Quote from: big al on August 31, 2009, 07:08:37 PM
My 44 tonner runs like a wildcat.  I don't think the speed is prototypical and I can't seem to slow it down.  And as far as "crawling" like I  think a switcher should - it doesn't.
Anyone have any thoughts on how to program the decoder?  Would appreciate a 14 speed step CV by CV list, if possible.  (I am still trying to wade thru programming CVs in my various locos with varying success.  Some work great, others not so great.)
Wish Bachmann would post the programming codes on their website for locos that they sell with built-in decoders.  Hello, are you listening, Bach Man?  Or is it on there somewhere and I have just missed it?
Thanks/

I'm sorry to hear about Your problems. Mine runs as described without any extra programing, and all i'm using is MRC Prodigy...
jack

Quote from: dtpowell on October 04, 2009, 11:09:39 PM
It's been done. Arnold Rapido of German made a Bavarian S3/6 4-6-2 with a smoke unit. Ibertrain (Spanish) also produce a diminutive tank locomotive. There may have been others. These two were produced more than twenty years ago. I've seen the loco's, but have not seen them in action, so I can not comment on their operation. The smoke units looked very much like those manufactured by Seuthe. It would indeed be interesting to see someone produce one using today's technology. I'd like to see illuminated marker/classification lights on 'N' scale steamloco's too... (Gaham Farish, are you listening? Lighted Head code lamps anyone?)

I feel the same way. Old Arnold with smoke unit can cost $200 and more. And they had a problem with reliability.
If You are handy hear is a cheap solution. With a little work You can install Seuth unit in Bachmann 4-8-4 or J 4-8-4 (they are higher than most engines). I had converted both of them about 5 and 10 years ago. They are still running with no problems!!
jack

Quote from: SoCalStu on November 25, 2009, 11:06:37 PM
I have a sheet of plywood with a glossy painted top. What is the best way to mount N EZ Track to it? Small track nails don't seem to hold very well and I'm considering hot glue. Any proven methods out there? Thanks!

If You are planing to leave the track, i would say nailing it down is still the best way to go. EZ track has a hole on each end for this purpose.
jack

Quote from: Roget on December 03, 2009, 10:16:18 PM
I have an FT A/B set. I just installed digitrax decoders in both. The B unit runs much faster than the A.
(much more so in reverse) What effect,harm, will this have on the two when coupled together?
Does anyone know how to speed match them so they will run at the same approximate speed. I fear damaging my A unit by having the B unit "pull" it.

Thanks for any help.

Roget

If Your A-B set was working well before installing the decoders, this will not cause problems. At least You should be able to spot a problem before blowing up decoder.
Avoid using different manufacturers of A and  B units! I would use at least new revised SPectrum diesels!
jack

Quote from: Wesley on March 26, 2007, 12:43:44 PM
I am building a layout but find the N-scale buildings sold by Bachmann not realistic because of the funky colors - I am looking for a source of inexpensive realistic looking buildings. I am tied of repainting Bachmann stuff.
Does anyone have experience in this area?

Alternative source is Kato for prebuild or Tomix.
jack

Quote from: peterclones on December 06, 2009, 08:21:45 PM
I'm brand new to this hobby and just bought the n scale Iron Duke set to make a simple loop on my coffee table for Xmas.  I thought from there I could make a little bridge over to another table where I'd place another loop.   So I bought a left turnout and a right turnout to attempt this.  This layout however causes a short in the loop as I found out.  I'm wondering if it's possible now.  Please see attachment and let me know what you guys think.  Is there a way to wire the turnouts differently from inside to make this work?  Would a different piece like a wye track solve the problem? 

If this is Your first project, making it simple at first would make a lot more sense. You can try something like figure eight. Starting with reverse loop switches etc, if You not going with DCC could create more problems... Starting simple would allow You to enjoy Your train set quicker. You can always change it as You wish.
jack

Quote from: whitepond on December 15, 2009, 11:55:08 AM
northern 4-8-4 has been boxed for about 9 years. engine will light and makes spinning sounds, but wheels do not turn. Any ideas?

This old engines have wheels sitting in plastic gears. It takes only one one wheel set to create this problem. First check if the side bars are not the problem (sometimes they can be responsible for the wheels not moving), check if the driving wheels  ( 8 sets in the middle ) are pushed into their plastic gears ( Use Your thumbs) Try to place engine on the track, give little throttle.
Hope this will help jack
Ps.
If Your track is old as well, make sure to clean it too!!

Quote from: ABC on December 09, 2009, 01:06:12 AM
I cannot speak for the standard line, but the spectrum steamers run pretty good.

Just make sure ton get recent release of Spectrum line. It's like You would step to a different world. New Spectrum steamers have better motors, chassis and much better detail. To make sure You are getting good engines, new release comes with a clear jewelry boxes (new and old have the same part numbers!). They will pull more, run with scale speed ( especially slow speed is much better). Just be careful with ebay, most seller don't know, or don't tell, if they sell recent Spectrum or old.
hope this will help jack

Few months ago Bachmann started selling their new N scale engine, 44 ton switcher.
Seeing pictures ( making it look like toy, generic plastic color, details in question), i waited until last week.
To my surprise, the engine has superb detail, very accurate colors. If it comes to performance, build in decoder, very slow scale speed, led lights, scale wheels and trucks!
One of the nicest details are railings, very thin, most accurate i had ever sine.
Everything is factory installed.
I have Atas VO-1000, it's very nice, but most railings (plastic and metal) were not installed. Job was not easy, plastic railings can break almost without any force.
Comparing both engines, value, detail, performance i will say Bachmanns 44 ton switcher is a winner!!!
For me one of the nicest addition this year so far. Street price (RTR, Factory DCC) is less than $60!
For anyone looking for new switcher, i can say honestly, put it on Your must have list!
jack

Quote from: skipgear on August 21, 2009, 05:48:44 AM
  As many may have noticed, this past week, there has been a pretty heated discussion on the new can motors that have been showing up in recent Bachmann N scale loco's both on the Atlas forums and Trainboard. It was discovered that the advertised 5 pole / skew wound motors in the C&O H-5 (2-6-6-2) was really a 3 pole straight wound motor. This in itself is not a big deal to me as the loco ran very good as is. As long as the loco runs well, I don't care what motor is in it. I defended Bachmann's choice because it has allowed us to have some very nice new releases. Unfortunately, I can no longer take that side.

  The problem with the motor is they are showing signs of an unusually short life span. This is the reason it was discovered to not be as advertised. The motor in question died in under 20 hours. It was thought to be a fluke and was replaced by another motor ordered from Bachmann.  It also died in the same time frame. When it did, the owner took it apart to see why and found that it was a 3 pole armature and had failed because the comutator had worn through. The pictures of this started the debate and discussion.

  There are currently 3 others running their 2-6-6-2's to see if they suffer the same fate. Unfortunately, one more has just died at the 24 hour mark. The other motors aren't that far along quite yet, except for one that had been disassembled for inspection before the test, it seems to be running well.

  In a reply from Bachmann, it is claimed that this new can motor is a smaller/better alternative than previous motors. Please exlpain how? Why can I get more than 3000 hours out of a $50 standard line 0-6-0 before it wears the side rods or flanges off of the wheels, yet a $200 2-6-6-2 barely makes it 24 hours? I have had an 0-6-0 last for 6 months, 10 hours a day, 7 days a week in our store display with simple, periodic cleaning of the loco. This is impossible with the new can motors, you can't get in them.

  These motors need to be addressed. This is not an acceptable level of quality, especially for a "Spectrum" level product. If you ran your train an hour a day, it wouldn't last a month. I often will run 3-4 hours or more straight on a train show weekend. A couple weekends and it seems a loco with one of these motors would be worn out.

  I work at a HobbyTown and order the model railroad merchandise for our store and influence the 5 others owned by us. It is going to be real hard to even think about ordering more of these loco's with the new motors in them until the problem is addressed. I don't want to see customers coming back in a month complaining that their loco has died.

The current loco's that I know of with the new can motor include:

HHP8
H16-44
2-6-6-2
4-8-2 Heavy Mountain
44T
DD40Ax

Before spectrum line, Bachmann engines did not have a lot of detail. they were loud, scale speed was note. But they were known to run almost forever. If not abused, or overload nothing would brake them. Hearing about my beloved 2-6-6-2 running for about 24 hours calls for alarm! If would not be for new Bachmann steamers, i would have to give up my trains.
I feel strongly that Bachmann Should address recall on any issued engines with that kind almost scandal wear. New Spectrum diesels and steam engines bringing a lot more new people to Bachmann. It would be a sham to loose as for poor quality. Mister Bachmann please help. Show us that You care and You want help us,  before it's too late.
ps
i also have 2-6-6-2 run few times for few minutes. I admire this engine as a masterpiece.

Please Mister Bachman, help us!

Quote from: thirdrail on March 14, 2009, 11:06:13 AM
The Espee 4-8-8-2 Cab Forwards are due from InterMountain next month. 

I had found out few days ago, about huge delay of cab forward at least until fall this year. Too many pre production problems.
jack

it's simple. You need DCC controller and each engine needs to have a DCC decoder. For start, just buy one engine with decoder installed (not dcc ready, all that means is tha the engine is easy to modify, it does not have decoder included). For DCC controller, Bachmann EZ Command is the cheapest and simplest to use. For most small layouts, all You have to do is unplug Your old DC controller and replace it with DCC controller. Good idea is to clean contacts and the track, just in case.
jack

There have been great upgrades in n scale engines. Atlas made 2-6-0 Mogul, 2truck Shay, and number of diesels including big SD80. After Walthers both Lifeike, they revised whole diesel line. Proto now has metal, not plastic chassis.

I thing this is noting compare to Bachmann! Spectrum diesels like SD45, Dash 8 and Dash 8W, H16 and HHP 8 are super good looking, very well perform engines. Unique pc board DCC decoder ports are the list expensive way to convert engines form DC to DCC. My Spectrum diesels cost me about $16 to convert. Atlas dedicated decoders are at least $26 and up. Walthers proto line has only MRC drop in decoders. They cost about $80 each!!! Spectrum involves soldering, which makes little more difficult, but thanks to very easy instruction online, it is sometimes easier than some drop in decoders.
And then, there is a Spectrum Steam line, J 4-8-4, 2-6-6-2, 4-8-2 and 280. Moast beautiful and best performing steam line in n scale. You would have to go to very expensive Marklin line, to match variety Bachmann created for us.
Reliable, rich in detail, great performing and affordable. None of other manufacturers can claim it!
No one has better line!
I had mention Atlas and Walthers(Life-Like) for reason. In the past Atlas was the best looking and performing in it's class, put for a premium cost. Life-like looked better and worked better than Bachmann, for a little more money.
Now Bachmann Spectrum line can run against them and win! And it's is still for less money than them!!!
Actually, 2 of them together can't claim as many good steam engines as Bachmann alone. I run my spectrum engines with Atlas, Kato, Walthers, Fleishmann and You can't tell them apart, unless it is something positive!
In last few months i both it mostly Bachmann engines. Why? No one has J4-8-4 or HHP8, at least two of them deserve world class recognition. To me, whole Spectrum line is spectacular!
Thank You Bachmann! Your new or revised engines are true enjoyment to me and my children.
jack

Quote from: the Bach-man on April 23, 2009, 12:58:01 AM
Dear jwo,
Thanks! I'm glad you like it!
Have fun!
the Bach-man

I just hope for one new engine a year, if it is possible.
I like to thank everyone at Bachmann for last few absolutely great n scale models
thank You all
jack

I agree. I thing Bachmann inthe past could not handle slower speeds. Now it can run with the big dogs, like Kato and Atlas. And i'm not trying to say that they are better. Slower speed makes engines look more to the scale.
4-8-2 is one the best engines, i just like J 4-8-4 better. I both it few Walthers diesel engines, comparing to Lifelike, they are slower also.