1995 version of Bachmann 'trainset grade' SD40-2

[scaro]

I'm wondering if the 1995 version of the old Bachmann SD40-2 is any better in the gear splitting department than the 1980s 'blinky' one? 

Also is the truck wheelbase the same? 

Looking to hack a four wheel truck for 3mm scale (24.8mm wheelbase) and you see a lot of these at swapmeets and truck looks to be right wheelbase.

Ben

[Philip H]

This should help:

http://www.spookshow.net/loco/bachsd40-2.html

[tom mann]

I remember seeing those in hobby stores as a kid and thinking that the light was awesome.

The MR review is quite complimentary, isn't it!?

[peteski]

I remember seeing those in hobby stores as a kid and thinking that the light was awesome.

Well, back then that type of a feature, right from the factory *WAS* wicked awesome!  I think that Bachmann was alone in offering a blinking LED beacon, when all the headlight were still large (by today's standards) 12V incandescent bulb.  I'm pretty sure I still have mine somewhere. I think it cost about $25 back them (I bought it at Charles Ro in Malden, MA - I famous local model train store).

[scaro]

The Spookshow review doesn't say the trucks are the same and they look a little different. Does anyone have the wheelbase of the 2004 model's truck?  My white box blinky one is a shade under 25mm from front - rear axle.

I also didn't mind the 'blinky' feature.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

The wheelbase is the same between the standard (80's) and spectrum (90's) versions. These were not available after 2000, so I'm not sure what you mean by 2004 run. All post 2001 models by Bachman had a clear jewel case. Prior models were released in a black and clear clamshell (spectrum) or white cardboard box. The SD40-2 never made it to the jewel case era.

The trucks between the runs are very different. The gear tower in the spectrum run its much taller and the wheels themselves are a correct 40" where the standard line model has 45" wheels. Shells will not swap unless you remove the blinky light board from the shells.

The thing that really annoyed my with these models was the hood handrail on the engineers side. It had  the same step as the other side for the blower duct. Not sure what they were smoking when deciding to do that. Strangely, the spectrum model has the same error even though both the shell and handrails were retooled.

Bachmann quality at its best

[scaro]

Sorry, I meant 1995, should have checked, not sure why I thought 2004. Modified the thread title.

Thank you for the information.

Ben

[Doug G.]

The thing that annoys me the most about these (I have a Spectrum version) is why wasn't Bachmann ever able to make a hood unit that wasn't too fat back then? I don't want to hear the "shell was wide to accomodate the motor" excuse either.

The whole thing just looks too big for N scale, like it's N-scale-and-a-half.

Mine runs well, however, albeit a little noisily.

Doug

[daniel_leavitt2000]

The funny thing about Bachmann's 1980's line is the motor IS slim enough for scale hoods, yet they still make the chassis too wide. Now I can understand doing that for the GP40 and U36B which date back to earlier chassis with larger motors, but what is up with the DD40AX? SD40-2? And that GP(don't call it a)50?

Like Kato, Bachman seems to be happy making hoods a scale 6" too wide, even in newer engine like the SD45, C40-8, new DD40AX and the B23-7.

[scaro]

I found a pic of the underside on ebay and it looks like the 1995 units have the good old white cracky gears we know and love.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Yep, all of them used white cracky gears of  some sort, though the Spectrum ones were slightly less prone to cracking.

[tehachapifan]

Yep, all of them used white cracky gets off some sort....

Ha! This belong in the "Best of Auto-Correct" archive.

[basementcalling]

That was the most disappointing locomotive release ever for me. SD40-2s, right in the prime of it's service life when it was still go to mainline equipment, just beginning to be bumped by the SD50/60 or Dash 8s from GE.

It was the last loco I have pre ordered from Bachmann sight unseen. Never again from them. Never again. Amazingly disappointed in performance and appearance.

Ride height, thick handrails, clunky paint. It had it all. Like a Pinto.

[randgust]

Add me to the list of people fascinated by the flasher.   Fascinated enough that I tore one of the light boards out of a friends failed unit and milled down a Trix U28 frame to get enough space so that my very first Lima F45 chop on a Trix mechanism had a cool strobe light.  I remember you had to get it hauling pretty good before it stabilized on the flash rate.

Not exactly Richmond Controls stuff!

[Doug G.]

Do the wheels on the Bachmann diesels have bosses on them that fit into holes in the gears or do the gears have the bosses and fit into wheel holes (opposite of steamers and like most other makers' arrangement)? I have had my SD40-2 apart but it wasn't for any work on the trucks so I didn't pay attention to it.

If the latter, I wouldn't expect the gears to crack. Mine haven't, regardless.

Doug