Me, too. I only have experience with one Spectrum engine, a J Class 4-8-4. It looked great, but ran terribly. My decoder installer guy, who added a Tsunami to it, could not get it to run properly. It jerked and hesitated at low speeds, and we couldn't find the problem...checked quartering, rod clearances, looked at the gears and their lubing, gear play....you name it. He had the same experience with a Spectrum Consolidation 2-8-0, which is easily the best engine Spectrum has made, and the most popular in HO. Now both those engines are on the "mover's" site. I still think, though, that their 2-8-0 is a good bet. You are likely to get a lot of good use out of a good one. -Crandell
Only a few thoughts- Spectrum line is better than the others. They DO have a fantastic service policy and department. Overall, there is better quality control with Atlas and Kato. Overall, I like the way they look much better with their steam engines than the other manufacturers and if you get a good one, you have a great looking, great running engine.
In the 1990s, I considered Bachmann to be junk. Around 1990, they were bought out by a Hong Kong company, Kader, whom has steadily sought to improve their products. Yes, there are lemons in the Spectrum line...but I've heard the same about every other manufacturer. YOU CAN RETURN LEMONS. They've earned several MR products of the year because they are outstanding products. My spectrum locomotives cost me half of what my Proto 2000 ones cost, but the Proto engines are only slightly better detailed and don't run as well. My Spectrum J (HO) is a gem both in her smooth performance and in her detail. My On30 (regauged to On3) are pretty nice as well. Bachmann Spectrum is so successful because most customers find them to be, by far, the best value on the market. They produce locomotives that rival Proto 2000 and Broadway Limited, but at a price comparable to IHC. Additionally, their standard line has also been extensively updated from when I despised it. While in the 1990s, I considered them to be junk, I now consider them to be my favorite manufacturer for locomotives. Usually, trainsets are a bad way to enter the hobby. I would recommend that you get some good books/magazines on railroads and decide the best approach. If the track is permanently mounted, then the integrated roadbed systems (e.g. EZ-track) is an unnecessary expense. If he likes diesels, a classic Athearn SW-7 may be in order...along with a string for freight cars. Always price out what comes in the set to decide if individual pieces would make a better purchase. Michael
Michael, Stretching it a bit are we? confused: LOL My son sent me a Bachmann, ATSF 4-8-4, Northern almost 7 years ago. I put it away thinking this is a hunk of junk. Recently I took it out and ran it. I was surprised to learn that it would pull my ten car ATSF Chief up my two percent grades, without a helper unit! Now that is good news! The ones from the past would hardly pull themselves around the layout. The 4-8-4 is not a Spectrum locomotive by any stretch of the imagination. It does stall, lope, and otherwise wobble it's way down the track. Not a smooth runner in my estimation and not a quality locomotive. A good puller and that's about it. Turns out I have three of the newer 4-8-4's. All are relatively the same when it comes to performance. I would rate them poor. As Tom, suggested I was impressed with a Bachmann Spectrum, 2-8-0. Smooth runner, no loping and responded well to the throttle. However, I wouldn't begin to compare it to what I consider to be the finest locomotives manufactured for N Scale. That would be my Kato and Atlas locomotives. These are the BEST! Bar none! For the price... we are still paying a lot to buy a Bachmann locomotive. When it comes to endurance there are a few who claim the B locomotives have given them hours of operational running on club layouts. The only way I can put my reputation on the line and claim such, is to witness it or experience it, either on a club layout or on my own layout...so you'll have to take their word for it. As I said earlier the jury is still out. In an earlier observation I made regarding the servicing. Let's say I purchase a Bachmann locomotive at $75.00 from a discount house. Ok, that's a little high. I operate it for 12 hours and everything goes smoothly. I continue for 24 hours and it's pretty much the same but I begin to hear a noise. At 48 hours the locomotive starts to lope and the side rods begin to bind up. Finally, at 64 hours the locomotive won't budge. (1) Now, I send in my $15.00 or $20.00 and they send me a new one. Back on the layout and 64 hours later I'm back to square one. (2) I send it in and they repair it this time. Glad to have it back and thinking this is getting expensive I'm beginning to question the endurance. Once again we are back on the layout, only this time... for a shorter period of time, 48 hours later it's out of commission. (3) I do it again and send it to the repair service department. Hurrrumph! After waiting what seemed forever the locomotive is back. (Last Time) This time 36 hours later... I'm placing the locomotive on the deadline...it doesn't run. Never mind, I've spent as much as $10.00 to 30.00 shipping cost each time. Do I have to do the math for you? Ok, I will...See the math below. Three times shipped at.. $10.00..@ = $30.00 Three times warranty at $15.00..@ = $45.00 Original Cost at............ $75.00.....= $75.00 Total $150.00 Now, I ask you? Would you put anymore expense/investment into this locomotive or would you set it aside and call it a day...lesson learned? Any illusions to the idea I made this up. Nope! The above is precisely what happened to me with an earlier Spectrum locomotive. I've yet to send back any of my Kato Steamers, Atlas or Intermountain Diesels, my Model Power Steamers and/or Athearn locomotives. I did send back a ConCor steamer. I figure I purchased it as a return and they just put it back out on the shelf to sell it... damaged. A GS4 in Daylight livery. Once back from ConCor, it's been one of my best performers, a smooth runner and excellent puller. Just something to think about as you decide what locomotives to invest in, as you consider your next purchase. Bachmann, has improved their products and we are seeing some fine stuff coming out of Kader. I'm not ready to categorize them as "best". Not yet! Give them time and watch the price go up. They'll get there! But hey, you are entitled to your opinion and I can respect that.cute: In the meantime I'm going to run a 2-8-0 "Bachmann" until it drops it's drivers. More later...
