New Bachmann GP7 images...

[Robbman]

I may be wrong, but I believe the seam represents the tank of a passenger unit. Such units had water on one side of the tank, and fuel in the other.

Frank

Not for a GP7.  The water tanks on a 800g fuel/800g water tank equipped GP7 are two 400g water tanks on each side of a 800g fuel tank.




See how the sides of the tank are flatter and deeper... that's the water tank for that side.









 

[David Leonard]

I think the Bachmann price reductions simply reflect the fact that they've upgraded some of their diesel models (DCC on board, working knuckle couplers) and are getting rid of the older models in stock. The H16-44 and B23-7 are available cheap, but once these are gone, I figure the next upgraded runs will be back up there in price. Maybe there will even be an upgraded retooled SD45, although it may take a long time to sell out current stock. The GP7 doesn't need to be upgraded very soon, so I'd be surprised if we see a dramatic price reduction. Also, the newer Bachmann's are being sold by many dealers on a reservation basis, and I'm wondering if this represents a change in Bachmann's marketing strategy.

[MichaelWinicki]

I think the Bachmann price reductions simply reflect the fact that they've upgraded some of their diesel models (DCC on board, working knuckle couplers) and are getting rid of the older models in stock. The H16-44 and B23-7 are available cheap, but once these are gone, I figure the next upgraded runs will be back up there in price. Maybe there will even be an upgraded retooled SD45, although it may take a long time to sell out current stock. The GP7 doesn't need to be upgraded very soon, so I'd be surprised if we see a dramatic price reduction. Also, the newer Bachmann's are being sold by many dealers on a reservation basis, and I'm wondering if this represents a change in Bachmann's marketing strategy.

I see modeltrainstuff.com has a fresh stock of Bachmann SD45's with the Rapido couplers... For about $25 each.

[mcjaco]

In case yall think the comparison is unfair....
b-mann does not offer a DC version.

how can the b-mann be a beginner's offering ?
are we expecting a price drop ?

DCC less that $90?  Sounds like a beginner offering to me. 

[brokemoto]

Wow- all I need to do is come up with a P&E logo 'patch' kit to cover the bogus number, renumber the loco correctly on the short hood and voila'- a correct P&E freight GP7.  BTW, they had passenger GP7s but they were painted gray and not black.
Bruce

The Edson/Vail book has a photograph of #5625.  It is a three/quarter view from the long hood, so you can not see the road number on the short hood.  You can see the P&E herald on the short hood.  It is difficult to tell the color from the photograph, as it is B/W.  There were some DRSP-4s that were black, but if you state that the P&E's were grey, I would believe you.  The only other photograph of a DRSP-4D that I recall seeing, was in fact, of the other one, #5624, which was on a P&LE passenger train with a P&LE DRSP-4G.  The P&LE DRSP-4s were delivered in Grey stripes (the one that had the peculiar paint scheme received it later).  I do not remember the colors of the locomotives, I just remember that it was a P&E because I remember that the herald was on the cab and the large road number on the short hood.

If you know where to find a P&E herald in N scale please let me know.  The B-mann would be an ideal candidate for a simple redecalling.  If you wanted to do an Atlas, you would have to get away with erasing the road name and not damaging the base coat, which could prove difficult.  You might be better off painting and redecalling the Atlas.  If you wanted to do the passenger unit, you would have to paint and redecal, as Atlas sells only the torpedo boat GP-9s in NYC Passenger Grey.

Oddly enough, decalling the stripes is not that difficult.  I have heard it stated that NYCS lightning stripes are supposed to be amoung the most difficult decalling jobs, but I have never had any problems doing it if I used Microscale's sheets.  WM pin stripes, now THAT is a different matter.

[FloridaBoy]

I have already been branded a "Bachmann Basher" on another thread by someone who is entirely clueless about my long history on all of the major forums, but the way I see myself is a loco/steam/diesel guy who just wants every loco to make it, but all too often the good intentions of a particular mfr/distributor just doesn't make the cut.  I have brought 2 myself a little under fire, again with a lot of negative feedback which also includes the Customer Relations function of the two companies of whose locos I attacked. 

I won't go into either one because they both are history now, one has made incredible improvements to their product and the other is way too stubborn and arrogant to even consider it. 

So, I have a lot of mixed thoughts about the new Bachmann Geep.  Sight unseen, on another forum, I mentioned my history of bad luck dealing with Bach/Plus/Spectrum diesels, and frankly the only couple I haven't dumped are a very old F9 department store which is about 30 years old and runs like a queen, and some Dash 9's from the nineties.  Otherwise I have found the Bachmann diesel is a testimony of an overall good intention with poor execution.  For example, I am over 35 years into this hobby, and repair my own stuff, and just by holding a 3-pole and a 5-pole motor in my hand, results in the 3 pole runs hotter and vibrates more, or less smooth. 

But I have seen some 3 pole powered locos run OK, like old Minitrix steamers and some other stuff over the years, so although a little skeptical, I will probably buy one just out of curiosity.  I sure hope I get the level of satisfaction with this loco that I did with the Consolidation when it came out a few years ago.  But again, I think about those wobbly Spectrum F7a/b sets so beautifully packaged and painted which wobbled like the ducks in the pond behind our house, or the Dash 9 which required me to turn on the control throttle all the way up just to get it to move, or the chintzy SD40-2, the lousy J or 4-8-4, or the Bachmann Plus F's with a 90% broken axle trait.  Yet I try to maintain.

These geeps are just darn beautiful, even with the missing items mentioned, but the proof in the pudding is how they run and how long they last both dc and dcc.  You can be guaranteed I will not pay MSRP for this risk. 

Over the years, we older guys have had a love/hate relationship with our geeps.  Early on, Roco/Atlas made a respectable one, but was weak and had finish issues, but seemed to be accurate to scale.  Then in the Kato years, the trolley geep was made by Atlas, I know why, but would prefer to just say that is was "lesson learned", only to be followed in '96 with their current tool made in China.  Great model.  I lost a $20 bet with Calzephyr that this little loco couldn't pull 10 cars on level grade.  I was happy to lose that bet. 

Now we have the Lifelike Geeps starting with the 18, then on to the 20, which we all scarped up for $20 (love those #474's!!!!).  It was quite ironic on one N scale column ad by MB Klein they listed the $20 20 along with a newer issue identical for $59.95.  Shows how a portion of us can be so swayed.

I will promise to buy a Bachmann geep and give it my utmost fair appraisal, and it will be an "emotional" one, not like the surgically impressive evaluations of Spookshow and Victor Miranda. 

In closing, I certainly hope to see these succeed, but instead of Bachmann bash, lets give it a chance.  They all did OK with the doodlebug and little yard diesel, so let's cross fingers, and give Bachmann some props in coming out with a newly tooled loco in this economy. 

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman 

[93cram]

Now that's some really handsome paint scheme  
Wonder why so many bother to look for anything else  ;D

P.S: Ken's words are wise words IMHO

[David Leonard]

I remember the P&E GP's as being black. Ditto for the passenger units (c. 1957).