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Bachmann HO scale 2-8-0 steam locomotive
I have four of this model because the price is so reasonable I thought I buy 4 of them before they sold out. I have sound installed in all of them and they are exceptionally good slow runners.The only problem I have is that the chuff starts before the locomotive moves but I think this is due to my own inabillity to adjust , as I am only just startingout in DCC. Good product BACHMANN and the price is right.J.H.
The reason there slow is the real 2-8-0s were never fast.
I have 1that had DCC. I was squirelling around with it an I broke 1 of the connections to the pc board. So now it just sits there and looks good.
These 2-8-0’s are about the best runners I ever had… if you get the DCC/Sound ones from the run that came in black boxes. To get the chuff about as good as it can be, run the engine on the main at step 4 of 28 or 10 out of 128. Programming on the main, set CV 116 to somewhere between 125 and 175, start at 150. You should get about 4 chuffs per driver revolution. On my engines, this seems to keep the error minimal when going slower or faster. On 128 steps, I never run it above 20 or so, that’s about as fast as those local freight engines ever ran.
Did the 2-8-0’s have a name like “Pacific”, “American”, etc.?
I purchased one of these many years ago (no sound).Great
running little engine,unfortunately it did not do well
after hitting the floor! Still runs,but intermittenly.Would I
buy another one? Absolutely!
I have the DC version and it is my 2nd. They are as dependable and durable as one can want. They have been running on my layout for over 10 years. I have been through many other non-Bachmann engines in the meantime. I just want to buy more of the Bachman 2-8-0s.
In our Evergreen club, when we saw the first one, many in the club purchased one. We run them on our short Coal green line and they are great running in pairs pulling coal trains.
I especially like ‘small steam’ and this 2-8-0 is a must-have for me - sooner than later, I hope. I think I’d like to get it (and other ‘small steam’) in ‘part’ form from Bachmann so I can ‘kit-bash’ them into CN or CP (style) 0-8-0’s, 2-8-0’s, maybe a Mikado, and definitely a Ten-wheeler. Has anyone attempted this yet - if not, when I’m finished, I’ll put it out there to share.
This is a nice little unit. I purchased mine a couple years ago at a local train show. I eventually change out the original DCC decoder with a Digitrax decoder with sound. This was my first attempt at changing a decoder and worked out fine.
This worked fine until just lately. Every now and than when starting the unit the sound activates but the locomotive will not move.
David, 2-8-0s are known as “Consolidations”
I own two of them and our club owns one, they are all top notch and we have had very little trouble with them. I have also observed them on many featured layouts in Model Railoader.
I have one also and am very happy with it. I am anxious to try Pat Flory’s programming to se if that helps with the chuff rate
I bought a 2-8-0 Consolidation several years ago with a Tsumani decoder. Engine looks & runs great, chuff rate was easy to set. The headlight is a bit dim, as the “port” for the light seems partially blocked. The engine looks too good to try to take it apart and fix it. I highly recommend it.
I hope they re-designed the drive on these. I bought two about ten years ago and both developed split gears on the motor shafts.
Truly an excellent little loco, but I am amazed that with 21,000 Consolidations built and run in the US, the Bachmann is the only HO mainline model available. Or that more articles are not written and published on converting this model to the many prototype variations. Given the large number of Pennsy modelers, an H-9 or H-10 would be a natural.
Still awaiting delivery in UK after pre-ordering several months ago. Ditto for S4 switcher both with sound.
I believe Mr. Lahram meant to say NMRA compliant, not “complaint”. I have one, and I have no complaints.
I too purchased two units of the Spectrum DC controlled type. They ran smooth as silk for a couple of years. Then the drive mechanism of both developed a once per rev bind. I have been unable to restore them to operation. I hope Bachmann has improved the mechanism on these great looking engines.