Quote from: ACY on June 08, 2015, 07:19:49 PM
I am pretty sure I saw it first appear in the 2003 catalog. If this is the case then the first run would have had the older mechanism. The item number did not change as far as I could tell either.

Not necessarily. Stuff often appears in catalogs prior to its actual release. Also, that 2004 date is just an approximation on my part. Bachmann rarely (if ever) announces changes to their pre-existing models, so I usually just have to guess on the dates.

I think the main clue is the Vandy tender. Apart from the special "UP Overland" version, that tender was never an option on the older Northerns. So, I think it's safe to say that any SP Northern with a Vandy tender is going to have the latest mechanism.

Cheers,
-Mark

Quote from: ACY on June 07, 2015, 12:10:06 PM

Quote from: spookshow on June 07, 2015, 08:26:59 AM
Going through my old (pre-2004) Walthers catalogs, I see ATSF, Reading, CB&Q, GN and UP 4-8-4's, but no SP's. So, I think it's safe to assume that anything labeled #58157 is going to have the newest version of the mechanism (although perhaps not the newest version of the shell).

Mark what years did you check? I have some old Walthers catalogs as well and can check mine if there are some years you don't have between 1997-2007. And thank you for the clarification between the mechanical and the ascetic/cosmetic upgrades. 

The SP Northern (58157) is listed in my 2005, 2007 and 2008 catalogs. It is not listed in any of my earlier catalogs (2002, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1994, 1993, 1989, 1988, 1986, 1985, 1982).

Cheers,
-Mark

Quote from: ACY on June 06, 2015, 08:42:32 PM

Quote from: spookshow on June 06, 2015, 04:54:51 PM
And unless Bachmann has been recycling catalog numbers, it should be the most recent production version.

Item #58157 appears to correspond to an older run. I was looking at item numbers and it appears that this engine is from the last run before Bachmann upgraded the model. Further research on the internet confirmed that this model was made was previous to when the improvements were implemented.
MSRP on the new models is $175.00, MSRP on the last run which also has the upgrades was $155.00, MSRP on the run previous to this was about $140 (unclear if this has the upgrades but not relevant), and the MSRP for the Southern Pacific engine was $121.00 which means it is not the new and improved version because this is quite old.

Sorry, I guess I should have been more clear. The SP model (#58157) that I tested had the most recent (2004) version of the mechanism (as evidenced by my photo), but may not represent the absolute latest production run. Starting in 2012, Bachmann improved some of the shell detailing on their Northern, and that SP model may have pre-dated those changes. But since I'm mainly concerned that the OP gets a model with the latest internals, it's not really important which specific production run it came from - just so long as it was produced after 2004.

Going through my old (pre-2004) Walthers catalogs, I see ATSF, Reading, CB&Q, GN and UP 4-8-4's, but no SP's. So, I think it's safe to assume that anything labeled #58157 is going to have the newest version of the mechanism (although perhaps not the newest version of the shell).

Cheers,
-Mark

Yes, now that I think about it, mine was indeed an SP (with Vandy tender). I don't have it anymore, but I'm pretty sure it was the #BA-58157 model that the OP indicated that he was looking into acquiring. And unless Bachmann has been recycling catalog numbers, it should be the most recent production version.

Cheers,
-Mark

I would stay away from it if it's anything but the latest version (the one with the split-frame chassis) -



It doesn't look like installing a decoder would be too terribly difficult. Just wire it up between the motor contacts and the motor itself. It looks like the decoder could be placed in the cab, or possibly up in that notch on top of the chassis.

Information on the various versions here - http://www.spookshow.net/loco/bach484.html

Cheers,
-Mark

Quote from: kewatin on June 03, 2015, 11:38:09 AM
your review will be most likely be of MRC"S new dcc&sound equipped pacific&mikado, which i am sure will be a reality , no guessing there.
regards&later  KEWATIN

I do have pre-orders placed for an MRC Pacific and Mikado, so we shall see. Still hoping that Bachmann does their own Pacific, though.

Cheers,
-Mark

They're going to be releasing a C&NW ES Pacific with DCC and sound!



Hey, I can dream, can't I? 

Cheers,
-Mark

The plastic roadbed provides the rigidity and connectivity that allows one to reliably run trains on the track. There are plenty of other brands of track that don't come with built-in roadbed, but that sort of track requires that it be glued/nailed in place (otherwise it moves around, the rail joiners come loose, etc).

Products like Bachmann EZ Track, Kato Unitrack and Atlas True Track are designed for people who want to quickly get to the "let's run some trains" stage of the game (and not have to deal with gluing down roadbed and track, soldering rail joins, etc). That's why it's a popular inclusion in trainsets.

I've never used EZ Track, but if it's anything like Unitrack, the ties are going to be part of the plastic casting that includes the roadbed (and with the rails then clipped to the ties). So, no, you couldn't really separate the two.

Cheers,
-Mark

I assume that's the Super Chief set that comes with the analog (non-DCC) F7 locomotive?

If the headlight is lit you're getting track current into the chassis just fine, so that eliminates a lot of possibilities.

Do you hear any motor hum at all? If you do, it could be that the gears are stuck. What color are the plastic gears in the trucks? If they're white (rather than black), you have a very old set and the gears are likely shot. If they're black, they probably just need cleaning/lubrication.

If it's not making any noise at all, it probably means that you have a dead motor. Or, it could be bad contact between the motor and the chassis (less likely).

Easiest thing would be to just send it back to Bachmann for warranty replacement.

Cheers,
-Mark

The tender PC board is actually two boards in one (functionally speaking). The forward half is the "main board" (to which the wiring harness is soldered) and the rear half is the "DCC board". The DCC board is designed such that it can be snapped off from the main board (should you want to swap in a different decoder or run without a decoder entirely). Instructions included in the box show where to solder decoder wires to the main board (for running a different decoder) or what contacts to bridge on the main board if you want to run without a decoder.



Cheers,
-Mark

Re DCC - not sure what malarky you've been reading, but pretty much any decoder will work with any DCC system (NMRA standards, don't leave home without them).

If your goal is to operate a small steam engine using DCC your options are somewhat limited (unless you're willing to take on the relatively arduous task of making serious modifications to a non-DCC locomotive). I'd recommend one of Bachmann's 2-6-0's, 2-8-0's or 4-6-0's for starters (all of which are fine locomotives, and available with factory-installed DCC).

Cheers,
-Mark

FYI on the Athearn 2-6-0 - it has been quite a few years since the last production run, so tracking one down may be difficult at this point.

Cheers,
-Mark

Reviews of most of the locomotives you mention can be found here -

http://www.spookshow.net/locos.html

Cheers,
-Mark

In the past I've tried concealing them with ballast and ground foam, but basically it's just putting lipstick on a pig -



Eventually I just gave up on the things and went the manual groundthrow route.

Cheers,
-Mark

It could be the motor, but is most likely the gearing (or possibly both). In any case, it is definitely designed to run like a yard switcher - IE, very slow.

Cheers,
-Mark