Is there anyone out there that owns an N scale Spectrum Steam locomotive ?.
I recently came across a 4-8-2 Light Mountain at my local hobby shop that they’ve marked down from $110.00 to $85.00. I didn’t want to buy it until I knew for sure it was worth it, so I asked the guy if he would hold it and give me a week to think it over and he said he would. Of course he gave me his old sales pitch that it was a great engine, etc, etc, but I’d rather hear what you folks have to say about them before I lay my money down…
Thanks in advance.
trainluver1
The Bachmann 4-8-2s are decent little engines. They run well, are nicely detailed, and pull OK.
SOME of the engines have a MINOR manufacturing issue: the driver’s bearing blocks aren’t square, they’re slightly rectangular. If the engine doesn’t pull well, the problem is that some of the bearings have been installed 90 degrees off. Remove the bottom frame plate and start fiddling witht he bearings until they’re all in properly, and the engine will perform perfectly.
I have 2 of them as well as 1 of their 2-8-0’s.
They are fine runners, all of them.
I did hear of the problem that orsonroy mentioned, and the fix that he brings up, but later issues didn’t appear to have this problem. Mine didn’t.
Also, I’ve been told that the pulling power can be enhanced by pulling the drivers with the traction tires and putting a little piece of masking tape onto the part of the frame where the axle rides and then putting it back together. It pushes that axle down and it makes better contact with the track for more pulling power.
I haven’t done this as my 2 loco’s are good pullers as is. Both of them will haul a dozen cars up a 4% grade. Can’t ask for much more then that I think.