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<p>The new Bachmann Light Mikados (and I emphasize light) weigh in right around the Athearn Genesis Mikados (Bachmann 11.6 oz,  Athearn 12 oz).  The drive wheels are not sprung vertically, but do have some side to side play.  Bachmann Mike will pull a 10 car train of empty accurail hoppers with metal wheelsets up a 2% grade with minimal wheelslip (to get that figure I had to hand pick my best free-rolling under NMRA specified weight 4 70 ton and 6 55ton hopper cars to shoehorn this thing up the grade).  The tender power pick up is the cheap single wiper that has become standard on Bachmann steam.  They did however put a washer between the truck screw and the wiper so that the wiper maintains contact with the screw.  The rear coupler hangs low and I noticed that the coupler box screw is not fully driven in (flat head, I can see the bevel) and it appears to be at a slight angle.  It does have working LED headlight and back up lights.  In the case of the one I purchased, it apears to have the wrong valve gear for the locomotive number (MEC 617).  Even though MEC was allocated USRA orginals (621-626), Bachmann inexplicably chose to not letter them as such (at least the valve gear would have been correct).  The tender capacities are incorrect; Bachmann lists them at 10tons coal and 5400 gal water.  MEC 617 was equipped with 20Ton coal and 8000 gal capacity tender (source: MEC locomotive register, 1947).  The USRA originals carried more: 16ton, 10000gal (source see above).  The preceding 2 figures are the as scrapped conditions, not as built, I chose these due to the fact that the locomotive has the late 1940s speed lettering.  And continuing on that subject of speed lettering, the cab numbers are compressed.  I feel this thing is slightly over priced for the amount of attention to detail and research done.  I feel like I'm not asking for the world here, but maybe a slight amount of effort put into research if you are going to invest in new tooling. </p>
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