Bachmann Spectrum: HO E33 Electric Locomotive. Would appreciate owner feedback

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello Crew,

I lived in New York City in the 60s and early 70s and fondly remember seeing New Haven E33s as a kid and would very much like at least one model of one. Even in the Penn Central era, I noticed that they looked cleaner and didn’t have paint flaking off like the passenger NH EP5 Jets, which were quickly painted black.

Just as with the Bachmann Metroliners, I realize that Bachmann’s E33 may not be a “smooth running, low-amp” performer. But since Bachmann is the only one that produced it, I may get it anyway and do the usual “tricking out”. Mashima motor, truck replacement, body details, ect. The underbody needs a lot of details as the prototypes had many cables underneath.

Since they’re no longer available, I’m keeping my eye on ebay. I’ve seen dozens sold in the past two years, so at least they’re not rare.

To you owners. How do your units perform with the stock motor and trucks? Have you updated them mechanically?

Thanks! [:)][:D]

2

I bought one as soon as they became available. Slow speed control was super. Tremendous pulling power.

I bought two more !

Tried to order even more but the roadnames that I wanted were already sold out.

3

Antonio,

If you are interested in E33s, you should read William D. Middleton’s suberb book - “When The Steam Railroads Electrifed.”

4

The new Bachmann diesels have very smooth and quiet motors and smooth mechanisms. The only problems that they have are the LEDs give a blueish glow and the gears have a growl to them, like an Athearn diesel but quieter. The F40PH that I own has extremely low current draw. (.05 to .10 amps at 12 volts)

5

Thanks for that tip, Namron.

Guys,
I’m not sure that the E33 is “new” as it was produced sometime in the 1990s ( I think ).

My concern is about the mechanism as I’ve heard that Bachmann Spectrum units from the 80s and 90s did have some mechanical problems. From my limited understanding the newer Spectrum units have been, supposedly, upgraded. But I don’t know what year the “Newer” Spectrums start at. This is why I was wondering if the E33 had the older styled mechanism that had the problems or the updated one. For me, the “blueish” headlights would not be a problem as “Warm-Yellow” LEDs can be used as replacements.

If I pay, let’s say $50, for one on Ebay, my concern is how much money will I have to put into it to get it running smoothly and quietly , including with DCC? I still want one, but the thought of having to do extensive modifications (as I’m currently doing with my Metroliners) sort of makes me want to put this on the back burner if it’s too much of a hassle. Hence, that’s why I’m asking for feedback.

Good feedback so far. Namron states his perform well. However, on another thread I read of an owner that stated his E33s were growling, rough runners with performances similar to Athearn Blue Box units. So I’ve now read two extreme opposite opinions regardng this unit. hopefully more of you will chime in.

Namron, would like to read more from you regarding your units. Any problems, even minor ones?

Thanks, guys!

6

Bachmann started making the E33s I believe in 2002, after the mechanisms and detail were upgraded. Bachmann didn’t use LEDs for headlights until the mechanisms were upgraded. Model Railroader di a review in the July 2003 issue. Would I be allowed to post the review for the E33 here?

7

Antonio,

Everyone sets his own criterion by which to judge engines.
My first priority is slow speed control.
My second priority is pulling power.
Yes, one might say that these E33s do have a VERY SLIGHT gear “growl”. But this is so far down on my list of important factors on which to judge an engine that I overlook it. And I doubt that the prototype E33s were completely noiseless.

My first E33 was the Virginian. Beautiful ! ( If only a woman could look so pretty.)
My second and third E33 were the Norfolk and Western, and the Penn Central.
It was the Virginian that I had had difficulty in getting three more units.
One engine easily pulled over 50 average length, NMRA-weight-standard cars.
My three E33s are curently triple-headed pulling a 94 car train.

8

Get 9 more in the correct railroads and you’ll have all 12 of the E33s made!![:D][:D]

9

Thanks guys!

I feel much more re-assured.

Besides Ebay, have any of seen any for sale at other locations?

10

Looking for someone to help me identify this engine. The bottom says Bachmann. It was my son’s first train set (a Wal Mart special) for a Christmas back in 1985 or so.

11

It is a GP40. Bachmann recently updated them with better shells and mechanisms.

12

Was a mistake on my part. For some reason I thought the E33 came out in the late 90s.

Well, the cobwebs are getting thick between my ears!

Thank you all for the input.

13

The E33’s were originally Virginian, then N&W bought them, only 1 unit repainted N&W, after de-electrification of the Virginian line, the units went off to other lines.

i bought one thru ebay, I think its a little too speedy top speed, so I want to slow it down. It behaves like my older athearns. The model has been made in brass.
I almost bought one or 2 years ago.

It seems ebay is your best bet but keep checking your LHS, or others or check any hobbyshops with online access, you never know.
I wanted an MDC HOn3 outside frame 2-8-0, I kept trying ebay but the prices shot up and getting sniped, I found a hobby shop online that had one at a nice price.
so do check around.

14

Antonio,
To be accurate, please don’t call them “New Haven E33s”…that’s a Penn Central label. (shudder) What they were was New Haven EF-4’s (or VGN EL-C’s). On the NH, the crews called them “Virginians” (every NH electric had a nickname: Pony, Tiger, Flatbottom, Jeep, Washboard, Jet, Cadillac, etc.).

On to the model:

The growling on the models I’ve run have been obnoxiously loud. As in, more than a sound system could provide.

And high tonnage? Not really. The models I’ve run at my club are lightweights in the tonnage department.

There are some detail problems, notably with the paint schemes (each seems to have small errors in it…typical Bachmann). Also, the roof hatch latches should not all be standing up, they should be laying down. The truck sideframes are odd. IMHO, they aren’t deep enough as there seems to be a lot of space around each truck. Finally, there is a noticable rocking twist motion when the loco starts up, not unlike an old Athearn.

IMO, I’m not impressed with this loco’s running qualities (typical Bachmann). But, that being said, they make a great static display.

Of course, the best model out there of the EF-4 is the Overland…

BTW, you really should ask this question on the New Haven Forum at www.nhrhta.org Just don’t mention that you like the PC… [;)]

Paul A. Cutler III

Weather Or No Go New Haven

15

Have to agree with Paul. I’m not a rivet counter, so SLIGHT variations don’t bother me - or my father-in-law (it’s his loco). But for allt eh fancy packaging and so forth the running qualities are not so great. Loud, yes. Speed - way too fast, although a setting of the max speed CV ont he decoder sovled that. Starting up - I didn’t notice a shudder, but the mechanism is very tight and it can run at a far lower setting than it starts on, so it has that startled gazelle mode of starting up. And that HORRIBLE tiny blue LED headlight - looks like I will have to really disassemble it and put in a proper headlight. DCC was easy enough, since all you have to do is pop the equipment hatch on the roof. Oh, and cut off the lever of the slide switch, unless you spring for a really micro-size decoder!
And I mentioned the thing came SOAKED in grease - luckily none migrated to the body shell to ruin the paint.
Between that and the pair of GP-30s he has - if this is Bachmann’s ‘up-market’ line, NO THANKS! The non-Spectrum 2-8-0 he has runs smoother than any of these. If Bachmann made a steam loco appropriate for my road, I’d probably buy it. But their diesels and others? No way.

–Randy

16

Paul3, Dinwitty, Rrinker

Thanks very much for your info! Cool knowing about those nicknames and the actual NH designation. I remember seeing the prototypes outside of my parents apartment window in New York City. They’d lumber by slowly, hauling some lonnnnng freight trains. I clearly remember the McGinnis paint scheme surviving into the PC era.

Paul, glad you mentioned the NHRHTA. Rich Abramsom, whose gorgeous New Haven layout appeared in the Aug. 2004, is a member. These good guys do know their stuff! I’ve asked Penn Central related questions before…no one was offended and in their e-mail responses to me… told me to ask anything…anytime. Rick was one of the guys that’s responded to me in the past.

In comparing the Bachmann model to prototype photos, much more detailing is needed. I’ve notice that prototype electric locomotives are "jammed packed " with cabling, boxes, and “gadgets” on their undersides.

Guys, In your opinion, is the growl on the Bachmann an easy fix with the toothpoli***rick that we use on Athearns? I also wonder if NWSL offers a regear or even a truck assembly that would be compatible and help quiet the growling down. The prototypes weren’t fast, so gearing down might do the trick. As mentioned, the headlights are an easy fix.

As for installing sound? Hmmmmm. These things sounded like refrigerators. I don’t think anyone offers sound decoders for American electrics. I wonder though, what type of horn the locomotives had? I don’t think they used Hancock air whistles.

But at least now, I have an idea of what I may be getting. A nice looking, halfway decent model that needs a bit of tweaking here and there…sort of like a slight step above an Athearn Blue Box locomotive.

Thanks!

17

Stewart sells ALCO Century 6 axle diesels that use the same trucks. If the Stewart trucks could fit in place of the Bachmanns then that should quiet it down alot, based on what I’ve heard about how quiet Stewart drives are.

18

Thank you Darth.

I could smack myself sometimes. A couple of E33s have shown up on Ebay. Seems like they were fetching a rather high price tag…then I had one on my watch list. I got busy, forgot about it and checked it about an hour after the auction ended. It went for $45!! Aaaaargh!!

I’ll continue to check Ebay. I hope that eventually Bachmann re-introduces the model with the improved drive.

19

Thank goodness all these year-old threads are being resurrected – not!

20

Not quite true, the trucks GE used on the two styles of “Bricks” (or E33 and E44 in PCese) are very different than Alco used on anything. The trucks are identical to those used on the U25Cs and have very heavy and sharply tapering equalizers. If you place the GE and Alco trucks side by side the difference is very obvious.

If you use the Stweart trucks you will need to change the sideframes. Anyone have both models and know how difficult that might be?