I need your opinion

I saw a Bachmann locomotive that I liked and it's on sale. But I don't know anything about Buchmann. Are they worth the money? This diesel is on sale for $59

 

Candy, more information is needed, such as....

Diesel Type, e.g. GP-XX, SD-XX, etc.

Bachmann Type, e.g. Spectrum, Scale, etc.

Country of Manufacture located on the bottom of the frame casting.

Lastly, if it is N-Scale, see if you can identify it well enough to look it up on SpookShow....http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/locos.html

Unfortunately, I don't know if there is an HO equivalent to SpookShow, but I'd be surprised if there is not.

Good Luck.....:thumbs_up:

 

Here it is. It's HO

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=3365

 

Candy, I Googled "Bachmann Fairbanks-Morse H16-44", and was rewarded with the following.....

http://mattgdawson.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-bachmann-64128-fairbanks-morse.html

Unfortunately, Google did not return any other review hits.

Suggest you post the same question on the HO Forum, if you have not already.

It looks to be a beautiful product. If it's the same quality as Bachmann's N-Scale Spectrum line, then I'd be in favor of it.

 

Candy - I have 3 of the H16-44s that I bought back in the 1990's for a still-born freelance line. They are undecorated. Several weeks/months ago after listening to the Bachmannphobes on another forum I took them out and in spite of not having been run for approx. 15 years - they did.
And rather well at that.

"Model Railroader" is using two of them in Virginian colors on their current project layout.

You'll need to make the call yourself. Every manufacturer of model railroad supplies, especially engines, will have some who swear by 'em, while others'll swear at them.

 

I am going to throw my hat into the ring: For the money it is probably a good engine. I used Bachmann exclusively when I was into "N" scale. The engines ran ok. Not good, but ok. I do have some Bachmann On30 engines that run very smooth and quiet. My friend uses HO bachmann engines on his layout. They run very well. I guess for 59 dollars, I would go for it. it is a nice looking engine BTW.

 

I have 3 Bachmann engines, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

Bachmann has been keeping prices down while producing good products, and I think we should all support their efforts.

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you !!!! Thank you all! I will buy it today.

 

I will most likely be the wet blanket here.

Bachmann, although they have improved over the years produced some gosh awful train locomotives, giving them a very poor reputation. To this day I would rather buy anything but Bachmann. Here are my preferences: Life Like-Proto, Kato, Athearn, Intermountain, Mikes Trainhouse, Hallmark, Broadway Limited are all good brands with outstanding reputations.

Think of it this way: The toy train department belongs to Bachmann. The brand names I referred to are what the pro's in the hobby are buying.

I got rid of all my old B-mann stuff, gave it away as no one should ever pay for such junk. I must admit that I did keep some the 4-8-4 stoves in hopes I can install a Kato 4-8-4 chassis into them. Then dump on the detail parts to bring them up to a higher standard. Trouble is: Downside... they are over sized, to start with and may not work out.

It's your choice Candy, but for $58.00, in my opinion you would be over paying.

 

I have both Bachmann's Berkshire and their Baldwin Sharknose and both are nice looking and good performing engines for the price, but Rick is right, too. Back in the day, they made some terrible junk. However, I wouldn't be scared of their newer equipment at all.

http://www.h0scale.com/photos/showfull.php?photo=3330

Link to double headed Bachmann Berkshires on the Blue Water Modular Club layout.

 

In Ho scale I have NEVER seen a Bachman Spectrum loco that was not a good runner.I would tend to stay away from any non-spectrum loco though. Its N scale where the problems are, although most are fixable. ( I own 4 B-man steamers) .....Mike

 

Rick, I think you have made the case for the classic Bachmann reputation and certainly their lower level product isn't anything to be impressed by, but you are missing the boat on products like the baby trainmaster there and giving advice based on products many of which Bachmann doesn't make any more.

Even the bad Bachmann stuff like their base model GP40 is based on Old Atlas/Roco Molds that are better than any of the old Pancake motor junk of the past.

This isn't your father's trainset junk and it isn't the Bachmann N-scale junk either.
There are many club members at my club that show up with Bachmann FTs which are not spectrum and the Alaska Railway set with the GP40s and run the heck out of them with no problems whatsoever.

So in short, you should just pretend like this stuff is from a new company, not the Bachmann of old and remember that HO isn't N-scale. It would do your bias some good.

Having said all that, I would probably avoid early 90s era spectrum stuff just because they were still figuring there way through a quality product and also, while they are good solid basic products, they aren't creme de la creme either at least their diesels. Steam on the other hand...

 

Looking at it it appears to be okay but not as good as the Atlas classic, RS-1 that I have. I was very lucky to get that one. It's not easy to find New Haven Locomotives but maybe I should wait for the RS-11 which is what I'd rather have. More train show to go to.

 

I have three Bachmann diesels in active service on my layout, two GP7's and a GP38-2. All three are DCC and run very smooth and quiet, even quieter than my Atlas locos. I would happily buy more if I had the money to do so.

 

Yes I think I'll take a chance.