My next pruchase is going to be a consolidation which brand is most recomendable?
I like Bowser and RoundHouse, but have heard of good reviews on Bachmann.
Which do you recomend and why?
Bachmann. Detailed, runs very well, not much of a puller, but it runs and looks great.
You should order through micromark and get the sound version, it’s only $155 with shipping.
That’s what I did, and I’m very satisfied.
One word of caution regarding the Spectrum Connies: Their quality control is spotty. I purchased one and its gears bind so it lurches noisily down the track, and the flanges on the drivers aren’t even centered on the wheels. It’s an inoperative piece of junk. But, it looks nice.
Bachmann engines can be replaced if it is defective. I have the Spectrum Richmond 4-4-0 and it is beautiful. I put sound in it and I love it.
Rich
I own 50 of the Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0s, and once I removed the dcc junk and wired the m properly they all run like watches.
If you have one that is a lemon, return it to the store you bought it from.
I have 4 Bachmann Spectrum Consolidations. They look good and run great. Mine easily pull 12-15 weighted cars.
A wire broke on the plug between the tender and engine on one of mine - far too delicate for me to solder. I sent it back to Bachmann - got a brand new engine immediately with no questions asked.
One of my engines came with sound, I put Soundtrax boards in two others. I run all of them on DCC.
The only problem I have with them is the prices are so low, I am always tempted to pick up another one.
so basically sèctrum is ok if you don’t go ddc
how about the other two?
I have one of the Spectrums, and it is absolutely the best running steam engine I’ve got.[:D] It’s nearly silent, has none of the usual steam engine wobble, has reliable electrical pickup, and has enough weight to pull a realistic load.[:D] The details excellent, too.[:D]
I don’t own either of Bowser’s 2-8-0s, but I do have a few other Bowsers. Once you get them built right, they’re pretty smooth runners (not like the Spectrum) with enough power for a far beyond realistic load of cars.[:D] The new DC-71 motors included with them aren’t as quiet as can motors, but they run just as well and are about twice as powerful. The Bowsers are overall some of the most reliable steam engines you can get, and they’re pretty nicely detailed if you get the brass detail kit.[:D]
I’ve heard pretty good things about the new MDC/Roundhouse’s running, but from what I’ve seen, the detail is pretty plain, and you have no choice but to get a poor sound system with them (like the Athearns, which is frustrating because some of those Athearn steamers might actually look good to me if they were offered without sound [:(]). From what I’ve heard, the old MDC kits were pretty good, like an easier, less expensive Bowser.[:D]
I’ve done a couple reviews on my Spectrum and Bowser steam engines. Here are a few links, incase you’re interested.[:D]
Spectrum 2-8-0: http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/831231/ShowPost.aspx
Bowser K-11 4-6-2: http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1085063/ShowPost.aspx
Bowser A-5 0-4-0: http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/745125/ShowPost.aspx
Assuming we are talking HO scale here. I do not recommend the Roundhouse. I have several old ones purchased from a retiring layout. They ran OK but had all been re-worked with NWSL gear boxes, bearing upgrades, new wheels, totally reworked tenders etc. Likewise when I built one myself, it took a ton of work and extra parts/upgrades to get it running OK. Much more than I wanted to spend. Even after all that it sits in the roundhouse because people like to run the other locomotives better.
I own Bachmann Spectrum, the Bowser ‘Old Lady’, and 3 of the 4 Roundhouse 2-8-0s. The Bowser and Roundhouse models can be made to run nicely, but it is work that YOU have to do. THEN you have to buy the detail parts, and add them and all the plumbing that goes with them. A lot more work. In the end you will get a good running, well detailed model. You can get that right out of the box with the Spectrum. Doing all the tinkering and detailing is great fun IF that is what you want to do.
I dont know how the Spectrum runs on DCC. I have been in this hobby over 50 years, and my father before me. I am not about to add DCC to all those locos now. It would be a different story if i were just starting out.
50 ? was that a typo ?
if not , we want to see photos of your layout now !
Actually, Bachmann recommends that defective products be returned directly to them.
I own 50 Spectrum 10 wheelers and 35 standards as well. Send me a camera and I will be happy to photograph my layout.