Bachmann USRA heavy 4-8-2

[brokemoto]

.......I feel myself  being pulled towards eras I never thought I'd have interest in. There is something strangely relaxing about a steam loco chugging along...what's happening to me?

,,,,,,and you watch the rods pulsing and moving, the drivers turning, yes, you can actually see their turning, unlike other forms of motive power, and you watch some more and then you hear it, the chuff'n'huff'n'puff and you watch the rhythmic movements of the drivers and the rods and the huffing starts to enter your brain and you hear the rhythm of it's call:   'bricks'reboring, bricks'reboring, bricks'reboring.....' and, then, then you cross the line from BrickHeadLand into the Territory of True Railroading...............................

Yup, over forty-seven years after the last fire was dropped from a steam locomotive on a US class 1, and over forty years after similar occurred in Canada (was it 1963, there?  I seem to remember that year for some reason) and close to forty years after similar happened in Mejico (1968?), people still call trains 'choo-choos'.


Say 'no' to bricks.  Why d'ya' think they call 'em "diseasels"?


Anyhow, they are not bad, out of the box, at speeds over thirty-five SMPH, but for slower speeds, it will require break-in, just not as much as previous Bachpersonn SPECTRUM releases.

I, too, find the blue wires, annoying.  They also appear delicate, and I wonder it they will stand up to careful handling.  The wires to the plug on the WKW 0-8-0 will not.  I have one of those on which I am going to have to learn how to do an EBIT/Erie Chris DCC wiring removal and rearranging.  Oh well, I have learned how to do more than one thing in this hobby because the choices were:  parts box, shelf/yard queen or useful locomotive/rolling stock/building.

This one is certainly better than the USRA light in performance, though, and it has not even finished its break-in.  I would buy another one, at this point, even if it is a pricey animal.  I suspect that much of the price differential comes in the decoder, that you get whether you want it, or not. 

I, for one, am not going to get upset over the decoder.  At this point, DCC is beyond what I want from my trains.  But, I think back to a time when MT and other knuckle couplers were beyond what I wanted.  By the time I had noticed that manufacturers were starting to get away from Rapidos, I had accumulated quite a collection of items that required conversion.  It took time, as well as several outlays of funds.  Thus, applying the lesson learned, I will accept, and pay for, the decoders now.  If I get to a point where I want DCC, all that will be necessary would be to put the locomotives onto a programming track and programme them.  B-mann has stated, be it directly or indirectly, that future SPECTRUM releases will have the 'smart' decoder.  The vapourware decapod was supposed to be the first, but this one turned out to be the first, instead.  I suspect that other manufacturers will soon do similar.

Test-running them before shipping is not a bad idea, given some of the recent steam disasters (or if not disasters, at least 'somewhat-less-than-superb).  That IS excellent customer service.  Kudos and recommendations to ya'. (Not affiliated with referenced business, but have ordered from and satisfied with experience).

[Mark5]

I, for one, am not going to get upset over the decoder.  At this point, DCC is beyond what I want from my trains.

I've all but decided that I will keep all my steam DC. Although I can clearly see advantages for DCC in diesels (consisting, light control) for steam I don't see the advantage yet. My layout will be set up such that I can run either or ... (for now it's all DC)

[Ryan87]

over forty years after similar occurred in Canada (was it 1963, there?  I seem to remember that year for some reason)

November 06, 1960; Canadian Pacific ran the last regular steam powered train on a Canadian class one. However several logging/mining railways kept running steam up to the early 1970's.

If only CPR steam wasn't so hard to model, I'd be in there like a dirty shirt.

[bsoplinger]

Along with watching the rods moving as the loco chug-chugs along, sound is a nice addition. I've put the loksound mini, tsunami mini and soundtraxx LC-090 in steam, Kato mikado, Kato mikado with GHQ PRR conversion and the Bachmann 4-8-2 (the el cheapo on that can be had for 50ish on eBay). I've also done a few of using the inexpensive MRC decoder but not for myself

N-scale sound is a bit anemic sound wise but even the cheap MRC 'steam' (talk about a generic decoder) adds a nice touch, but the chuga-chuga from the small speaker really adds to that just stare at it and watch it go roundy-round thing steam just seems to do so well at.

[wm3798]

I have one N scale steamer, and it's a nice novelty, but the idea of building an entire fleet of tea kettles is a bit daunting.  I'm also not sure if I could achieve the desired effect in N scale.

Adding sound in N scale to smaller steam is next to impossible, and the resulting tinny effect is less than satisfactory.  Also, even with sound, the key visual element of smoke and steam is non-existent.

I've started a small collection of HO scale steam (for use at the Delmarva Club) and I like the visual, although still lacking the cinders in the eye effect.  Sound is more practical and effective in the larger scale.

So, if I were to backdate to the age of steam, I would probably end up switching to a larger scale to better be able to enjoy the effect of flashing siderods and chuffing cylinders.

Lee

[Mark5]

You still gotta use your imagination as steamers emitted steam all over the place (not just the smokestack).

Maybe I'll start a thread about scale rain ... 

[Chulvis]

Maybe I'll start a thread about scale rain ... 

Too funny

[3rdrail]

You still gotta use your imagination as steamers emitted steam all over the place (not just the smokestack).

See the Youtube video I just posted in Railroad News on here. 

[central.vermont]

Maybe I'll start a thread about scale rain ... 

Too funny

I think Tom Mann already did!! ;D ;D ;D
Jon

[Bob Bufkin]

BLW now lists these locos for $152.49.  Not a bad price in my book.

[brokemoto]

I am through with the break-in.  This one is a winner.  Buy it.

[Mark5]

I am through with the break-in.  This one is a winner.  Buy it.

Dang. If I got one I'd have to get it a correct tender. Tempting ... must resist.

[gunner]

I have one N scale steamer, and it's a nice novelty, but the idea of building an entire fleet of tea kettles is a bit daunting.  I'm also not sure if I could achieve the desired effect in N scale.

Adding sound in N scale to smaller steam is next to impossible, and the resulting tinny effect is less than satisfactory.  Also, even with sound, the key visual element of smoke and steam is non-existent.

I've started a small collection of HO scale steam (for use at the Delmarva Club) and I like the visual, although still lacking the cinders in the eye effect.  Sound is more practical and effective in the larger scale.

So, if I were to backdate to the age of steam, I would probably end up switching to a larger scale to better be able to enjoy the effect of flashing siderods and chuffing cylinders.

Lee

Lee you don't run smokey Alco's either? ;D

Bob

[railspike55]

Just sent an order to ..
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/NProducts2.asp?Scale=N&Item=160S482
scroll down to the end.

they listed them as 129.99    I hope these are not mis priced.


Ron N.

[Mark5]

Crap - nobody has pointed out on the A-forum that this has an incorrect tender for N&W. Guess I'll have to dig up my password and get back on there .... :