube, Bachmann trains, Bachmann sound value. Google should be your best friend. You can build an extensive list of links when you take time to Google. Rich
There is a DCC forum here and the Bachmann has forums with a couple Bachmann reps. You would want the HO forum. Lost of good reviews on the loco and other of the sound value line, plus loco diagrams and CV list for the sound versions they sell.
Google, You Tube, Bachmann trains, Bachmann sound value. Google should be your best friend. You can build an extensive list of links when you take time to Google.
Indeed, Google is my friend, but there is nothing like getting the opinions of fellow forum members who own that same loco.
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I have one of the S2's (same as an S4), another sitting in a usps box waiting to be opened, and another en route. Needless to say, I like them. Smooth operation and nice sound, except the soundraxx horn sounds like someone stuffed a rag in it, not nearly as clear or loud as a QSI horn.
Mechanically, the only thing I'm dissappointed in is the electrical pickup system, old fashion wiper style, instead of the proto/athearn or atlas/kato style.
If you would have posted this thread about a month ago, I would have told you to stay away from them.....At first, my S2 had horrible stalling problems over turnouts. After much searching and frustration, the problem was rooted in a poor factory soldering job attaching the truck wire to the pickup strip. It finally fell off after my repeated efforts searching for the problem. It was soldered strong enough to stay on, but not well enough to keep it from having intermittent problems. After re-stripping the wire and resoldering it, all pickup problems have been resolved. It now operates well, which is why I bought 2 more.
The details that are on the locomotive are pretty good, thin handrails and such, but it lacks little things like grab irons, lift rings, and windshield wipers, and any pilot details to the extent these switchers had them. I guess that's what gives it the lower price point.
I would recommend the locomotive. But be aware of the wiper pickup design, and any downfalls that design my have in the long term.
- Douglas
I have one in Western Maryland paint scheme and it has become a prime mover on my layout
Joe Staten Island West
If you would like to watch them in review video's,while waiting for a response to your question,,there are a whole bunch,of You Tube Video's on them,,,,,just Google Bachmann Alco S4 and go to the review section and watch them in action.......Just A Thought!!
Frank
Rich,I have a Santa Fe S4 and I like it..Its a smooth runner and in the silent mode its as quiet as my Atlas/Roco S4.
The only thing that I think doesn't sound quite right is the turbo charger whistle sounds to loud other then that its a great little engine.You have a choice of three horns,bell ring rate and rule 17.
The decoder features all CV settings and has bemf.Also the sound didn't perform well with my Tech II power pack or using the T6 DC mode so,I used my Tech 6 in the DCC mode for this engine.
I have an opportunity to pick up a Bachmann ALCO S4 with DCC and Sound.
Can anyone who has one of the Bachmann DCC Sound Value On Board locos share their opinion of this loco.
I have some Spectrum steamers from Bachmann, but I have never purchased one of their diesels.