I’m considering buying a 2-10-0 Russian Decapod. A friend of mine owns 2 or 3 Bachman Spectrum locomotives (none of them the 2-10-0) and said he is disappointed in them.
Any recommendation for or against the Spectrum line in general?
Any recommendation for or against the 2-10-0 specifically?
Thanks for your input.
Bachmann Steam is excellent and the 2-10-0 is a good locomotive. It is small and not a great puller but that is to be expected. I have two of these and I am happy with both. Bachmann diesels are another story, for some reason Spectrum diesels have not been in the same league as either P2k or Athearn. Some of these have been shockingly bad models. - Nevin
I like the 2-10-0. I also like the 2-8-0. I am a little disappointed with the Spectrum K-4 pacifics - but have three of them. I like the LL Proto 2000 steam much better.
If you want a Russian, it is not a bad way to go…
I have several Spectrum 2-8-0’s and 4-8-2’s up and running. I’m very pleased with them.
Tom Watkins
I own three of the Bachmann Spectrum 2-10-0s, all with SoundTraxx systems in them, and they run excellently. As one person noted, they don’t pull well, but neither do many other steam models due to the lack of space for adequate weight in the boilers. Even the new Lionel HO-scale Challenger, made of cast metal, isn’t that great on being able to pull a long train up a 2 percent grade (15 or 20 cars max). The Spectrum 2-10-0 can manage about 10-15 cars up a 2 percent grade, depending on the quality of your rolling stock’s wheels.
I have two Spectrum series locomotives and like them a lot…but I’ve listened to a lot of other guys complain about Bachmann locos in general. Either someone’s too critical or I got lucky, LOL. [8D]
I recieved a russian about a year ago, and dropped it. Within two days it had become my favorite, so I was please do find out tha non-warrantee repairs or replacements only cost $20! But yeh, 2-10-0 s are great. I also have a spectrum Dash 8 loco, it just needs a few parts (i admit, I am a butterfingers when it comes to carrying these things! I now place my trains in the box BEFORE removing them from the layout!)
i like the spectrum line, i think that they have raised the bar on inexoensive engines. the ones that i have bought run very well and have good pulling power. i have one that has dcc and sound that is just fantistic. (n-scale)
The Spectrum steam locomotives are superior products. The K4 is the weakest and oldest of the line, and has gone through several upgrades over the years.
The 2-10-0 will pull a prototypical train, these are small locomotives, actually lighter than the Baldwin 2-8-0 that the Bachmann model represents.
I own the Spectrum Russian Decapod, USRA 4-8-2B, and Harriman 2-8-0. The mountain is the best runner, while both 2-10-0 and 2-8-0 have a wobble. [V]
For $94, their Decapod isn’t that bad. But it doesn’t pull worth a damn. [:(!]
Thanks for sharing your Bachmann experience. I especially appreciate the information on pulling the 2% grade because I was thinking of adding a 3% hill climb between the upper level and lower level tracks. I’m rethinking my combination of grade and power, based on your information.
Perhaps a Double head of 2-10-0 and a 2-8-0 may work on that 3% grade.
Yeah, you could make it a helper district if that isn’t to far out geographically.
That would be fun to operate. Alternitively you could have a small yard at the bottom of the hill where trains could double the hill (leave half the train at the bottom, take the first half up, go back for the second half and connect them back togerther at the top).
neil
On straight DC, the Spectrum 2-8-0 and 2-10-0 have very different speed levels. The Decapod requires way more voltage to move than the Consolidation, so double heading them without modification is impossible.
To AggroJones - THANKS for the info about the difference in speed between the
2-8-0 and the Decapod. I wasn’t aware of it. I’ll either change my design or use neil’s suggestion to double the hill. Thanks to Neil for the suggestion. I’ve read of it many times but never thought to use it on my layout.
I have a bachmann locomotive and i think it is great. I would have to be the better of the 2 locomotives i own
I own a few (0-6-0, 4-8-2, 2-8-0)and they run very smooth and have great detail,