I have to agree with richg1998 about Bachmann and their customer service department. I have sent 2 of my 15+ Bachamnn locos in for service/replacement and both came back with NEW replacement models, better than what I sent them. I just didn’t want to start with a ‘problematic’ model (the N&W series J) that might never have gotten a satisfied result.
This also reflects on the ‘Made in China’ comment, as most HO models and accessories are from China, and most are quite good now.
-Bob
I would assume that richg1998 is not a fan of Bachmann.
Sorry, I meant to address my comments to don7. He was responding to richg 1998.
-Bob
I recieved my BLI N&W J series 4-8-4 today. What a difference in performance and sound. The BLI appears to have a die cast metal body which accounts for the weight difference. I noticed that the BLI doesn’t have all the colorful lights/jewels that were on the Spectrum version and don’t know what they were for? I am a happy camper now!
-Bob
[sigh] I just gotten over thumpers memory, now here you go bringing it all back again.
GS, you know how much Thumper cared for you. [:'(]
You were there in Thumper’s final moments when no one else was. [Y]
When we all get to that Big Layout in the Sky, Thumper will be there to greet you. [angel]
Rich
With this discussion on the Bachmann N&W 4-8-4 I thought I should check mine. I thought I had tested and then broken the engine in before I packed it away.
The engine had been sitting for about 4 years now I would guess. As soon as I opened the box I could see that I had never even taken it out of its box.
So, I set the engine on my test track and applied power and waited. The test track is on a DCC power pack at present. The engine sure took a lot of power before there was any action. Slowly the sound started, heard the typical startup and slowly the drivers turned but the engne was not even moving. I thought the drivers were moving, they were but the engine was not moving.
I picked up the engine and tender (forgot the engine and tender are connected ) I breathed a sigh of relief as there was the foam pieces still attacted to the pilot and also to the trailing wheels. The engine did run a bit erratic, but the layout has not been used for a while so I am sure it needs cleaning.
I set up by stationary running station in order to give the engine a good run in. I ran it for about two hours and it is not running quite smoothly.
Took it back to the layout and attached 7 of my Suburban Con Cor coaches to it and the engine ran like clock, nice and smooth. The engine sound is to my ears at least quite acceptable. The train looked quite realistic as I had only turned on the lights partially in the train room and with the lite coaches the scene looked good. However, with the coaches lit it was only too obvious that there were no passengers. I see now that I am going to have to start to collect HO figures to populate these coaches, that or turn out the lights.
So, am happy that my Bachmann Spectrum N&W 4-8-4 is one of the good ones and not a factory fresh dud. A few people have commented that with the Bachmann engines you either get a good running engine or you get a dud. It is no secret that the quality control with the Bachmann engines seems to be hit or mis
richhotrain wrote the following post 9 days ago:
farrellaa
Chuck,
You are correct I am afraid; it is the rear driver that seems to have the problem. Guess I will have to replace it with another loco. Thanks for the info.
-Bob
Sniff, sniff, reminds me of my beloved Thumper, another Bachmann casualty with a similar problem.
Rich
Okay Rich,
I have to ask what the back story of Thumper is [?] [:D]
Wish I wasn’t correct though, as I really do like the detail of the Bachmann Spectrum Class J’s. 
Speaking of (the older ones, not new)… crazy thing is I was “gifted” one of the older ones last year that came in the larger collectible boxes. I assumed it would have issues as soon as I placed it on track, and sure enough it did. So, I’ve needed to send it in to Bachmann customer service for repair (which will actually be replacement)… but just haven’t taken the time to mail it off. I guess I need to get to it though, as it will be worth it to get a replacement engine for it.
Jim, thanks for asking about Thumper.
Thumper was my treasured Bachmann Spectrum Union Pacific #7009 Light Mountain 4-8-2.
Thumper led a relatively short life, in and out of rehab 3 times at Bachmann with wiring problems, only to suffer a fatal driver wheel attack just before his fourth and final visit to Bachmann. Throughout his short life, Thumper was plagued with a driver wheel flaw that kept him thumping and wobbling down the track, sometimes to the point that he would literally fall off the track. I wanted Thumper fixed, once and for all, but all of Bachmann’s horses and all of Bachmann’s men, simply couldn’t put Thumper back together again. He expired on January 3, 2012.
Sheldon gave the eulogy at the service. [:'(]
Rich
Poor Thumper, take solace that he is in a far better place[angel]
Here’s my story, sad but true. Its about a pair of Bachmanns I once knew: [xx(] [8o|]
I received a NW J and the GS4 as gifts from my wife. Beautiful bodies but horrible drives. Driver hub split on both units and sending them back would have been pointless.
One day I saw on the 1/2 off table at the LHS Bowser/Bachmann drive kits that were on my wish list ever since they failed. They were simple to build and the bodies fit on the chassis very well. And they ran smooth and pulled like tanks. So in a way, they live on. That soured me on Bachmann and I never bought another one.
Jim, thanks for those kind thoughts. Thumper would have really liked you. [:)]
Rich
One thing I noticed between the Bachmann and BLI is the paint finish, the Bachmann is a satin black (nice) and the BLI is a glossy finish (don’t like as much as the satin). Also, the sound system is much better on the BLI, especially the whistle; much clearer and more like the prototype.
I picked up a 6 car set of Bachmann N&W passenger cars and am in the process of refurbishing them with body mounted Kadee’s and IM metal wheel sets and about 2 ounces of weight. Much better rolling qualities and appearance. Still need to put some working diaphrams on to fill the voids between cars. The cars look like they were made by IHC or Rivarossi for Bachmann. I read somewhere of replacing the trucks with Athearns, but don’t know it that is really a necessity.
-Bob