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Bachmann HO scale 4-4-0
We’ve waited a long, long time for a good, modern 4-4-0! The fact that it’s an accurate model of the Ma&Pa engines is even better. I think the review was fairly accurate and informative however I have 2 comments. First, why everyone seems to think this engine has Walschaerts valve gear is beyond me. The original Ma&Pa engines and every version I’ve seen of the Spectrum engine clearly show Stephenson valve gear.I would think MR would know the difference and appreciate why it’s important! Second, you state the models pulling power is below average. Below average for what, a 2-10-2? I’m amazed any 4-4-0 can pull 34 cars! Since you didn’t mention any traction tires I’m assuming they aren’t featured on the model. The prototype wasn’t expected to pull that much. Anyway, besides these two items the info was helpful especially the hint concerning setting the CV’s to eliminate the “lurch” you discovered. Roger Huber
The Bachmann 4-4-0 looks like the perfect locomotive for the 4x8 layout or for us branch line modellers. Will this locomotive be available in the future with DCC/Sound installed? Thanks
May purchase one to double head with my MA & PA Bach 10 wheeler as the 10 wheeler has limited pulling power. I assume I’ll have to do some CV tweaking to get them to run together considering the difference in driver size.
Oh what a beautiful locomotive! This is a perfect early 20th century loco, or in my case a transition era shortline loco. Please, could it ever come with sound?
I wish that Bachmann would produce an oil-fired SP version with a small Vanderbilt tender.
I would like to have seen some dimensions in the review as those of us who model steam base our buying decisions on whether or not a model is close enuf to our favorite prototype. The mere mention of 62" drivers isn’t much help. Most of the prototypes from Manchester I’m familiar with had 69" drivers. Also they featured slide valves with a Stephenson linkage. What appears to be the worst error is the location of the rear drivers being too far forward. The IHC model makes this same mistake. Perhaps this is closer to some of the later Baldwins. Like Roger W I question the model’s ability to pull 34 cars. BB
I know it would be very tight but how about sound on these models as well? I’m sure there are many of us that run old time steamers and would like to get feature factory installed.
I wonder if the Southern Pacific (Texas & New Orleans) ever had these locomotives in service and if so, how did they fire them?
This is really nice to see. I think too many manufacturers ignore the fact that many modelers still want to see engines available from this time period. Many smaller layouts will benefit from this Bachmann model. I think this engine might look at home on my small HO layout pulling my 36 foot boxcars. I think we were long overdue for a decent 4-4-0.
I sure love my little Ma&Pa #6. I was born in 1941 in York, PA and the Ma&Pa – at its peak – ran over 77 miles of track between York and Baltimore. The #6 was one of 8 Ma&Pa steamers that remained in operation into the 1950s. Old #6 was retired in 1952 and the last of the Ma&Pa steamers – 2-8-0 #41 – was retired in 1957. I remember seeing the Ma&Pa steamers. I also remember seeing Ma&Pa doodlebug #61 – a model of which has been offered by Walthers, and I have one of them. I also remember the Ma&Pa bobber cabooses, models of which have been offered by Bachmann. And I have a Bachmann model of Ma&Pa #27, a 4-6-0 that was used by the Ma&Pa until it was retired in 1955. I have a second identical Bachmann 10-wheeler lettered for my Harper Valley Railway, and 2 bobber cabooses lettered for the HVR. I have only good things to say about the Bachmann Spectrum steam locomotives. I also have the Spectrum 3-truck Shay, the 2-8-0, the light Mountain, the 2-6-6-2 mallet and 0-6-0T dockside. All but the 2-6-6-2 mallet have been lettered for my Harper Valley Railway and I am thoroughly pleased with how well all of them operate. For anyone who prefers operating steam rather than diesels, these locomotives are among the best choices you could make.
It is nice to see some prototypes from some lesser known railroads that are adaptable to other roadnames as well. I can say that the Ma&Pa 4-4-0 looks really fantastic doubleheading with the 4-6-0 with a string of older era cars behind it. Congratulations to Bachmann for another great product. Thank you for the tips on the Decoder Settings.
I waited for this model with baited breath for months after it was announced- about a y ear ago. I was not to be disappointed! I had hoped it would resemble the Spectrum 4-6-0, but it was better… much better! I did, however notice the ‘Walschaert’ reference… and the ‘34 car’ statement. Had a real-life 4-4-0 ever pulled 34 cars, there woulda beena happy-camper of a M.P. Supe! I love these models. At $135-160(street), these would have about the same price point as, say, the Varney 4-6-0 or Mantua 2-8-2 of my teen years… and those were kits! This engine is so far beyond those locos that, well, this hobby has never been better!
I, also, have been waiting for a good modern 4-4-0. Particularily attractive is the all-wheel electrical pickup (makes life a lot easier with #4 switches). OK, the engine looks great…performs well…but NO SOUND??? Is Bachmann kidding? The only “sound challenged” engine I own is a (you guessed it) Bachmann GP35 which compared to my sound equipped Atlas MP15DC is like something from the Stone Age. Once you try sound…you won’t settle for anything else. I guess I could buy this engine and have a vendor install sound couldn’t I? Now I have to convince my wife…
You must have been lucky. I bought two of them as they are very good detailed locos. Both have a lowest speed on DC of about 8 mph even after breaking them in for some hours. I tested them with decoder installed and decoder removed. The first one lurched over the full speed range. I realized that the brake shoes had contact with the wheels. I tried to bend them back and as this didn’t work I cut the brake shoes of. Afterwards the problem was solved. The second one didn’t have this problem.
Looks good and should operate well on the branchline section of my Yahoo Model Railroad (YMR), an adaption of Lynn Westcott’s Viginia & Truckee RR. Hats-Off to Bachmann for continuing to work with small steam. Des - Alberta
The review did not mention that the tender is pre-drilled for a speaker. The tender is however rather small for a Sountrack Tsunami and requires the removal of the Bachmann circuit board and soldering of the JST connector and resistors (where required) to the pair of usual Bachmann connectors that feed current to/from the engine. Beware of 3 issues: 1. note carefully the colors on the wires connecting the pcb to the socket in the tender, they are not to NMRA standards 2. the tender is underweight and power pickup is maintained thru the drivers 3. the drivers have significant oxide deposits and need to be cleaned on the track using an agressive solvent and a paper towel whilst pressing hard on the tender to ensure that current is fed via its wheels If you dismantle the engine, ensure that the pipes from the sand dome do not foul the wheels Enjoy, its a lovely runner and the sountraxx tsunami light steam with a rectangular speaker makes it even better!
I purchased two of these and find the slow running performance so poor I have nick named them lurch and jerk, I also found that one has the tender out of line with the engine. I will have to try the remedy of Volker Landwehr from GERMANY.
I only recently renewed my interest in model railroading as a result of retiring. And, because Sandra and I “downsized” our living space when relocating to Florida, the constraints for a real working layout determined that a circa 1900 branch line and small yard serving a farming (mostly dairy) community with a C&NW main line connection would provide lots of interesting train operations. The Bachmann 4-4-0 is the perfect steamer for switching, shunting and making branch line runs on the Queston and Antshire RR. It’s slow speed performance has been improved as the result of the tips provided by previous writers. It’s lack of factory installed sound will soon be remedied by my local vendor. All in all, I can recommend this little beauty to others from my own satisfying experience.
I model the early 20th century and it is great that a model of such detail is available. Does it match exactly what I want? No, but modifying the model to create a unique looking family of locomotives is what the hobby is about. to me the pulling power is as expected for an engine of this size and era. Mine runs smooth with one exception. There appears to be a problem with the decoder. The engine will unexpectedly take off when NOT selected! It has been tested with multiple DCC systems and settings. Since I plan on replacing it with a better decoder and sound I am not bothering to send it back. All in all I think they have done well to fill the void and consider my problem a fluke.