NEW Bachmann N-Scale Sound Equipped 2-8-0

[hminky]

Dug out an old analog 2-8-0 and that one wouldn't pull that train.

Harold

[peteski]

Dug out an old analog 2-8-0 and that one wouldn't pull that train.

Harold

Was that because the old loco was slipping or the motor wasn't  powerful enough and stalled?  The latter would be surprising because I have yet to encounter an N scale loco where the motor will stall instead of the wheels slipping.

@Lemosteam  :
I suspect that those Bachmann Soundtraxx decoders are not just their components on a Bachman-made board. More likely the entire decoder is made by Soundtraxx specifically for those Bachmann models.   Similar to the QSI revolution decoders for Walthers Mallets, or ESU decoders that were manufactured for Atlas and IM.

[hminky]

Was that because the old loco was slipping or the motor wasn't  powerful enough and stalled?  The latter would be surprising because I have yet to encounter an N scale loco where the motor will stall instead of the wheels slipping.

Slipping

Also never had a motor stall with a train

Harold

[mike_lawyer]

Hey guys, long time without posting, but am back in the hobby now and really excited to be starting a new N-scale layout.  I am a steam addict, so I remember the Bachmann 2-8-0 very well. 

As I recall, what I did to be able to increase pulling power on the Bachmann 2-8-0 is a trick taught to me by Victor Miranda.  The key is to slightly "shim" the traction tire driver by using a piece of tape (such as a small piece of masking tape).  Just apply it to the chassis so the traction tire driver makes better contact with the rails.  Bachmann is not quite as precise as say Kato when it comes to steamers, and sometimes the traction tire driver does not make great contact with the rail.  This adjustment will do that.

Personally, given the street price of over $300, I am going to opt for one of the older, non-DCC installed versions and install DCC myself.  I find Zimo decoders to have the best motor control, particularly at low speed, so I want to use one of them. 

[hminky]

Street price is $229-235.

Never look at a Bachmann MRSP, it is always ridiculous.

Harold

[mike_lawyer]

Street price is $229-235.

Never look at a Bachmann MRSP, it is always ridiculous.

Harold

Still, that is a lot.  You can buy older, non-DCC Bachmann 2-8-0s for around $70-80 and install the decoder of your choice.  Plus, you can buy a Broadway Limited M1 for that amount of money. 

[Maletrain]

Street price is $229-235.

Never look at a Bachmann MRSP, it is always ridiculous.

Harold

Picked-up one today from Star Hobby for $225 (plus $13.50 sales tax).  Nice to have a LHS where you can test run before you buy.  With the 5-4 Supreme Court Decision just handed-down, it looks like we will all be paying sales tax on every purchase pretty soon.

Hope to test how much this one will pull sometime this evening.

[mmagliaro]

Does it still have the solid drivers (where you can't see through the spokes) ?   To me, that was always the egregious cosmetic flaw in the 2-8-0, which was otherwise a really beautifully detailed engine.

[drbnc]

You can buy older, non-DCC Bachmann 2-8-0s for around $70-80 and install the decoder of your choice.

Did that, easy install. eBay score for ATSF unit.

[Chris333]

Even that street price is just crazy. I was buying them for no more than $65, probably have 6-7 of them.

[Cajonpassfan]

Why put the speaker in the back of the tender and not next to loco?
To ensure sound appears to come out of tender? Seems backwards to me...
Otto K.

[peteski]

Why put the speaker in the back of the tender and not next to loco?
To ensure sound appears to come out of tender? Seems backwards to me...
Otto K.

It seems the whenever a new model comes out end up asking plenty of "why?" type of questions.  The product designers seem not to be in sync with finicky modelers like us.

[Lemosteam]

Why put the speaker in the back of the tender and not next to loco?
To ensure sound appears to come out of tender? Seems backwards to me...
Otto K.

@Cajonpassfan , if you are referring to the image above, that is my Bachmann K4. The caps will not fit in back, they will only fit under the coal pile, which is why my kit has the seaker in back.

[hminky]

There is no working front coupler.

The usual answer to the front coupler is the MicroTrains Z-scale 905.

It worked but the front coupler is usually used for switching, the problem is the car being switched would "bobblehead" or "slinky".

With a little bit of fitting the McHenry coupler will work in the 905 coupler box.





Not for everyone, but works for me.

Harold

[hminky]

Produced a short video, please excuse the mess and lack of production values.

Harold