Just wanted to know, because I've been seeing these all over ebay & in the trainworld or trainland advertisements. Is the GE 8-40cw by Spectrum/Bachmann worth it's wait, does any one in this forum own one of these engines? If so hows the quality of it? Does it really work as well as it looks? I've posted before about Spectrum/Bachmann quality engines. I've recieved a lot of good ratings on their steam engines & was told that the diesels are so-so. I might want to purchase a few but, I want to hear what my fellow modelers have to say about this model the 8-40cw. If I like the ratings, I might pick up a few at this weekend train show.
I have one, and they are pretty good in my opinion. They are quiet, and smooth running.
They run 18" curves well. Nice bright lights. Mine has dcc onboard and it works well with my prodigy dcc.
Good pullers.
I dropped mine on the floor, so I sent it back to bachmann, and I called last week and they said I should have it back next week somtime. So I am real pleased
Reeves
I have a Spectrum C40-8 and I was perfectly pleased with it; somewhat short on detail, but it ran very nicely. But when I got an Atlas CW40-8 and MU'd it to the Bachmann, I noticed that the Bachmann sat a scale 6" taller than the Atlas unit - it just didn't look right to me. So I eventually bought an Atlas c40-8 when they went on sale at Klein's ($70).
Moral of the story: If you have Bachmann engines, don't mix them with Atlas - you might get spoiled like I did!
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
I own both the older Spectrum 8-40CW and the newer one. The detail is much better on the newer ones, along with the paint and drive. The new more durable black plastic gears growl a little, but it's a very steady runner and has a realistic speed range.
Here's a review I did on the new 8-40CW earlier:http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/675275/ShowPost.aspxAt one time, the actual top speed was about 75 scale MPH, but it's more broken in now and is back up to about what the review says.
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Good call on the CSX! Mine is a CSX narrow cab #7598. I weathered it a little and it looks just about as good as anything. I can't really figure why they made the grab irons black but its not a big deal.
Enjoy
--Zak Gardner
My Layout Blog: http://mrl369dude.blogspot.com
http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net
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zgardner18 wrote:I had the old one and I love how it runs but hate the rest of it. The colors were off, the details were bolky, the couplers hung low and the snowplow dragged. I then bought an Atlas and paid the high price and came to find out that it is night and day in the difference between Bachmann and Atlas. Atlas is by far the best engine, and by far the best out of all manufactures in my mind. You can't beat the details and they purr like a kitten. Well worth the money if you want perfection on your layout.
I had a similar experience, old spectrum diesels arent worth buying. This new dash 8, while not quite as good as atlas is very close IMO. And MUCH cheaper. I paid $30 for mine and it has been perfect thus far. In fact the reason I tried it out in the first place is because Atlas doesnt make the particular model I wanted, and Spectrum does.
A guy at the club has an atlas dash 8 with sound. And I have the spectrum which I also installed sound in so I have a pretty fair comparison. Close up the Atlas has better detail, a chain to the trucks, the vents right behind the cab seem a little crisper and the grab irons are the correct color. From a couple feet away you cant really tell a difference.
In operation with sound off, the Atlas is very smooth and quiet, the Spectrum is just as smooth but makes a bit more noise, still quiet though. The sound in my loco is better, but thats the decoder not the engine. Both are heavy and pull well, I havent tested exactly how much but it is a powerful loco.
I would agree that the Atlas is better, but not worth the extra money. After the cost of the engine and decoder, I am almost $100 less than what an Atlas dash 8 with sound costs. I have a well detailed, smooth running loco with sound which I consider better than the decoder in the Atlas. If thats not a good deal I dont know what is.
Good deal Joe, I see your point but for me, whom is still in DC mode for now, and am lazy to go through with all of the re-detailing my Bachmann to match the prototype, I see that Atlas is worth my money. So I guess it is up to your taste and needs. I like the fact that Atlas had ditch lights installed so I don't have to, but once again I blame my young lazy "Ready-to-Roll" attitude.
Now for me, I have weathered my Bachmann too much to hide all of it's blemishes that I now plan on removing everything down to the primer and starting from scratch to duplicate the looks of the fine detail of my Atlas. I'm sure that this will create a greater appreciation for this hobby. I have not seen the new Bachmann Spectrum 8-40CW, but the old ones need help.
Here is my mess that I call my Spectrum 8-40CW:
zgardner18 wrote: Good deal Joe, I see your point but for me, whom is still in DC mode for now, and am lazy to go through with all of the re-detailing my Bachmann to match the prototype, I see that Atlas is worth my money. So I guess it is up to your taste and needs. I like the fact that Atlas had ditch lights installed so I don't have to, but once again I blame my young lazy "Ready-to-Roll" attitude. Now for me, I have weathered my Bachmann too much to hide all of it's blemishes that I now plan on removing everything down to the primer and starting from scratch to duplicate the looks of the fine detail of my Atlas. I'm sure that this will create a greater appreciation for this hobby. I have not seen the new Bachmann Spectrum 8-40CW, but the old ones need help. Here is my mess that I call my Spectrum 8-40CW:
WOW that is a mess.
I'll have to see if I can convince my parnents to let me have one of those. What's the MSRP?
thanks,dekruif
My secret is... *drumroll*... ebay.
I just looked on there are no good "buy it now" deals on them at the moment. However there are 3 of them with 2 days left all still under $20. One of them is at $8.50 right now, guess nobody wants conrail.
I "bought mine now" for $29.95 with about $8 shipping.
JPM335 wrote: My secret is... *drumroll*... ebay. I just looked on there are no good "buy it now" deals on them at the moment. However there are 3 of them with 2 days left all still under $20. One of them is at $8.50 right now, guess nobody wants conrail. I "bought mine now" for $29.95 with about $8 shipping.
Ebay rules yet again. I'de want mine in undecorated if they make those.
dekruif