Bachmann

Garden Railroading
1

Hi guys,
I’ve already touched on this in a couple of topics but I think it’s deserving of its own space. I bought four freight wagons on Tuesday, all Bachmann, and the quality is excellent. The lettering is crisp, the couplers seem more posotive, the wheels are true and they sail through my switch without worry, pulling and pushing. They are fresh in from China and there are no hook & loops included and whilst the ‘spring’ of the knuckle still rests on one axle the drag is nothing - in the past I have cut off that bit of plastic. The four together on my track travel along very well with just a push and I was pleasently surprised when reading the review of the new Shay in the June mag, the author states that all of the wheels measure, back to back, the minimum NMRA standard.
What have other people found? I know T Jack is of similar mind. It may well be time for those that have been put off Bachmann in the past to test the water again.

I put this stock car on the track I had laid today, unknown to me there is obviously a bit of an incline, off went the car on its own and stopped where these pics where took, about 3’ downgrade.

Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

2

Kim,

I recently purchased a B’mann consolidation and an “Annie” for under $400 USD. The detail on both is great.and way beyond anything they’ve done in years past. It’s too early to tell if the models will withstand years of operation but the quality certainly seems to be there.

I think B"mann has now enabled thousands of modellers to enter the hobby, and for those who are so inclined, to build “serious” layouts without a huge layout of money or the need to kitbash and scratchbuild everything. This thread ties in nicely with Rene’s recent poll regarding the question “is this becoming a rich persons hobby”. If B"mann and other manufacturers continue to produce good quality pieces at reasonable prices, the answer to that question will be, no.

Walt

3

I may run afoul of the norm, but I do like Bachmann stuff. It is readily available and very affordable. Some of the older cars needed wheel and coupler replacement, and the quality was not top of the line, but they looked good in the garden. Lately the quality has been rising and needs no further work to run well, but I still use Kadee couplers out of preference. I hope the cost does not increase in proportion…

I have a few Big Haulers, and after a little paint and some details, they are quite nice. I’ve had no problems at all with reliability, although the sound systems are a little crude. For the price, I am very satisfied.

Welcome to the world of US/Chinese economic relations, Kim!

[oX)]

4

T-J,

I’m glad you brought up the subject of Bachmann’s sound system. I think almost everyone who’s been in this hobby for a while has a few B’mann Big Haulers and more recently, “Annies”, in their collection, I have six. I see a great opportunity for someone to produce an after-market soundboard for B’mann locos. I’m sure it can be designed and manufactured very inexpensively. It doesn’t need to be digital. All it needs is to be a little more realistic and a little louder. Add to that one more chuff per wheel revolution and you’ve got something worth spending $25-$30 for.

I’m too old to dust off the circuit design books and do it myself but a young enterprising electronics type could easily do this and probably make a nice piece of change.

Walt

5

Know what you mean Kim. When I rewheeled my stock, I turned around to pick up my loco and half a dozen boxcars had disappeared down the gradient.[:I]

Ian P

6

Kim,
point,not switch.Stay away from that non-colonial speech[:D]

7

I like Bachmann Stuff…its nice and affordable and…they produce things in the style of the era I wan’t to emulate. I wi***hey still produced that battery powered stuff…for the purpose of inexpensive track cleaning.

Until then my every growing fleet of Scentific Toys Locos provide a cheap alterative after some cosmetic work!

8

I cant believe it !, on this forum, someone with a nice word to say about Bachmann.

Serously, I cant afford the prices for LGB, and thats the only other brand available.

When I first took the big hauler set out of the box and it went around the little round track it got slower and slower and it did not like the sharp turns. Anyway, thought to myself, this will not last long, but as it was a present, could not say that, so off to building track outside.

Over 200mettres of track, ( further info on www.gscalechuffchuff.com) and for the last 3 years on most saturdays and sundays durring summer it has been going continuosly for around 3 to 4 hours per day.

For a little mainly plastic engine, thats a long way to travel and yet none of the locos have ever given any trouble. The only thing I do, before each days journeys is to squirt some 3in1 general lubricating oil around the bearings ( from the exterior without undoing the bottom plate ( in other words, dont follow the instructions) .

Reason for not following the instructions, when I first got one, had a little section of track in the garage, 6ft up. to test if the carrages were too heavy to tow along. Forgot to turn off when it reversed to the end, it fell. After putting back the many pieces the bottom plate would not stay on, so glued it.

The sounds adequate when you have a new 9v battery installed, but not so good when its drained a bit. Have thought of puttng in a bigger battery. But as said, its adequate. The neighbour often comments when he hears it, and thats about 20ft away through a thick hedge, so perhaps its someones hearing that faulty, not the sound.

This is the first time that i can recall someone springing to Bachmann products defence, and its about time… I look at the little LGB carrages ( which is the only other brand available to me ) and think, you must be joking, so there----- Thats should start WW3.
Every time I read people rubbishing Bac

9

Tony,

If you’ve ever heard a decent sound system you’d have to agree that B"mann’s is a joke. My point is that a decent sound system could be made for very little money. BTW, my hearing is very accute and almost pitch perfect.

Walt

10

Need I say more?

It’s just great stuff. Great for kitbashing, great for painting… You just can’t beat them for potential.

Later,

K

11

The only engines I run are Bachmann Spectrum 1:20.3 scale – a Consolidation and a Mogul. Both are excellent runners and were relatively easy to put AirWire900 receivers and SoundTraxx sound systems into. I have never heard a Bachmann engine with sound already built it, but can imagine what it would sound like, considering the cost. My first intallation was in the Consolidation, where I used a SoundTraxx Sierra. For the Mogul, I used the DSX Sound Only Decoder from Soundtraxx. The DSX doesn’t have as powerful an amplifier as the Sierra, but the sounds are practically identical.

12

Tony,
Guess I’m out of the “closet” now so to speak. I’ve always liked B’mann for the price and the stuff is quite durable, if limited in selection. A little paint and who can tell anyway.
As for the sound, well, I did spend 19 years in the Artillery, maybe it’s just me, hmm…

Believe me, there is nothing at all wrong with LGB, they make excellent, high quality products, and if you can afford them, then go 4 it! I am not into collecting, only running, so low cost is good for me. Since I don’t have any interest in resale value either, B’mann fits the bill. I do have some USA trains and Aristo, very nice stuff as well, but in direct comparison to B’mann, I can’t really see the difference except that Aristo and USA trains have Norfolk Southern equipment that is at least close to accurate.

[oX)]

13

Hi guys,
I’ve dragged this one back up to show off a purchase I made today of a C&S short gon. The wagons that started this topic off are good, but todays purchase is, well, marvellous for £26. Check out the brake wheel and the nice thin brass rod it sits on, the steps and rails are all metal and it rolls along as smooth as silk. An odd point is the shot showing the short and long gon, different animals but they have the same number. The shop also had a couple of wheelsets in, just enough to finish off and give me all metal treads. Some new USA cars in as well I noticed and they had metal wheels as well! The world does turn.

Just brought the gon in from the tracks and noticed a new gearbox for the coupling and the underbody detail is metal.
Apologies, a poor pic but you get the idea…and yes, the coupler is body mounted!

Cheers
Kim
[tup]

14

GScalechufchuf, do not use 3 in 1 oil too liberally, as it is probably not plastic compatable, an important point to consider. I have ten Bachmann and two LGB locomotives, I will purchase Bachmann without hesitation, value for money.
Regards, Danny in Oz.

15

does anyone know how to fix the tender link on a b’ man spectrum mogul. i was pulling 2 cars and the pin snapped off [:O]. does any one know how to fix it?