Years ago Bachmann TGV N scale sets started to sell. Beatifull engiens and cars. Then first complaints came back to Bachmann. Gears do not work!!!
Instead of fixing it, set were absolete with out replacement.
Since Bachmann got his good name back. Why not use either Acela power car (just make chassis short) or use HHp8 insides. 2 solutions to reviva such beatifull train.
I bet everyone would be too busy admiring new set to remember troublesome from past.
What about Bachmann, We have been good, how about new verson TGV for zmas for us?
please

Not a troly, a true setup seen in any mountain resort. Overhead lines pulling 2 to 16 cars. Relatively easy to do. Bachmann has access to parts. Little of kitbash, little of rd an 2 months later you got it!!
What about Mr Bach MAN? You can make a kit lets say 2 or 4 or 10 cars, Pulls etc.
It will work. Only LG in G scale offers a decent set. MR Bach Man this must happen How many build set could add cable cars? almost all of them!!!
Please Mr Bach MAN, AT LEAST SAY what You thing,
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

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

J both it J 4-8-4 about 5 years ago. It was very nice, rich detail, noce runer. Imagine my surprise, when a received new one. I heard that Bachmann upgradet it. I was not expecting coplete new engine! From metal boiler, new handrails, led lighting, it just totally different, even better engine! Looks different, runs different. To anyone who has older version of J 4-8-4 it's worth it to get new spectum version! he only worry i would have is a curve radius. I had problem running it on 19 inch turns. I did not spend time looking into it honestly, i just went to my wide track. Igot so exidet i wasn't gone waste time and wait longer to see it running.
I have great admiraration to new Bachmann's Spectum line, i just was not expecting That Bachmann would basicly recreate again very good runner J 4-8-4. I did not see amuch changes in the tender, if  any.
Anyway, as i said before,  it i sa new, even better engine.
Thank You Bachmann!!!

This my first. I had installed five decoders into Spectrum diesels. I got very simple, almost bullet proof instructions from Bachmann web site. Except for none egzisting resistor in the past. I never had any problems. Until now.  I installed 2 decoders, one went to dash 8CW, works great. I just changed address. Next i did Dash SD45 ( i already did 2 of them no problem). At first was fine. I was testing it on the track, when high pitch hissing noise started. At first only forward, then was happening in reverse also. Very loud. I did CV 50 to 8,  i did start mid and top voltage. Nothing. Even engine was brand new, i lubrikated it again. Nothing. Engine is so loud, it's almost unusable. I used Digitrax DZ123 brand new, straight directly from the factory. My engine is about month old ( i was waiting for decoder). I test it maybe for 5 minutes prior installing decoder. In short:
- engine is new and tested
- decoder is brand new straight from the factory (not even dealer)
- i followed Bachmann's instructions. Nothing miswire, no loose ends
- all gears were lubricated
- CV 50 set to 8
- start volt 2 med 5 top 6
-i did reset it the decoder to factory again.
No matter what i tried, hissing loud noise is there in forward and reverse. Quit on idle.
Can anyone help? I looked on Digitrax (decoder), Bachmann (engine), MRC (cab) web sites, some forums, no help to my issue. This noise is constant to the speed, faster the louder. In reverse first couple second are noise free, and then is sounds like in forward.
Please help
jack

I had found a very good step by step instructions on how to install decoder to Bachmann spectrum diesels. See:
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,7064.0.html
I did my Dash SD-45 no problems. I'm starting my Dash 8-40CW and i have notice that the resistor showed on beginning of installation is missing. It should be cut off.
is this resistor located somewhere else or it's no longer need it?
Please help
jack

I had heard people using this setup.
I'm not sure if it's one decoder connected to one one motor and the unit b just stays dc.
Or if 2 motors from A and B unit are operated by 1 decoder. If so, is it safe for 1amp n scale decoder to operate 2 motors? Would the motors work even?
Please help, i have 4 AB powered setups, if this is possible, it would make dcc conversion very easy.
Thank You jack

i'm lucky enough to have HHP8 as well as new revised spectrum Dash 8-40C Dash 8-40CW and SD45. Detail on new spectrum diesels is as good or better than Kato. How about power?
HHP8 is super smooth and actually faster than Atlas and Kato models. Super fun, superior detail, smooth, very powerful and fast. How come the spectrum line is not using the same powerful motors? Can it be converted somehow?

EZ command and MRC Prodigy (old version, before they made Express, Advance and Wireless). I have the chance to buy both, i can purchase only one. MRC has strong points,  Walk around, it looks like has 3.5 amp power (that's what is says on the transformer). Ez Command looks like very easy to use. Which one would You buy?
I only need this to run n scale layout. Programing limited to address.
thanks jack

Does anyone heard of "Spectrum Master Series"
I just love spectrum, especially new spectrum line.
I know it used to be called Bachmann Plus.
I'm starting to see few diesels on ebay described as
"bachamn spectrum master series"
Is this like a short somehow custom run?
Is new design or old?

If anyone knows about it, please let me know.
jack

You can connect analog controller to EZ Command DCC. I know it allows for easier control of dc trains. But how about power boost? If You connect a analog controller, does it boost power, or only power booster van do that?
Thanks jack

OK I WAS LOOKING FOR CV SETTING AND ALL FIIN OUT THAT BACH MAN PROMISSED LOOK IN IT. IT WAS 6MONTHS AGO AND NOTHING.
MISTER BACHMAN HOW ABOUT SIMPLE CART
CV BAZED ON WHAT DECODER
START MID AND HIGH VALUE FOR EVERY ENGINE
BLACK ON WHITE YOUR WAY OF SETTING EVERYTHING DCC,
YOU MADE 2 SYSTEM DON'T THINK WE NEED THIS NOW?
PLEASE HELP
JACK

EVERY NOW AND THEN  I'M BROWSING INTO HO SCALE ENGINES. I'M JUST SPEECHLESS WHEN I SEE SUCH DIVERSITY IN STEAM ( WITH SMOKE), SWITCHERS. I KNOW HO IS MORE POPULAR, I SCHOULD SAY MOST POPULAR SCALE, BUT DON'T WE DESERVE AT LEAST HALF OF HO SCALE OFFERINGS?

I BOTH 2 SD45 SPECTRUM AFTER I DISCOVERED THEIR NEW UPGRADE TO DCC FRIENDLY AND LED LIGHTS. THEY  ARE GREAT ENGINES (NEW SPECTRUM WITH LEDS) BUT THEY ARE HAVE PROBLEMS. ONE OF THEM HAS VERY WEEK BODY CLIPS. MY PENNSYLVANIA MOLDED IN BLACK IS GOOD, BUT I HAVE UNION PACIFIC 9YELLOW AND GREY PLASTIC). CLIPS ON THE GAS TANK AND BODY CLIPS ( I WAS PUTTING DECODER) EITHER BROKE OR NOT HOLDING AFTER JUST ONE VERY DELICATE DISASSEMBLY. ANYBODY ELSE WITH THE SAME ISSUES?
JACK

athearn challecger is nice but almost $300 bugs. Rivarosi challenger is a old design dyes were made i middle ages (ha ha) and there is not many left.
bachmann has 2-6-6-2 beautiful engine (my wedding pic ar my 2-6-6-2 standing alone tough call which one i like better). 2-6-6-2 spectrum engine close to perfection. some body work, new tender. change front truck from 2 wheels to 4 front and back and hear he is
spectrum 4-6-6-4 challenger. LETS FIND OUT HOW MANY VOTES WOULD MAKE BACHMANN CONCIDER PRODUCTION. THERE IS COMPETITON, BUT MARKET IS GOOD TO.
I SAY LETS VOTES AND SUBMIT OUR SIGNATURES FOR CHALLENGER TO SEE IF THE WOULD APPROVE. IF NOT HOW MANY MORE WOULD IT TAKE.
WHOP IS WITH ME?
I SAY SPECTRUN CHALLENGER COME TO US:
1. JWOJ69 JACKW VOTE NUMBER ONE
2. YOUR VOTE HERE

IT LOOKS THAT THE NEW SD45 BODY IS A LOT MORE COMPLEX... I JJUST CAN NOT PUT MESELF AND TRY TO EXPERIMENT IN BLING ON HOW TO TAKE THE BODY OFF FOR DECODER INSTALATION. THE DRAWIING IS NOT CLEAR IF THE RAILINGS AR ESEPERATE FROM THE BODY LIKE LIFELIKE GP18 FOR EXAMPLE, OR F THE BODY SIMPLY SNAPS OFF.
I JUST LIKE TOO MUCH TO COME CLOSE DAMAGING IT
JACK

AS FAR I KNOW EZ COMMAND DOES NOT HAVE STATIONARY DECODERS. WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR US BUDGET MINDET GUYS TO GET CHIP SOLUTION FOR FEW XOVERS. MAYBE COUPLE AUTOMATIC SCENERY DETAILS? I THINK DIGITRAX HAS 4 ITEM STATIONARY DECODER. I THINK YOU CAN CONTROL 4 TURNAROUNDS FROM 1 BOX.
JACK

HELLO, DOES ANYONE OWES SPECTRUM 8-40C AND SPECTRUM 8-40CW. I HAVE 8-40CW, WHICH IS VERY NICE BUT NOISY RAILINGS ARE NOT STRAIGHT. I'M HEARING THAT 8-40C SUPPOSED TO BE A NEW LINE LED HIGH QUALITY RICH DETAIL ETC?
JACK