Good Idea or No?

[Cody J]

Would it be a good idea to buy this product?


http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/bac/bac60002.htm

Does it go around 22 curve track?
Does it run smoothly and last a reasonable length of time?
Thanks for any help!!!

Cody

[Michigan Railfan]

Hmm, an 0-6-0 switcher, even though I don't have one, I'm almost positive that would go around 22" curves.

[CNE Runner]

Hi Cody - you brought back some memories. The first locomotive I ever owned (after the obligatory Lionel 224E I received as a very small child) was a Porter Lil' Hustler. The Porter seems very similar to this Plymouth so here goes: I would imagine this little industrial/dock engine will negotiate almost 90 degree turns (OK...a little exaggeration). I would say that 18" or somewhat smaller curves would be no problem. In the prototype world these little guys moved cars through the urban and dock environment that consisted of sharp turns and limited clearances. Certainly 22" radius curves would be easily negotiable.

Now the "should I buy it" question is very different. This is a non-sound equipped, DC model. If you do not anticipate running your layout with DCC...and you don't mind silent engines - go for it! I should imagine the price is quite low. Do remember this is an industrial switcher with little weight on the driving wheels. That translates to very few cars pushed or pulled. This is NOT a road engine. If this is to be your only (or first) locomotive, I would look further for something a little more suitable; like a GP15, GP35, GP38/40 etc. One of my locomotives is a Bachmann GP35 (DCC but silent) that is a good runner and is low cost.

As always the final choice is yours. Good luck with your decision. This locomotive may be DCC-friendly which means it could be converted, at a later date, to DCC. Keep in mind the locomotive may not be worth the cost of conversion. Like I said earlier: it is your choice.

Cheers,
Ray

[Conrail Quality]

BTW, that's a picture of the N-scale model. Notice the Rapido coupler.

Timothy

[pdlethbridge]

They advertise it as a ho model but the picture is a n scale model.

[trainmaster971]

There is a correct photo on page 9 (maybe 10) of the HO scale "Motive Power" product listing.

[train with no shame]

hobby lobby had one, the ho scale. here in conroe tx  i had been watching it for couple months and picked it up for 24 $ . it is dc not dcc .and i run it of my brand x'es a/c d/c controller  actually i like it .i just added an upper level 18" rad oval and use it up above .i have an 0-4-0 life like steamer my brother gave me he found in a old box he had . i get a kick out of watching him run . i had heard of running dc on dcc controllers .getting a humming or a buzzing noise . i get it when i run it on the dcc controller but not the athear oopppps controller . have fun with it couple it up and roll .

[Yampa Bob]

This little switcher is DCC equipped, will easily pull 5 or 6 cars around the yard. I have one in Rio Grande, very smooth runner.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVKU2&P=SM

[Santa Fe buff]

Bob,
You beat me again at mentioning the 44T!

All,
Anyway, we had that in HO scale out in my Hobby Lobby, it was $43.95, and I really wanted it for my small little yard I was going to have for F.G.F.. When I finally got $20.00, and my dad agreed to pay off the rest, it was already sold to someone else. A few weeks after I got my DCC Digital Commander from there, they got a very beautifully Northern for Pere Marquette. This Northern was DCC-Equipped too, so it was wonderful, until I saw the price. I'm thinking about the undecorated 45 Tonner that's decorated with cautions strips, and yellow/silver body. Being DCC-Equipped is a nice feature, a expensive one for me... I could picture that little Plymouth next to a Dockside 0-4-0T, which is another steamer I was considering for my layout too. I would buy the Plymouth, but keep in mind it's limitations...

Josh

[CNE Runner]

To keep with Cody's original post, he was asking about the Plymouth (@ $32) not a 44-tonner at almost twice the price. I agree the 44-tonner would be a better engine in the long run [see my post above for the reasons]; but to be fair it is much more expensive.  If all Cody is gong to pull are 4 or 5 cars in a flat yard/industrial/dock environment - then the Plymouth should work out OK for him. I would have the same reservations with a 0-4-0 switcher. These locomotives, in the prototype world, were usually relegated to very light work (one could almost say the precursor to the Plymouth/Porter diesels). Railroads are careful to match the engine assigned to the task at hand. How many times have we read on this, or the Model Railroader forum, that the Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0s are not very good pullers? If one checks out the prototype history; the real ones weren't good pullers either and rarely pulled trains consisting of more than 10 to 15 cars. That is why Moguls and Consolidations came on the scene: heavier/longer cars and longer consists...beyond the capabilities of the little American.

Change in topic: I rarely comment on any-one's manner of posting; however this time I must say that one of the posts above was rather difficult to understand. To that poster: 1) please use capital letters where appropriate, 2) avoid unknown abbreviations, and 3) use the spell checker included...please. Yes, I have read cellphone text messages and have difficulty understanding those as well...must be a function of the aging process! Thank you and thank you for taking the time to add to this thread.

Keep 'em on the rails,
Ray

[Joe Satnik]

Dear Ray,

I agree with your "change in topic", and I couldn't have said it better.  It was nicely done in a positive tone.  Kudos.

Dear All,

Troubleshooting symptoms is tough to do even with perfect grammar, spelling and punctuation. 

The experienced helpers on the board are only human, with limited time to give. 

If we have to spend a lot more time deciphering a hard to read question, we'll skip over it and move on.  (Again, we are human.)

I put an extra line between sentences to help break up a long post. 

Dear TWNS,

Please, it would really help us if you would

try to put (practice putting) the period immediately after the last letter of the sentence, then a double space, then a capital letter at the beginning of the next sentence. 

Double check your preview for them (every sentence) before you hit the post button.     

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik 

[CNE Runner]

Joe - thanks for the come back...I was worried that I had gone "too far" in my comments. TWNS - please take my comments as constructive in nature...I can see from your post that you "know of what you speak" and we all could use some of your knowledge. You mentioned that you run the Plymouth switchers (and a 0-4-0) in your upper level? You are light years ahead of me as I have all I can do to deal with a 30"x12' single level layout. Do you have an industrial/yard scene on the upper level? If so, is this because it is closer to eye level? I am always looking for good ideas and this sounds like one. I have considered having a dock-themed layout; but never went much further than construction. Actually my current attempt is patterned on the Port Kelsey that was featured in the August 1997 issue of Model Railroader. Sadly, all that I copied is (roughly) the trackplan which was based on John Armstrong's Timesaver game. Since my engines really can't "go" anywhere the switching (shunting) puzzle keeps my interest up. If you would like to learn more about shunting puzzles try

http://www.wymann.info/ShuntingPuzzles/

'Talk to you next time,
Ray

[Cody J]

Trainmaster971- The correct photo is on page 6 of the online Bachmann "Catalog".

Thanks everyone for your responses.

Another question:
Does it run smoothly and last a reasonable length of time is taken care of?
I had a SF GP40 that broke after about a month or two because it was not built sturdly. Pretty much....is it like my old SF or a good buy?

Thanks

[Cody J]

Since the picture showing the locomotive has rapido couplers..does that mean that it will come with the rapido couplers or regular knuckle couplers?

Thanks
Cody

[Yampa Bob]

Cody's first question was: "Would it be a good idea to buy this product?" With the increasing popularity of DCC, I would honestly have to answer "No". It's a case of saving $20 now, but end up paying for it later.

I mentioned the 44 ton as on option because, if you figure $20 for the price of a decoder, the 44 is actually the better value. It also has a better running gear and will last a long time. If Cody should later switch to DCC, he will be all set to go with a much better engine. 

Of course, the decision is Cody's to make, I just like to offer other options and present all the facts.

Speaking of facts, again I need to dispel all these rumors about Bachmann locomotives not being good pullers. I tested the 44 ton at 1.75 ounce drawbar force, which equates to 17 easy rolling cars. Since I normally only pull about 10 cars, there is power to spare.

I also tested the Spectrum 4-4-0 at two ounces drawbar force, equating to 20 easy rolling cars. Pulling my usual 10-12 cars, speed is about 75 mph.

Whenever you see someone posting on the MR forum that Bachmann locos are not good pullers, ask them if they have done actual testing with a force gauge, or just "blowing smoke".

To All: Breaking up a post into "logical paragraphs" also makes it much easier to read.