First off, I will say I am sorry now if this topic has come up before. I have been off the board for awhile so I missed alot. Tried a search on it but got alot of info on the system, not the engines.
I have a good sized layout that is controlled by a MRC Prodigy DCC System. I have been looking at getting a couple of those DCC Equipped Bachman engines. (they have all kinds of engines coming out now, even a GE 70T switcher) Those cheapies for around 40 bucks or so. I all presume the detail and quality is low ( I assumeing for a 40 engine) But I have 2 good reasons…
I want to try painting my freelance railroad colors and figured that would be a good engine to work with.
This is most important one… I have a 5 year old son that is getting really hooked and I do get a bit nervous when he has the cab of the Kato or Genisis engine and figured this would be great one ot get for him to use. Maybe even get two, so he can have his very own. I wont cry if it hits the floor becuase I would have to buy another to get him to stop crying
So, I was looking for anyone that has these engines… How do they do? Do they program and run well on a system other than the EZ Command? Any infoor feedback would be great.
i have no experience with the bachmann ez command equiped locos but there’s no reason to think they wouldn’t run as well with the MRC dcc system as they do with any other , and you’re already aware that there will be detail and running quality issues compared to your kato’s so it seems like they’d be good for your purpose
I’ve not tried the DCC-equipped version of these, but I do have three of their GP40/GP50s (same mechanism, different shells). They’re probably the best budget loco out there in my experience - my three run very quietly and smoothly, the handrails are a lot nicer than Athearn BB (they’re finer and have the correct section stanchions). Detailing is basic but they’d make a good first project loco to add grab irons, sunshades, etc to. The motor is the same as the one in their UK market diesels - some people have used this motor in O scale models with no problems so it’s obviously pretty tough. I had one of my GP40s hauling an Athearn GP50 dummy (with added ballast weight) and a couple of loaded and ballasted multi-unit double stack cars (one 3-unit drawbar, one 5-unit articulated) on Hornby 3rd radius settrack curves (these are a little less than 2ft radius). It ran continuously for over an hour with no slipping or overheating. As they follow DCC standards you should have no trouble running them on your system. Hope this is of help!
The Bachmann DCC-equipped locomotives are their cheaper STANDARD locomotives with a econo Lenz decoder installed in them. They’ll run about $40 list. You should be able to find them discounted for around $25-30. They will be of the same quality as the regular STANDARD diesels, only you can consist these together.