How does a Bachmann Spectrum compare to Proto 2000? I’m looking at getting a Spectrum DASH 8-40CW and need a comparison of the two manufacturers. I have a proto and that’s why I want a comparison of the two. I could also have acomparison froma Atlas since I had one of those too.
Thanks,
dekruif
Based on my experience, not even close, at least with diesels. My father in law has a pair of Pectrum GP30’s. BOTH have huge paint flaws ont he engineer’s side of the cab, and neither had ever been otu of the box before. His E33 electric, the paint and decals are good, but it came SOAKED in grease, the trucks were a mess. It also has very tiny blue-white LEDs which not only do not look right, fail to light up the number boards properly - like half a light bulb is in there. I put a decoder in it without too much trouble, but I need to open it up again and switch the LEDs to golden-whites. And likely cut out some of the capacitors and chokes in the motor line as it does not run as smoothly as other locos I have used the same decoder in. It has a tendency to jackrabbit on the start no matter how I tweak the decoder.
If you can get the same loco as a Spectrum or P2K, get the P2K version. If you can get the same loco as a Spectrum or an Atlas - get the Atlas, hands down. The only modern Atlas (with their own drive, not Kato) is the Trainmaster, and that thing is phenomenal. Great detailing AND it runs beautifully.
–Randy
How does it compare to a Athearn?
-dekruif
The Proto 2000 diesels beat the Bachmann Spectrum diesels hands down. I don’t know about the steam lines. The Spectrum diesels seem to have some quality control issues concerning paint and motor quality. I bought one about a year ago. It runs well, but the motor gets quite hot. I’ve heard similar reports from other modelers.
(sniffing) ahhh the disgusting smell of Spectrum haters are in the air, and here I thought it was rotting leaves.
Asking such a question brings a loaded gun. I have been alla round the block with having local hobby shops test out this locomotive and that locomotive and I can honestly say for the price the Spectrums are decent. I own undecorated versions so I cant tell you anything about the paint. The two newer bachmann spectrums I have run smooth and havent heated up. So maybe thats a short issue I dont know, I cant really offer a bias opinion on whos better between the two.
Theres a couple of things you need to conser
Detail = Both come with great detail
Paint Jobs Go to your hobbyshop and compare them
3, Motors = Both have dual flywheels
All whell pick up = Both have them
How Much do you want to pay? Spectrum is of curse cheaper than P2K
You will always find people putting down the Spectrum line its in their blood they get a bad Engine and they dont return it to the store or contact Bachmann to make it right. Personally I have n bad experienes with Bachmann getting things to me under warranty, and I havent had issues to get missing items from Life-like when they owned P2k So my pinion would be do some real research and dont always count on people on the forum.
By the way the first sentence was a grab ya sentence it worked didnt it? I dont think anyone on here stinks just to opinionated and stuck in there this is better ways.
Jeffrey–I can comment on the steam, since I have several Spectrums and several Proto’s on my layout. Though both are well detailed, the Proto steamers seem to be very light on pulling power. My Proto 2000 USRA 2-8-8-2 is a disappointing puller, while my Spectrum USRA 2-6-6-2 is an extremely respectable puller. Both are smooth, quiet runners, but the Spectrum will out-pull the Proto by about 50%. I originally bought the Proto to use on coal trains, but it balks on my 2% grades with any more than about 15 cars, while the Spectrum will walk right by it with about 20. Solution? I double-head them.
I understand that the newer Proto steamers have been equipped with traction tires, so perhaps that has improved their pulling power somewhat. But for the price they seem to cost, I want something that will get up and PULL!
Tom
The Spectrum line of diesels seems to be a ‘hit or miss’ issue with running qualities. The P2K line of diesels seems to be rock solid in the operation area. They only complaint has been the strange gear ratio differences between several of the different P2K offerings in the past, and the cracked gear issue with the GP’s(Walthers will send you new gears sets for free).
I have quite a fleet of P2K GP/7/9’s and SD7/9’s and love them, as well as several of the E7/8’s. I also have 3 Spectrum steamers and 2 BLI steamers - They all run fine. I think the Spectrum steam has much better quality control tham the Spectrum diesel line. I only have a single Spectrum diesel(44 tonner) and it runs smooth, but others have had the usual burned out motors with their Spectrum diesels.
My best running diesels? The Atlas RS1’s of course!
Jim Bernier
I am suprised to see the negative comments on the spectrum series. I have 3 diesels from the Spectrum series and I am very pleased with them all. They are really good pullers too.
To me it’s simple. Spectrum is a very good middle-of-the-road option. P2K is certainly more money, arguably more quality, and anyone’s opinion as to whether the more quality is worth the more money. But it’s really an apples-to-oranges comparison to some extent.
I see Spectrum as 75% more loco than the lower-end competition, for 50% more money. They’re 75% as good as the “premier” (e.g. expensive) stuff like BLI for ~50% of the price.
All in all I think they’re among the best price/benefit locos out there. They’re good in many areas without having any fatal flaws. They’re probably not ‘best of breed’ in any category, but certainly not worst of breed either.
Bottom line is I think you have to accept them for what they are… The mid-range sedan of the model train world - except they’re really the only occupant of that spot: Imagine the combo Taurus/Camry/Accord of locos. And like those cars, the Benz, BMW and Jag drivers may sniff and poo-poo them as boring and not “the best.” The Hyundai/Daewoo/Isuzu drivers may make a lot of noise about how they’re just as good for less money (they’re not, mind you)… But the $20,000-ish sedans of this world are what they are - a fairly well done exercise in compromise.
I can see most people are reffering to the old spectrums. However the new ones are very nice, I would say they are very comperable to P2K, the protos have a little better detail but the spectrums are pretty close and they run just as well. Right now there are only a couple new spectums available, the SD45 and Dash 8 are the only two that come to mind. The spectrum diesels have a well deserved bad reputation for the way they were before about a year ago. This is actually a good thing, since you can get these new spectrums for $30 on ebay because people dont know that they are hugely improved.
Compared to athearn, the spectrum is the clear winner in my book. They run much better, the athearns do look better, but it doesnt make up for thier quirks.
Make sure you get a new one though, they can be identified by:
See through grilles
Bigger box than the old specs
DCC Ready
Good luck
I have a spectrum F7A/B, the B unit seems to run faster than the A unit, between them they sound like a coffee grinder running along the track, I have three Lifelike GP20s and SW1500 that all run smooth and quiet, value for money there is no comparison, I will not buy anymore Spectrum locos or Bachmann rolling stock, once bitten twice shy babe.
David.
To add to Tom’s post, I have a new P2K Y3. It didn’t pull well. I put the traction tires on and was disappointed. My BLI Mikado with a traction tire will out pull it three to one. I have 2 old brass articulateds and the detail is a lot better than either the BLI, the Spectrum or the P2K, but do not run nearly as well.
My only deasel is an Athern and it is nice.
There is no comparision as most have stated.
The overall design of the drive mainly the horrible trucks is poor compared to even Athearn.
Of the 4 units I tried, only one ran decent but the paint was terrible. I got rid of them and only buy Atlas, P2K, Stewart/Bowser, BLI or Kato and Genesis.
The quality of paint, lettering and detail is all over the place. One unit may have somewhat good paint, but detail parts are clunky and can be poorly installed.
The best part of a spectrum diesel is the can motor.
Spectrum steam, however, is very decent in paint detail and running quality- go figure.
Again these are the old units. The new ones have a cloned Kato drive like just about everything else. The locomotive in question here is a Dash 8, which is available as a new unit so these reviews of the old units, while accurate, are not pertinent to the question.
The first proto 2000 diesel was bad, the first spectrum diesels were great but some had paint problems, proto 2000’s got better as time went on but the spectrum diesels started having problems, now they are both fine but both seem to have quality control problems. The steam is great for both with the proto’s generaly having better detail, but again every once in a while someone will get a lemon. Pulling power is a whole other matter, some of the steam from both camps need some reworking to pull properly. Atlas and kato tend to be better runners for diesel but I have heard reports of some qualty problems with the kato. So all in all if you can test before you buy, do so.
Have a little bit of everything in my line up Bachmann/Spectrum , Proto 2000, Atlas, Kato , Bli . Spectrums pretty much pull everything, but all of them are six axle diesel engines. So I don’t expect anything less, their smooth runners. I only had trouble with one, my dash 8 which was over oiled. It was brand new in the box and the trucks were soaked with oil. Minor problem ! My p2k’s are nice but not very fast which is not a problem but they can be a little finacky as far as muscle power is concerned.
The atlas engines are winners hands down, no complaints. My Kato’s have a little growl in them no big issue, fantastic runners. The Bli is truly a revolution for me, as it is my first engine with sound ! wow.
Anyway the spectrums do lack the detail that the others shine in, but anytime theirs equipment moving on my layout. You can bet there’s a spectrum at work, and out of the four I have they get the job done.
I have locomotives from just about everybody…except the more expensive brands, that is.
I have an older pair of Spectrum F40PH diesels. These things runs pretty well, considering their age. They have some problems though–the Amtrak paint is a bit thick in places, and some of the lettering has worn off. Also, the grab irons and handrails are flat against the bodyshell. One of the numberboards doesn’t quite fit into its housing, and protrudes slightly. Other than that, I haven’t had any problems with them. Everything else, including the rooftop strobes, works as it’s supposed to. Both units are a bit noisy through lack of use, but that’ll go away with some fresh lube and running time.
Also in the stable, are a pair of P2k units, a GP7 and an E8…both in NYC colors. Both are extremely quiet, and smooth. Paint on both is top-notch–no runs, no splotchy spots at all. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to run them very much lately.
The rest of my locomotive roster is comprised of various Athearn engines–F7s, GP7s, S12, and an RDC. Other than the S12, they’ve been pretty reliable, and I haven’t had to mess with them. I did, however, replace the top motor contact with a piece of wire. I also have a pair of kitbashed Baldwin RF16s that I made by dropping Tyco shells onto modified Bachmann F9 frames. They aren’t the smoothest of runners (no flywheels!) but they run well enough for excursion duties 
Proto 2000 has finer detail than Spectrum diesels, and are also a little quieter, but I prefer Spectrum. P2Ks will get a broken detail just from breathing on a part, since the details are all a fragile plastic. They may have changed that recently, but I’m not really sure. Spectrums are a more durable plastic, and half the details are metal, so you don’t have to worry about them breaking so much.
Atlas is, of course, the best. The shells are mainly a pretty soft plastic, but some details, like grab irons, are metal. The railings are extremely flexible plastic. They also probably have the most detail of everyone. The drives are almost completely silent, and about all you’ll ever hear is maybe a little motor noise and some humming from the gears.
I did reviews of the newer Spectrum 8-40CW and of the Atlas 8-40B, so you can read those if you want and see which one you’d rather have (Atlas also makes an 8-40CW).
http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/675275/ShowPost.aspx Spectrum 8-40CW
http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/756174/ShowPost.aspx Atlas 8-40B
The BEST way to JUDGE ANY BRAND of locomotives is to look the unit in question over and test run at your local hobby shop even if that means a Saturday drive.
You see one can not get a unbiased opinion because of the brand bashers that feel they must bash a given brand even if they don’t own one or had a bad experience with one or in my case several of the P2K geeps but,still I will recommend them if there is no other option available.
I have seen the new DCC equipped Bachmann locomotives in action and stood in awl as they ran endless laps around the modular layout in a very smooth and quiet manner.IMHO while not compatable detail wise to a Genesis,Atlas(except the Traiman engines) or Kato they are IMHO just as smooth runners…Detail wise I place them on par with Athearn BB and Athearn BB RTR but not the newer nonBB RTR engines.
As far as your Dash 8 40CW you have two choices…Atlas or the Bachmann…