I have been hearing that manufacturers are taking their products much more seriously lately. Companies that were once known as “trainset quality” producers (or worse), are now putting out some really nice locomotives. Is there any way to tell which are which?
For example, Bachman has the Spectrum line. But they also have been upgrading some of their other locomotives. I’d like to get some smaller engines but don’t want to buy junk. So, is there any way to know which ones are better w/o buying Spectrum quality products?
Well, for example Life Like has historically been one of the “train set” quality makers and in the late 1980’s began producing their Proto 2000 line. These started out with loco’s like the BL2 and evolved into SD7’s, SD9’s, GP30’s, PA’s and later SD45’s, GP60’s, SD60’s and so on. These loco’s had copied Athearns drives pretty closely but ran better and quieter as a rule, and the shells had great detail and factory installed grab irons etc. Walthers bought the Proto 2000 line a couple years ago and have been and will be producing Proto 2000. Their latest new loco under that name is (yet another) F7 but very nicely done.
Bachman is the other major “train set” manufacturer which (like Life Like) began in the late 1980’s by producing a “better quality” line of trains. One of the earliest Spectrum line engines was the F40PH Amtrak loco followed by GE units, and some intermediate quality loco’s called Bachman Plus F7’s, GP35’s and SD45’s. By many standards the Bachman Plus line was left wanting and found to be a bit short on quality and fidelity. Some of that line was upgraded in the 1990’s like the SD45 came out la
Maybe I’m not asking the question in the right way… let’s try a different approach. I’m interested in some smaller steam engines… 4-4-0, 2-6-0, 0-6-0, etc. I see that both Bachman & Model Power have some engines that are in these arrangements. And, at least in the case of the Bachman offering, they are NOT Spectrums.
I’ve been told that “recently” (whatever that definition is), Bachman has been building locomotives in their standard line that have the same innards as their better Spectrum models. The soon to arrive 2-8-4s are an example of this. So, is there a way to tell if the model I’m looking at has been upgraded or is it still one of the leftovers from the “train set” quality days?
The same applies to some of the older AHM engines… some of them were reworked and made to run much better; others weren’t. Unfortunately, in doing so, the manufacturer didn’t change the number or anything like that. So, from outward appearances, I don’t know how to tell them apart. I’d really like to get an old IHB 0-8-0, but there are at least two different versions out there. One of them is a much better performer than the other.
As far as I know Bachmann is upgrading the drive trains in their standard line of locomotives. The new steamers run better than the junk they made back in the 1970s and 1980s, and it looks as though they are gradually phasing out the single powered truck/pancake motor drive in the diesels.
Your original question is pretty open ended. You are more likely to get a better response if you can identify the specific locomotives in question - as you did for the IHB 0-8-0.
Regarding the Bachmann 4-4-0s… There are the new Spectrum MA&PA models and the golden spike engines Bachmann designed in the 1970’s. The more recently produced golden spike engines have a better motor and different paint, but are otherwise of 1970’s train set quality.
Some are better than others, but for the most part Model Power’s HO scale steam locomotives are at the low end of the quality grade. The 2-6-0 appears to be particularly bad.
I have one of the bachman Spec Ma&Pa 4-4-0’s and I am happy with the quality, detail and running characterisitics. It came with DCC on board and it was relatively cheap at $135 USD. I don’t know if all brands are like this, but mine came with several different detail configurations so you can somewhat customize the looks. My 4-4-0 also runs well at low speeds and it looks good on my 18" curves.
Disclaimer: I do not have anything to compare to as I only have an atlas diesel and the 4-4-0, so, I can’t ell you how it compares to other brands, but I am satisfied with my bach spec so far.
Of the cheaper engines I have, a 4-4-0 Bachmann, a 4-4-0 IHC Premier, and a later version 4-4-0 (like you might see in the 1920’s) IHC Premier, the late version 4-4-0 IHC is by far the best runner. I can set the throttle so low that I can get a smooth running 33 seconds on a 9" track section.
That sure would have saved me alot of typing! [:(]
Bachmans steam division is much better than the diesel division historically, especially the Plus and Spectrum line. I don’t do steam (it was 99% gone before I was born).
What I think you’re asking about is Bachmann recently reissuing improved versions of their New York Central, Southern Pacific Daylight, and Santa Fe 4-8-4’s. These are engines that have been in their standard (or Bachmann Plus) line for many years, but have recently been upgraded with new motors etc. and are available with “DCC onboard”.
The September 2007 issue of Model Railroad News (the one with the HO Walthers GN Empire Builder on the cover) has a review of all 4 engines (there are two versions of the SP 4-8-4), you should still be able to pick that up at the LHS. Overall they got quite good reviews, they considered them to be good engines for the price. It sounds like they are putting “Spectrum innards” into these older, somewhat less detailed locomotive bodies.
BTW yes they’re also coming out with an upgraded 2-8-4 soon, there is a pic of it in the MicroMark catalog and website, and of course at the Bachmann website.
Thanks for all of your answers. Yes, I’m leaning towards some of the Bachmann locomotives but know that some of the original or earlier ones were pretty “rough.” One can’t always tell from the price… I see some starting on Ebay at $50 that I’m thinking are the older ones.
Too bad that some of these manufacturers don’t come out with the “New & Improved” label for some of their newer, better running equipment.
Yes, I’m hoping that the recently announced 2-8-4s are good engines. I saw them in Detroit at the NMRA Show and shortly after that, ordered one of each of the NKP ones. I was told that the only real difference was cosmetic; that the “innards” of the 2-8-4 would be comparable to the Spectrum line.