Bachmann is the manufacturer of HO diesel train sets for the various NFL and MLB sports teams.
Has anyone purchased and run these sets?
What is your opinion of the quality and durability of the locos and passenger cars?
Can these engines be modified to run using DCC… and diesel sounds?
Thanks!!
I considered a STL Ram’s one, but concluded that it was way over priced for a basic Bachmann model.
If they are being marketed as a Spectrum line then they are their top end.
You might try their website http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.html
Regards
Fergie
I can’t believe this! I was going to post and ask who makes those trains. At least I got that answered. I don’t imagine they are top of the line quality.
The trains are fine, but if your talking about the ones per the ad (I believe my wife signed up via the TV Guide ad) trains, they are overpriced. The ad leads you to believe the set costs about $80 (I can’t remember the exact prices), but then it turns out that each piece costs $80. The set ends up costing over $200. I now have a nice set of Pittsburgh Steeler trains, but would never have paid that amount for them.
The thing that concerned me about those ads is how much of a train are they selling? Looks like just the loco’s (one powered, one dummy) and that one observation car. If there were more cars to the set I might be interested. Neither magazine ad nor web site gave anything to indicate there was more than meets the eye.
The train sets are being marketed by Hawthorne Village/Collectibles Today…
http://hawthornevillage.collectiblestoday.com/ct/section/sec-hawthornetrainsx3445.jsp?CURR_PAGE=1
I, too, thought the cost was fairly expensive.
Each “item”… the engine, and each car are $ 77.94 ($69.95 + 7.99 shipping)… multiplied by 3… equals $233.82. It includes 16 pieces of nickel silver track and power-pack (“a $60 value”).
For football fans, they offer a “team village” with the stadium, restaurant, bar & grill, all in the team colors (automobile, team bus and a couple of figures -are also included)… again, for about $55 each x 3… for the set.
Of course, for the diehard fan of any of those teams, they could probably justify the cost… knowing they can’t be purchased from their local hobby shop.
I imagine the set is based on one of Bachmann’s “standard” run-of-the-mill diesel engines… similar to the Santa Fe diesel etc. etc. The only difference is the special decaling for each piece.
I’m just wondering how “durable” this standard motor is.
Also, is it possible to “modify” this regular loco so that it can be run using DCC?
Thanks for any insights or info regarding this set.
Wonder how many they’ll sell at that price? Considering how much Bachmann diesels and cars cost, they must be making a very handsome profit on each set sold! I guess they’d argue that getting Bachmann to do special paint schemes costs extra, in which case how have many stores over here persuaded Bachmann to offer special edition locos and cars at little over normal prices?
Regarding the locos - these look like the Bachmann Plus F7s - good, solid locos with decent can motors and twin flywheels. I’ve got one in Erie paint that I bought used a couple of weeks ago - needed a bit of cleaning and lubing but now it runs as well as my Proto locos - the “run-on” (as in, while running full speed turn the power off) is rather good - I got it to cover over 1ft of track!
It looks as though DCC would be a little more involved as it uses the diecast frame to take power from one side of the trucks to the motor - having said that, it also looks as though it would be easy enough to clip off the brass contact between the truck and the frame, and solder a wire to the pickups (as on the other side of the truck) - isolate the motor with some insulation tape and you’re sorted (not tried this yet, thinking about DCC though).
I have not purchased one. Nor do have plans on doing so. They are novelties - like the clear Lionel diesel shells of a few years back - and of not much use on my layout.
Bachmann has a right to produce “gimmicks” to sell their products, if they so choose. And consumers have the right to purchase these “gimmicks” to collect, show support of their team or…later sell on e-Bay at exorbitant prices. (By later, I mean next week.)
I would consider purchasing one of Bachmann’s Spectrum locomotives at some point but not this. I tend to stay away from any sort of novelties. It just ain’t me…
Tom
"They are novelties - like the clear Lionel diesel shells of a few years back - and of not much use on my layout.
Bachmann has a right to produce “gimmicks” to sell their products, if they so choose. And consumers have the right to purchase these “gimmicks” to collect, show support of their team or…later sell on e-Bay at exorbitant prices. (By later, I mean next week.)"
They’re obviously not marketed to the “prototypical” model railroader… that’s why they’re not sold through Bachmann’s dealer network. But, if those sales add to Bachmann’s bottom line… that makes it possible for them to devote more resources for increased detailing and features of other models… which is what every hobbyist wants.
It might also stimulate interest in model railroading by all those diehard sports fans… especially in all those “sports bars” that are in every major city that has a major sports team.
And, I can’t think of a better way to catch the attention of adults and children, alike… than to have their “hometown sports team” represented by a train running around the track at a local train show.
I just questioned the higher cost and uncertain durability and longevity of the motor for this particular set… though, from previous posts, it’s a pretty good runner… but, requires modification for DCC.
I wouldn’t buy one, but if the sets expose more people to model railroading then I think it is a good thing.
There was a thread about these sets in the Bach Mann site. Apparently, Hawthorne Village is responsible for the extra decoration. So you must add some custom painting to the regular costs of these sets. Also, i’m sure the teams get a cut of the action. Perhaps they may be on display at a sports store in or near the stadium for each club. This is also true of the Thomas Kincade Christmas sets.
Frankly, the only way I’d want one would be if they also pulled a train of Mantua Super Bowl freight cars. It’s a new century, so the Yankees get to start over with a clean boxcar!
With the Bachmann football equipment and the old Mantua football equipment, one could have a very nice footbal train…if one wanted to…
BC
Yech!
Who cares who makes it, It’s rediculous!
It’s crap like this that forever hangs that “toy” moniker around the heads of more serious modelers. We need to scrape this off our shoes and keep moving.
I have a STEELERS train Hawthorn Village Set. It is by Spectrum The sets are great EXPENSIVE but nice. I have equipped it with a decoder and run it very seldom. The cars are lighted and occasionally seen in an Amtrak consist on my layout.
It is just to expensive to set on a shelf all the time.[}:)]