I want to buy some Spectrum HO diesel as these are offered at good prices and available in the right roadnames. I want ready to run, do not need super detail but decent running from my models. As I start filling a basement I want lots of locos and cannot afford just to buy Atlas and Proto 2000. So what about Bachmann Spectrum Gp35, GP30, SD45, FM h16-44 and so on? Please advise!
I AGREE! read my reply from 6-11-02. this was my first train set after about 20 years of being away from the hobby and Bachman Loco’s suck. as I told the person about my own new loco, it still makes bad motor noise even after I sent it in and they replaced the motor frame.
The Spectrum GE 44T is a great display engine since it runs poorly. I have a Spectrum SD45 gathering dust cause it is so poor.
I purchased a Spectrum HO scale set with a EMD GP-35 loco. My first since I was a kid. It has been making bad sounds from the engine. It was the frame that the engine sits inside of. Well, I sent it in to the company with a detaiked note of my own findings and they repaired it free of charge because it was brand new. I got it back in three weeeks. In the mean-time I baught a used SD-35. Got my new loco back and it still makes niose. The motor is bad. I built a Grand Valley layout for my train and use both loco’s on it even though the one makes bad sounds and loses power. I lubricated it properly and that did help somewhat. If you go to Bachman.com and see what people say about trains there or even email the Bach-Man, he will help you out by saying to contact the parts dept. After I baught my new train and had problems with it he said that it had ben on the shelf for two years and that ti just needed to be lubricated. nothing worked. so then I sent it in. I enjoy model trains and this will not keep me from working on my Layout,but I will not buy any more Bachman products. The risk is yours. There were allot of people who baught them when I did about three months ago and they were on the web site complaining about it. Hobby shops carry a wide range of Bachman trains and I am sure they are high quality. it is just like my Father-in-law who as a kid ate some bad butter and now will not even touch the stuff. But just don’t take my word for it. every Hobby Store owner I talked to about it would not say anything bad about Bachman. I will continue to use my Loco and hope that it will “break-in” like they told me at Bachman’s web site. I have sent it in once and it still does the same thing after about 10 minutes of running time. It does pull at about 35 miles per hour and that seems to work fine. Good Luck!
The Spectrum series is an upgrade to the basic Bachmann line, like the Proto 2000 & 1000 are upgrades to the basic Lifelike run.
Don’t overlook the proto 1000 series. They are a lot cheaper than the 2000 series.
Both Bachmann & Lifelike carry a limited life time warranty.
Sorry, I don’t own Bachmann but do own Likelike F3 1000, A-B-B-A, all for under $100.00
If you scroal down in the forums to the LIFE LIKE TRAIN SET QUESTION and click on the very first reply, there is a list there of brands that I think most modelers will agree on. I do have a pretty good running 44 tonner from Spectrum, Btu I did have to remotor it THREE times for it to run right. They are a low quality engine and there is a reason that they are so cheeply priced. If I were to recommend a GOOD low priced engine, it would be an Athern. Yes, you do have to put the rails on and paint them, But it is a very good quality running engine for the money that will last you a LONG time. You do get what you pay for, and the Atherns don’t really compare to the Atlas or Kato engine without some reworking, but for about $35-$40 you can do a LOT better that a Spectrum Deisel. Now the Spectrum steam is a different story, and I would not hesitate to buy one of them at all. hope i helped…Jamie
HELL NO there no no no good.Please go ATLAS KATO PROTO …
I have a Spectrum F-B unit and a gas electric “doodlebug”…both run well.I use the B unit with an old [ 60’s ] Athearn A geared unit, and the lashup works quite acceptably.
regards/ Mike
What kind of used SD35 did you get.What brand.
I also have the “Doodlebug” - it is the worse running loco I own. Stick with Atlas, Athearn-Genesis, Kato, P2K, Stewart, P1K or regular Athearn (in that order).
For good, cheaper locos, you can’t beat “blue box” Athearn - not as detailed as the others, but good running (usually) or repairable (always) locos.
Stay away from Bachmann …
(unless they are the ONLY one that makes the model you want - like my RI 'bug - but understand you are getting an inferior loco!)
… regular Life-Like and Model Power!
You get what you pay for (usually) in this hobby!
- George
i bought a spectrum GP30 a few years ago. i was very pleased with its appearance. but when i ran it it had the same horrible squealing that everyone else has experienced. i got another one hoping to use a better motor, but no luck. i got an H-16-44, and guess what, the same thing.
i really like the shells, they look great with all of the handrails. but i have to use new motors with them. i’m going to try using Athearn GP35 frames, motors, and trucks, basically everything Athearn except the shell. so i’m probably going to spend as much as if i had bought a P2K GP30. but who knows maybe i’ll enjoy the process more.
so i say STAY AWAY FROM SPECTRUM. the prices look good, but you’ll have a wonderful prop on your layout. athearn is spectacular for the price, but you really get what you pay for, as others have said.
i hope this reply isn’t too late
You should use a RPP frame instead of the Athearn one - less grinding.
Nigel
While my Bachmann Spectrum Doodlebug is indeed disappointing. I have a pair of Bachman GP40’s with DCC on board and they have been very reliable (plastic couplers excepted). I will say that the 40’s were a bit balky but after a short breakin period ~30 minutes, they have operated flawlessly for me. I’ve a pair of 44 tonners that are working well, again after break in. My Bachmanns are every bit as reliable as my 4 P1K F3s. My P2K and Genesis locomotives are favored over the P1K & Bachmans primarily because they are sound equipped.
My two 2-8-0 Consolidations with Tsunami’s are my favorite steam engines, against a stable of 8 other BLI and P2K engines that all fall short of my expectations, and they all cost more, most, a lot more than the Connies.
Just my 2 cents,
Joe Daddy
I had a Spectrum CSX C40-8W and an undecorated GP30 before. The Dash 8 had okay detailing and ran alright, but it was extremely noisy and the paint was rather thick. The GP30 also had a horrible grinding noise like the Dash 8 and surged badly, even after being broken in. The Spectrum GP30 is based on the old Lionel GP30 shell, which is too tall compared to the prototype. I’ve since purchased a LL P2K GP30 that’s heads and shoulders above the Spectrum in all aspects (once the cracked gears were replaced). I’d avoid the Spectrum diesels. Their steamers, on the other hand, get high marks from many modelers. I model the diesel era, so I wouldn’t know.
I find my liking for Bachmann fairly comical.
On models like steam engines, and switchers (70T, 44T, and the new 45T) they run like gems. Models like the SD45 and the GP35 run like crap.
Why? No one else had the brains to produce some nice small switchers, so I like them. I can not complain, nor does anybody else need to. Models that have been produced from other companies, like the SD45 and the GP35 have been done elsewhere…so say what your mind says.
Phil
What I’m wondering is… How did this thread get ressurected from 2002?[:-^]
I know the Spectrum diesels have increased in quality recently, back in 2002 they were bad, but nowadays they are quite good. I have a Spectrum C40-8W which is not great on the slow speed aspect, but it pulls like nothing else on the layout![tup]
Noobs [:-^]
I think the Bachman Diesel situation could easily turn postive to the extreme, now that the Diesel Tsunami has been released.
Joe
My SD45 runs right on par with my KATO’s.