Bachmann H16-44

[sirenwerks]

Any opinions on these locos in terms of running and prototypicalness? I see a certain seller has them at bargain basement prices, making it worth the repainting I'd have to give them. What phase is the Bachmann model?

[asarge]

We've sold a total of 5. One came back dead out of the box. We tested the others. Noisier than the Atlas ones. They ran pretty smooth but the crawling speed is not all that good.

[Mark5]

Some info here:

http://therailwire.net/forum/index.php/topic,12249.0.html

It's a decent model for the money. I hate the now standard Bachmann three pole motor, though I can get it to coggily go slow with a fancy smancy power pack (DC!).

Otherwise, it's a pretty decent representation of the Phase III carbody, which Atlas snubbed for some reason ...  :
Robbman:

Ph IIIb to be exact... Ph IIIa's have the earlier radiator shutters (VGN has both phases...)

Mark

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I like mine, and its close cousin (mechanically speaking) the B23-7. I wish they had DCC installed, though i suspect that will come at some point. They run well enough but not as smooth as Atlas. The shell is actually pretty nice but the fueltank is just a black blob of metal.

[wm3798]

What an embarrassing collection of spelling errors!

Sadly the story doesn't have a happy ending.  As fate would have it, the motor in 9743 developed a short, and the H-16 died an untimely death.  But its bones were put to good use...



Lee

[sirenwerks]

Lee,

In a past post you said you wanted to get more when your wife started making more money. Did you change your mind on that idea? Be honest, I'll know enough to wait for the Atlas models to go on sale then. I don't want shelf Bettys though.

[wm3798]

Well, I can say that I enjoyed it while it lasted, and I know of many others who are happy with theirs.  The main strikes against it are typical Bachmann quality control, an absolutely stupid coupler conversion, and anemic pulling power.  If you've got <$40 to gamble, it's not a bad deal.  But if you have $80, get one Atlas instead of two Bachmanns.  Just sayin.

Lee

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Arn't the Atlas units totally different carbodies than the Bachmann?

[wm3798]

Yes.  I believe the Atlas version is an earlier carbody with the sloopy doopy step guards and what not.

[SkipGear]

At least for me, the Bachmann is the better choice because it matches more of the B&O loco's. B&O did have both versions but only 2 of the phase that Atlas produced. Atlas has released them in both paint schemes that they wore and has now finished out what they can do with the body they have. The Atlas version with the early scheme that I would need are long gone so the Bachmann is my only choice at this time. If I remember, the Bachmann has a narrower hood also....I think Mark (N&W) did a comparison at one point.

Both versions are too late for me either way, being built in 1952-57 so it won't get run much. The Bachmann is just fine in this case.

[SkipGear]

Oh, and the coupler conversion....

[Sokramiketes]

I don't want shelf Bettys though.

Not to ask the obvious question, but who ran these through Mason City?

[Puddington]

I'm a big fan of these. They are very close to the CLC built models for CPR (not perfect but much closer than Atlas models) and they can pull the teeth out of your head. I run a two or three unit lash up and they will pull fifty cars at a wonderful slow speed in DC. They growl....now normally that wouldn't be good, but in my opinion, running without a sound unit, the "growl" actually adds to the effect; they sound like their opposed piston engines will blow up at any second....LOL

[Mark5]

Pudd,

Nice paint on those - I always thought the FMs looked great in that scheme.

Mark

[sirenwerks]

Not to ask the obvious question, but who ran these through Mason City?

They were assigned to various lines in Iowa on the Milwaukee. There's a pic (actually two, but of the same plow train) of a unit in the MS Mason City book, as proof they showed up there at least once. I'll repeat this yet again for the record, I don't plan on faithfully modeling Mason City, but will base my layout on Mason City - it will not feature the real or even a falsely named Mason City on it, anywhere, period. I want to allow myself wiggle room and those who find that discomforting can build their own layout.