I found a used Bachmann Plus Northern 4-8-4 (working motor, light, and steam generator(?)) at a local thrift shop for $33. Is this product just a repackaging of the one in the white box with a yellow rim? If so, why is it called a Bachmann “Plus”? Does that mean that it lies between a plain Bachmann and a Bachmann Spectrum in terms of quality? Also, how does the “steam generator” work? Does it require a “smoke liquid” like in the Mikados? Another thing i noticed are these openings beneath the tender for what looks to be a speaker. I opened it up to find the tender empty. Is there a speaker or some kind of sound system i can install there? I did not expect an old bachmann loco to run so smoothly, and I am impressed at the minimal but effective detailing on the model. All in all i am very satisfied with the product and also its price. What are your thoughts on the model?
I’m not up on various reincarnations of Bachman locomotives, but will say that that Bachmann’s “bad” reputation is now, thank goodness, old history.
Not sure if this helps…
https://hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionbachmann/bachmann484niagarapg1.jpg
https://hoseeker.net/assemblyexplosionbachmann/bachmann484niagarapg2.jpg
Cheers, the Bear. 
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I have a 2-10-4 of the same series, and it runs very smoothly. It is NOT the same tooling as the previous generations. Mine also came with the openings for the speaker, but without sound. There is no smoke option. I believe the mechanism is the same as the Spectrums of the time, but without the details and sound. You found a good deal!
Simon
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