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Bachmann HO scale 45-ton switcher
That is a really nice engine! At the historical society I’m a part of, we have a 45-ton switcher without the side rods. I will have to look into getting one of these. 
Great little runs through turnouts very well, nice addition to my steek mill
This model would appear to be an On 30 (or your On 2 1/2!) modeler’s dream come true!
Hi Mark,
I had to remove all of the screws on the bottom of the frame.
Dana
Little engine does fairly well, but for me its to light, at seven cars it began to spin, for use in a large yard its lacking, but for a industrial situation might be the thing…Good looking…I run my cars a little over the nmra limits, and they work well on my two level layout, lighter cars would make the engine do more work…
Glad to hear there is a way to remove the shell because I was totally befuddled attempting to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The above review, however, doesn’t identify which screws should be removed after pulling off the trucks.
The thing looks great! I don’t have one, but I am looking forward to one on my future SP layout.
Nice review Dana, thanks for the help on disassembly. My fist one had a faulty decoder and would start to run all by itself. The replacement one now performs as well as everyone else has stated, mine pulls about 10 free rolling cars with no trouble.
I have one in yellow. A great little locomotive. A very smooth runner and runs well at slow speeds. The prototype did not pull very many cars either but is great as an industrial switcher or for a small shortline.
I have 2 of these and they are a good little engine. I use them in two switching districts on my layout and it is perfect for these areas. It is a little weak if your cars are at NMRA weight recommendations. About 6 or 7 cars and it slips. Other then that it is a great little engine. Is a great small shelf layout engine
LOOKS AND SOUNDS GREAT FROM YOUR REVIEW. GLAD TO SEE THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HOW TO REMOVE THE SHELL!! HOPE TO HAVE ONE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I think it look great; the red &yellow ,&green &yellow would be for M.K.T. COLORS,NO PAINTING JUST DECALS.
Amazing that a locomotive in this price range could run so well and so quite. I used it to switch cars in a small yard during a club operation session with no problems.
I bought one in black and I’m pleased with it. That said, I wish Bachmann would have offered it with sound. From what I’ve learned it is not an easy conversion.
Absolutely first rate little ‘critter’. My sample was just received and hasn’t yet been ‘run in’ - yet it performs smoothly and quietly. Since I run DC, I can’t comment on any DCC variables. I was most impressed with the locomotive’s ability to run smoothly over the two insulated frog track components on the Monks’ Island Railway. This is a wonderful addition to the small industrial switcher line.
Great little industrial-short line switcher. Very smooth at all
speeds. A little “popcorn” noise at the very slowest speed, but not realy an issue. I run the older 40’s era cars and it will
handle ten or twelve. As others have said, the real engines
did not haul many cars. Wish Bachmann had offered it with
sound. Will very likely pick up a second 45 ton down the road.