Just purchased two Bachman Spectrum GE 45 ton engines with DCC on board. I took them out of their packages placed on track (4X8 test loop) powered with Digitrax.
The engines ran rough at first but then broke in and ran very smooth. After running them light for about 30 minutes in each direction I added 6 cars and ran them separately pulling the six cars all with metal wheels. Half way around the loop the engine stopped. The head light was still present. No motor hum was noticed. The engine then again started on it’s own and ran half way around did the same and again restarted on it’s own. Also they seem to be very underpowered? I have 5 GE 70 tonners /DCC on board and they run great. A little under powered but OK.
Have there been any problems with these engines that have been brought to your attention?
It sounds like the decoders are overheating and shutting down because you have overloaded the loco. Small side rod switchers were never meant for mainline duty. Short switching moves of only one or two cars at a time was their usual use.
Hey guys, thanks so much. I figured it must be something like that. I did do extensive break in and they really run smooth now. I tried them again today with the six cars and no problems. I think the problem was my running them for an hour before putting on some cars. The break in was dramitic and they really improved by the minute.
These little engines will be assigned their own industries and they will not see main line service. My 70 tonners will do that service. I like my Bachman engines.
Neat picture of you behind the throttle. Where are you operating at? I just retired from the CN with 39 years behind the throttle. I miss running trains but don’t miss the CN! I wouldn’t mind finding a tourist rr with some steam to work on. That’s one thing I missed doing, I started on the first generation stuff but steam was gone by 69 when I started.
Thanks for the reply. Mine are running smooth now too!!!
That was at Felton (near Santa Cruz, CA), known as Roaring Camp, a tourist railroad. The locomotive is their three-foot-gage Dixie Shay. This adventure was a gift from my workmates (a great bunch of men and women) upon my retirement in 2002.
I bought one that played up when I ran other DCC engines. It had a mind of it’s own, starting and stopping when it felt like it. I got a replacement and it runs well, and no unexpected takeoffs. I think the decoders in these are very cheap and nasty, and no quality control.
Wow, Bachmann made a diesel, and people are accepting it!? It’s a miracle![:D] I may have to get one myself with all of you saying how great they are.[:D]
Bachmann does use the cheapest DCC boards they can get. The one in my GP30 can’t make the engine run at full speed until it’s warmed up, and the power to the motor is real rough at lower speeds (I run DC).
I have a large group of diesel locomotives from Athearn, Atlas, Proto 1000 & 2000, BLI and others. I have ten Bachman locomotives with the DCC decoders. In my opinion these are some of the best locomotives for the money today. They run smoothly and quietly and and as I paid between $32.00 and $75.00 each the prices are fantastic. Granted they do not have the level of detail as an Atlas, Proto 2000 or BLI but for the price they are excellent. It makes me wonder why other manufacturers can’t offer this type of decoder in their base level models. Proper break in and clean wheels and track go a long ways for good operation especially with DCC.
I also have a 45 tonner and it is nice and smooth. One thing to try is disabling the DC function if running on DCC. That will reduce strange starting and stopping. I learned it the hard way with an AC6000. I also have a Bachman Shay which is also runs very nice.
