"Annie" arrived today with all of her improvements!

[emjayw]

Today my "new & improved" Anniversary  4-6-0 (Black, unlettered) came in the mail.  First impression:  "Wow, look at all of that metal siderod and valve gear detail".  Second impression:  The new chassis is much more see-through than my Version 5 garden-variety Durango & Silverton 4-6-0.   Third impression:  The new cast front truck rocks!  I ran a test on my 4' Diameter turn indoor track and cranked the Annie up to 100% power for several quick laps and it stuck like glue to the track through the turns.  It pulled a 3 car (1 boxcar, 2 Passenger cars) train at full speed without so much as a hiccup from any of the front wheels.  I couldn't do this with my "old" 4-6-0 without seeing the rear-inside wheel trying to lift off of the track.  My Spectrum 4-4-0 tries to lift the front wheel even at slow speeds on these turns, which is to be expected as it is not intended for 4' diameter turns.  The all-black Annie really looks the part as it is much more detailed and less toy-like than the older set locos.  Now all I need to do is figure out how it'll be marked?  I'm leaning towards the Durango & Silverton name on the Tender and just a 400-series number on the engine.  It looks so much more like the K 28's and 36's they're using now than the Bumbel Bee does.
Count me as a very happy "new" Annie owner.  My only wish is the Bachmann wouldn upgrade the chuff system to 4 per revolution and add a digital steam whistle sound to the board.  Then it would be the perfect 4-6-0!  I tried posting small pics but i keep getting a "folder is full" message??    Mike in TX

[Loco Bill Canelos]

I knew you would like it, the features and detail on the Version 6 Annie versus the Big Hauler 4-6-0 are indeed striking right down to the see thru feature.

You may want to consider adding a sound card, they are available from several makers and one can be had for as low as $89.  It is an easy install, you even use the existing speaker and chuff sensor. 

[Seaboard Air Line Fan]

If reports like this keep coming in I'll be making that purchase sooner than I thought!

Mike, let's see some photos.

The Bachmann writeup says this comes with "speed-synchronized sound".

What would the sound card Bill is speaking of offer over what comes with the engine?

Are there any YouTube files where i can hear the difference?

Bob D.

[Loco Bill Canelos]

You would have bell whistle hiss blowdown etc.  Bob, to hear the Dallee system sounds you can go to their website hear the sounds and see the features.  Most others have websites as well.  I have seen the Dallee sound for as low as $79, but more likely $89.  High end sound like Phoenix (the P8) runs around $165 without a speaker which you would not need and offers a lot more features.  Their sounds can be heard on their website.  There are many others as well and maybe others will chime in with their thoughts.

[Dave]

I put a " My Loco" sound card in my Annie. Has Bell, Whistle, Hiss and Chuff and plenty of volume. I power it with a 11.1v Li-po Battery, which also runs the headlight. It works well for me.

                 Cheers

                           Dave

[emjayw]

Dave, that sounds like a great upgrade.  I like the idea of the light being independent of track power.  how are the sounds?  did you do a chuff sensor mod to give 4 per rev?  I will post pics if and when Bachmann empties out the gallery folder so more of us can post.  Too bad we can't add pics to our posts.  Mike in TX

[Wade Colyer]

Hi Mike:

I added two more brass strips to the chuff drum on my 4-6-0 with acc glue. I get 15 deg. of contact and 75 deg. open every 90 deg. of rotation now. I run a PFM sound System II and I have to run at proto speeds or the chuff all runs together even with the cut-off adjustment. I'm going to do another and use the stock drum to see which I like best.

Wade

[NarrowMinded]

Emjayw,

Don't hold your breath waiting for the image folder it's always full never empty,
if you want to post pictures here you will need to set up a different image hosting account, I use photobucket for free.

1.up load your image to photobucket
2.click on the links menu where it says "IMG" it will then say copied
3.come back here and paste the link in your post.
your image will appear in the post.


NM-Jeff

[Dave]

Mike, I superglued a small magnet onto one of the Tender axles and then glued a Reed Switch on the Bolster about 1/4 inch from the Magnet. Because the Tender wheels are half the size of the main Drivers you end up with 2 chuffs per Rev. I used the Chuff connection to get power to the Headlight. The "My Loco" sound card is good value  for its price and it is adjustable regarding tone of whistle, volume and chuff start and rate. I also fitted marker light on the tender and they come on with the Headlight. Nothing worse than all your lights going out when you stop the train at the station. I also converted my Annie to R/C,courtesy of help from Loco Bill, the Guru of G Gauge.
    The Annie is a great Loco and you can do lots to them to make them a bit individual.


                           Cheers
                             Dave in NZ

[Jon D. Miller]

Here's a not to good video of the new Version 6.  I made this video during the first week or so of January.

It was just pulling an extended J&S coach and two track cleaning cars.

The new pony truck makes all the difference in the world when it comes to tracking.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ijwCRuuvE&feature=relmfu

Here is a short article from my GRBLOG that contains some detail about the locomotive.

http://www.grblogs.com/index.php/2012/02/04/bachmann-4-6-0-anniversary-version-6?blog=4

The metal gear train makes no noise.  This new locomotive should be a winner for Bachmann.

JD

[Seaboard Air Line Fan]

JD,
Thanks for the video and the photos of the engine!


I want to get one, but this past week has been a bust.  We had to spend $300 to get a heat pump fixed (accumulator), 2 medical bills that set us back $500, and now we owe IRS $200 for taxes.

I might have to wait a bit before I go buying any trains     

Bob D.

[tomplatten]

Can the new front truck be retrofitted to the Version 5 Annies?

[bob kaplan]

In the June Garden Railways the Vital Statistics say that the newer 4-6-0
has "updated diecast lead truck; diecast frame,"  Yet i have never seen the diecast frame mentioned elsewhere; even in the review itself.  Was the "old" frame diecast as well; is this an improvement over the older frames (i thought they were plastic); or is the "Vital Statistics" in error.
  Thanks

[Jon D. Miller]

Bob,
Reference to die cast frame must be that of the pony truck.  The frame and bottom cover on the locomotive is plastic.

JD

[bob kaplan]

thank you. Jon.