I have seen a number of Bachmann diesels advertised at prices from 20 to 35 dollars, some are even DCC equiped. Are these diesels any good, I mean do they run well or if they have any faults can these be fixed? .[:)]
Regards CBQ 555
I have 2 so far of the new ones withh DCC. They do run well, though can be be a little noisy. While they won’t crawl at 2 or 3 smph, they do reasonably well at low speed. I’m happy with mine and intend to get more.
I have a couple and they seem to run fine. While not creepers, they seem to pull their own well and populate the Engine yard nicely. I bought them for my Grand Son to run. I am going to be building him a small layout and figured these would be fine for his enjoyment. If you are looking for Atlas Quality, then you need to spend the extra. I have wondered if a better decoder would help the slow speed running. I’ve heard that it is a very very basic decoder. Chris
I have 12 of the Bachmann diesels. All run just fine. All but one is DCC, and I have not had any problems with them as far as electronics goes. I did have one that I sent back because it was squealing as if the motor wasn’t lubed properly. Bachmann sent me a new replacement within two weeks.
I use an NCE Power Pro DCC system. I hear others saying they cannot get their locos to creep but I do not have any problems getting them to crawl. The one that doesn’t crawl is the Specturm 44 ton switcher which I installed a Digitrax decoder in. You would think that one would run better but that’s not the case.
For the money they are hard to beat if you are looking for something to pull your trains. They do lack some of the finer details found on higher priced locos but they still look pretty good all in all.
Bill
If you are referring to Micromark, the SD45 listed as DCC Equipped is “DCC ready”.Error in the flyer. Check befor buying.
I have two “N” scale G-50’s that are quit and run exclent,and one bachman small switcher in “HO-DCC” that runs good!!These were all new out of the box.[2c]
JIM
I don’t have any of their standard diesels, but I do have a few Spectrums, and they’re all very good runners. The oldest one is probably the only average runner, mostly because of noisy motor bearings and gears that aren’t centered perfectly. So besides that one old one, they’re all very smooth and quiet runners.[:D]
The only fault is poor quality control, meaning sometimes you’ll get a good one, sometimes you won’t. If you get a bad one, send it back and they’ll give you a new one.[:D]
Wow, this is a first. 5 replies before mine, and not one is saying “Bachmann = PURE JUNK!!! Avoid at all costs!!!” It’s actually kind of nice to not be seeing those around yet.[:)]
I have two of the SD45’s and I believe I did get them from Micro Mark. They were DCC equipped and run pretty well. As for creeping, they do OK. I’m sure with more run-in and adjusting of the CV’s they could improve. Not the best detail but no worse than an old Athearn blue box SD45 I have and the body is narrower, closer to proto type. Weathering will mitigate quite a bit of the lack of detail and the price was irresitable.
Tilden
I have a 70 ton DCC On-Board and its quiet now that I oiled it. Runs pretty slow but not as slow as my P2K SW8 and that doesnt have a decoder in it. As for Spectrums I have been having good luck with the 3 truck shay without DCC, and two Dash 8’s one DCC is installed by me, on is in the process of being detailed and soon DCC will be installed… I wont buy the plain jane Bachmanns but seem they improved much with the DCC Onboard, and Spectrums.
I retired the last of my “standard” Bachmann F units some time ago. They were fine for many years, but eventually, they simply wore out. It was more expensive to fix them than buy replacements…simply because of the way they’re made. The rear truck has the motor, and the front one was just along for the ride.
I do have a pair of their Spectrum F40PH engines. These things are awesome. Not only do they have directional lighting, but they also have the flashing strobes as well! As if that wasn’t enough, one of the F40s hit the floor awhile back, yet still runs like new.
Thank you all for the positive feedback. I shall place an order for some of these diesels. As pointed out they may not be great on detail but that will not matter as I intend to weather them, and of course I can always add details etc. Glad to hear that they are not total rubbish. As for slow running they will spend most of their time out on the road hauling freight and some passenger trains. I have an Atlas and a Stewart diesel that run real slow for yard work.
Thanks again
Regards CBQ 555
hi I own over 60 bachmann diesels. stick to the spectums and the pluses.the others are realy only toys.