I am looking for an inexpensive and yet quality steam engine for my layout. There seems to be a great jump from cheap engines to the fine quality yet expensive Proto line. I fully realize that the Proto line is just the starting point for excellent steam engines. Brass is out of the question for me as well as the Athearn Genesis plastic line. The frustrating thing is that my diesel roster includes many good Proto, Kato and Atlas products - is there a comporable steam enigne line? The Spectrum line is readily available in Ebay stores a great prices. Advice?
I have 4 Spectrums, (2) 70 ton Shays, (1) 4-6-0 and a 44 ton switcher, all ran superb out of the box and I have no issues whatsoever.
I have heard on this forum that if you get a “bad runner” out of the box, Bachmann usually replaces the entire loco without much hassle.
I think you will be happy with the Spectrum line if you so choose.
Well,
I have a Spectrum 2-10-2 with sound, and it is very reliable. Most locomotives without sound cost just at or under $100, unless you want sound, but Bachmann spectrum with sound is still very reasonable.
Most big name stores sell them at wholesale prices or at discount prices. Here are the website for 2 of my personal favorties. Sometimes the price for one item is cheaper at one place, or at the other, but usually Wholesale Trains has the best prices, espcially on Sound equppied engines.
Here you go…
Wholesale Trains: http://www.wholesaletrains.com/
Trainworld: http://www.trainworld.com/
Both carry most all big name company products as well as smaller companies, and of most all scales.
Hope this helped.
Cheese
I think the “Spectrum” 4-6-2 Pacific was the very first Bachmann Spectrum steam engine. There are probably about 3 different versions of the “Spectrum” 4-6-2 Pacific. The early ones were not that good. Same goes for the early 4-8-4.
The newest 4-6-2’s and 4-8-4’s are better but most say they are not as good as the Spectrum 2-8-0, 2-10-0, 2-10-2, 4-6-0, or 4-8-2.
Ditto on all those fancy numbers, Seems Bachmann was still figuring out can motors and flywheels for a bit when they started the line but most of the stuff coming out the past 2 - 3 years ain’t so bad…
I own 6 spectrum steamers and they are all great pullers
You think right. I have to take some exception with the last statement though. While they might not be as good as current versions, they were still good enough to win Bachmann respect in the MR world. They followed it with the passenger cars and then the 2-8-0. I would have no problem purchasing even one of the first Spectrum 4-6-2’s. Unfortunately I sold the one I did have for $30 [banghead]
Thats because the new 4-8-4 isn’t a Spectrum. They don’t claim it to be as good.
Don’t get it! Its the worst product Bachmann HAS ever made. A while back, I made a post about how good the Spec. 4-6-2. I said it was a great train. Well i’ve changed my mind, it suck’s because the engine and tender DO NOT connect! So th 8 pin plug gets destroyed because the engnie runs away from the tender.
Actually, the first Bachmann Spectrum steamer was the 2-8-0 Consolidation. I got one in 2003 after it had been on the market for a year or two. This engine was the first high quality plastic steam engine on the market. It had a level of detail as good as or better than brass steamers and it ran beautifully, better than most brass. (Most brass runs like junk). At $79 it was an instant hit, sold like wild fire, and inspired Proto 2k, Athearn, and BLI to get into the high quality plastic steamer business. This product set the standard for what a good modern steam model should be. Shortly after the release of the Consolidation I can remember something like 20 of them running on the club layout, at the same time. It was so good everyone had to have one.
I have three Bachmann Spectrum locomotives, the Consolidation, the Shay and the 44 tonner diesel switcher. All are fine models. I don’t own the 2-6-4 Pacific but that’s because it is a model of a Pennsy K4, a very beautiful and distinctive locomtive that cries out “I am a Pennsy locomotive and I have no business on a Boston and Maine pike”. I’m certain that the quality of the K4 is every bit as good as the Consolidation, which is to say, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Yes, the 2-8-0 was the first high quality steam engine from Bachmann, but it wasn’t the first Spectrum.
The 4-6-2 K4 Pacific also was called “Spectrum” as were the passenger cars that went with it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachmann_Industries#Spectrum
In 1988 Bachmann introduced the “Spectrum” line of higher quality equipment, including updated motors, more realistic paint schemes, and better detail.[17][8] Spectrum was considered a totally different company from the regular Bachmann company. The initial offering was a GE 44 Ton Diesel. Later on, the Spectrum line expanded to include a Pennsylvania Railroad K-4 Pacific, an EMD GP30, and a General Electric Dash 8-40C. In 1998, Bachmann introduced their Spectrum HO scale 2-8-0 Consolidation, which was selected “Model of the Year” by the readers of Model Railroader magazine.[18] By 2000 Spectrum was no longer considered a separate product and became one of the Bachmann product lines, as Spectrum was finally included in Bachmann’s regular catalogs
Hmmm, I’ve got two of them, and BOTH of them have been good runners for me, never had any problems you describe New Haven I-5 .
I’ve had mine about 5 years, still run great.