the MRH Forum

Sometimes Cheap is not the way to go. Getting started
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Active Member 38 posts Gabe Active Member 38 posts
Gabe

I will start off now and say i'm sorry if I offend anyone and that this may have been an isolated incident.  

About a week ago I picked up a Bachmann DCC GP30 for $50 at my LHS - Thankfully!  My son liked it and had no problems running it, but it was loud (Motor noise) and jerky.  The loud motor noise I could have lived with since we were upgrading from a Bachmann DC starter set, but the jerkyness caused constant uncoupling and turned a fun time for my 10 Year old son into work time having to stop and recouple the cars every 10 minutes or so.

Thankfully the LHS had no problems returning it so we could upgrade to something nicer.  Since my son and I also decided to join the LHS's railroad club, a few of the guys there were able to recommend an Athearn Genesis GP9 Rock Island to go with my sons acquisition of a RI passenger set from the Used bin (Used but barley used) for $5 a car.

I have learned the hard, fast and true lesson that sometimes you have to pay if you want to play.

 

 

 
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Gabe Active Member 38 posts
Gabe

Quick Video

Here he is enjoying the new purchase on the clubs layout.  Now dad needs to get his butt in gear and get the layout going at home
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Ghost Train Regular poster 228 posts
Ghost Train

That's why there are Dads.

Dads help their children, who will remember the happy experience and, in turn, help their's when the time comes.

My Dad was like that when I was a young fellow.

Congratulations Gabe, on being such a Great Dad.

G. T.
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Pennsy GG1 Regular poster 161 posts
Pennsy GG1

Don't Write Off Bachmann

My first modern engine last year was a new Bachmann GP35 which I bought from an EBay train dealer for $32 I brought it to the club to run because at that time I didn't have a home layout. Within about 20 minutes it had spun a drive shaft. I removed the body and sent it to Bachmann. In about 2 weeks I had a new, complete engine, which still runs nicely. I was quite impressed with their service. The quality of their low-end locomotives may not equal some more expensive units, but neither does the price. I have found their Spectrum locomotives to be good runners with a decent amount of detail.

Al

Enjoying HO, with RailPro.
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Nelsonb111563 Moderator 2,268 posts
Nelsonb111563

Bachmann RS-3 sound value!

Bachmann Locomotives that are DCC onboard or DCC Sound Value Equipped are some of the best runners in my fleet.  In fact, my RS-3 that I have rivals most of my more expensive fleet of Kato locomotives.  The new models of today are a far cry from some of the older items offered by Bachmann.  The noise in the motor has to do with the DCC onboard decoder they use in their non sound units as it does not feature what is known as "silent drive" or "supersonic drive" .

Nelson Beaudry,  Principle/CEO

Kennebec, Penobscot and Northern RR Co.
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pierre52 MRH Author 1,502 posts
pierre52

More ups for Bachmann

I bought a second hand Bachmann GP 38 on our EBay equivalent. Fitting a DCC  module was dead easy and I would now rate it as the best runner in my fleet.

Peter

Peter

The Redwood Sub
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rickwade Prolific poster (deceased) 6,447 posts
rickwade

I'm happy with my Bachmann

I'm happy with my Bachmann DCC sound units and have two of them. They perform well and sound good. With the prices I paid I got two-for-one when compared to the cost of other brands.

Rick

img_4768.jpg 

The Richlawn Railroad Website - Featuring the L&N in HO  / MRH Blog  / MRM #123

Mt. 22: 37- 40
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bapguy54 Regular poster 171 posts
bapguy54

I have a Bachmann DCC on

I have a Bachmann DCC on board GP30. Yes they are noisy, but most of noise is because Bachmann uses crappy decoders in my opinion. I replaced the factory decoder with a Tsunami sound decoder and ran the loco in. I really like it. I also bought a GP7 that I installed sound in. Bachmann did a great job of making a space for the speaker  in the fuel tank. This one runs fine as well.  Joe
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trainman6446 Frequent poster 668 posts
trainman6446

Same here, I have a Bachmann 

Same here, I have a Bachmann  RS3, runs great with some motor noise. Could use a little more weight though.

Tim S. in Iowa
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Nelsonb111563 Moderator 2,268 posts
Nelsonb111563

Bachmann GP7

Word from an 'official" at the Bachmann booth at Springfield this past January is that the GP7 is the next model to receive sound sometime this year.  Can't wait for that one

Nelson Beaudry,  Principle/CEO

Kennebec, Penobscot and Northern RR Co.
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ray46 Active Member 47 posts
ray46

Bachmann Decoder

I purchased a Bachmann GP7, ran it for five minutes and immediatialy replaced it with a Digitrax decoder. 
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postman Regular poster 102 posts
postman

always I replace the Bachman decoder

Yeah!. I always replace the Bachmann decoder with an Uhlenbrock decoder.
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hutch New member 1 post
hutch

The decoder in my Bachmann

The decoder in my Bachmann ALCO 2-6-0 is made by the same company that makes Tsunami. The sound is awesome and it's a smooth runner. I love it and will definitely purchase more.
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