Bachmann N Specturm Consolidation - any good?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’m considering purchasing a Bachmann Specturm N scale 2-8-0 consolidation, and I was wondering what other peoples’ experiences with these locomotives were? The ‘N scale locomotive encyclopedia’ lists these as a decent engine, but I’ve been reading mixed reviews elsewhere.

2

I only own two steam engines and one of them is B’mann’s Consol; good engine! I will stay off of my soapbox and only say that if all N-Scale steamers ran as good as this one I would be modeling the “transition era.”

3

I have two and they are very nice. They run smooth and quiet and have the best pulling power of n gauge steam. Very pleased.

Bob

4

I’ve got one, and have installed decoders in maybe a half dozen. I can highly recommend you get one of these (or more!). They track extremely well, have a good solid pick up system, and are pretty easy to get DCC into if that’s your bag.

I do suggest that you get one “in person” and take the time to test drive it before you pay. While these are widely scattered, there are some reports of some minor drive issues. If you mail order, keep your receipt. Bachmann offers excellent customer support, so if you’re not happy with the first one, send it back and they’ll replace it.

Lee

5

All i can say for them is they are smooth and quiet and good pullers, am very happy with the 4 i own!

6

I have a half a dozen of these little Gems. The only steamer thats better is the Kato Mikado, and only then after the traction tire upgrade. The Bmann Spectrum 2-8-0 comes highly recommended by me.

7

Thanks for all the replies - looking forward to getting mine from the States. Just one other question - I have some ‘ambitious decoderising’ planned, and I was wondering how big the tender of this model is relative to that of the Kato Mikado?

8

The tender is a USRA medium, same as the Kato. However, different manufacturers make things differently. Bachmann’s has an internal as well as external shell. I don’t have the Kato Mike, so can’t comment on its internal structure.

Do you plan to have sound in it or a non-sound decoder?

The most common place to put a non-sound decoder in the Spectrum N scale 2-8-0 is in the boiler as you don’t have to mess with wiring between engine and tender.

http://www.tonystrains.com/download/bach280_dec_inst.pdf I will be installing a Digitrax DZ125 in mine. The DZ143 also works.

There was also an an article in the Jan. 2003 MR about putting a sound decoder in the tender of the Bachmann 2-8-0.

Link to YouTube video of Bachmann 2-8-0 with Tsunami TSU750 sound decoder in tender: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaSha-tJEGU&feature=related It’s not bad considering the tiny speaker.

Hope this helps.

Andre

9

Thanks for the links - this is almost exactly what I was thinking of - a DZ125 in the boiler and sound-only in the tender. I assume there’s pickup on the tender wheels?

10

Yes, there’s pick up in the tender. It’s also not too big a deal to run a blue and yellow wire back into the tender to rig up a back up light. For sound, I would take out the coal load and replace it with a piece of thin foam rubber that’s shaped in a mound and covered with some ground coal. That’ll give you a nice pourous speaker for better volume.

Lee