found a few references to the

found a few references to the HO scale locos in this N scale discussion

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/spectrum-nw-484-problems-12191198

We have one

running at our club. Minimum radius is 30" (HO scale) for the most part except a couple of kinks that are slightly less. It runs pretty reliably, and most of the problems are due to the track and not the loco - we have spent the last year drastically improving the track, but we're not quite done yet. If you have 30" radius curves and trackwork in good shape, our sample of one suggests that you'll be fine. We certainly do not have a problem with the drawbar. However, I realize that I don't know this one's full history, and I suppose it's possible that the drawbar has been replaced or somehow improved.

Come to think of it, it's almost exactly as reliable as a Spectrum heavy 4-8-2.

Spectrum Heavy Mountains

 I hope it is as reliable as the heavy 4-8-2 spectrum,..I have several of their C&O Heavy Mountains I hope to run on my new layout,....and it needs to negotiate some minimums of 24" radius which I was led to believe they would. My older IHC heavy mountains built in Solvenia would have no problems.

I had a Spectrum J, and

I had a Spectrum J, and probably posted in that thread over at MR.  It was a nice-looking model.  It was sketchy mechanically.  It had a hitch in its giddyup that would not diminish over time, something the Bachmann locomotives are famous for needing...riding up with wear. Also, its pilot was too low at the lower edge, and it scraped the rails and lifted the front couple of drivers at times.  This was on carefully constructed spline roadbed and very smooth main line.

But I am convinced, now that I own a Heavy Mountain from the Spectrum line, that the company generally makes a good solid product.  It does take an inordinately high initial starting voltage in CV2, with my setting near 45  , but once the loco gets underway and past the sticking point in the gear tower, it pulls like a champ and runs very well.

Also, its pilot was too low

I'll have to remember to have a look for that. 

I have a nice Powhatan Arrow set of passenger cars to run with it.

I have one of these

I have one of these engines. 

I bought it in South Carolina on a trucking long haul, and I did not have it stowed securely enough and it fell out of its spot while I was taking a turn. The drawbar broke when the box flew open, but that was the only damage. I bought a new one from the Bachmann parts website and fixed it...

Fast forward to actually running it, that strange drawbar would kick to one side even on straight track and it was pretty frustrating. I eventually just cut a length of brass bar, drilled two holes, and made my own drawbar. It has worked great ever since.

I used an NCE D13SRJ decoder to DCC it, and I replaced the lethargic headlight with a better LED. 

My other complaint was that it did not seem fast enough. I re-motored mine with the motor from a Walthers F40PH (it was parted out for other reasons) and that made it accelerate better and run faster. This should, in my opinion, be a fast engine. It did require some careful milling of the frame but I seem to have gotten it right and with a little more weight inside the boiler, it is one of my favorite engines.