More exciting news about Bachmann K4

[chicken45]

Here's the tl;dr version:



YO!

[peteski]

Here's the tl;dr version:



YO!

Whoa!  That ship is full of a$$hats!!

[delamaize]

Last report from me. Went back over to Bachman's boot, they didn't have a chance to change it over to the three chime whistle, so no dice there. The rep assured me that it was a correct 3 time whistlethough.

 I did get a chance to run the throttle a little on the k4. Slow speed performance is on par with their other newer locomotives, lIke the 2-6-0, and 4-6-0. Even with the non adjusted cv2 is still crawls out at a decent speed. Power seem pretty good, although they only had five cars behind it. Top speed is very reasonable, maybe even close to prototypical. Very very smooth, I was highly impressed.

The sound is as expected from any N scale sound decoder, but it is on par, if not better, than some of the other offerings out there. Overall with a short period of time I got to spend with her I am impressed. I may even buy one, even though I'm not a SPF.

I also would like to end my post this time with a few comments. People were criticizing the Bachmann locomotive right off the bat, but I'll tell you what some of the best steam locomotives I own are bachmann. Yes the quality control sucks and I called the representative out on this, he told me the quality control will continue to get better over time. They are making some changes. So as of this moment I am the only one here who has had any experience with the k4. Until others know otherwise what I say should be considered the best perspective on what does locomotives is capable of with the limited knowledge we have. And I'm saying it's a good locomotive and you guys will not be disappointed.

With that I think John should lock this thread. No more really needs to be said and tell locomotives are in hand.

[davefoxx]

And I think we banned you for a while

Haha!!! Now THAT'S funny.

DFF

[John]

OK ..

[Dave V]

Haha!!! Now THAT'S funny.

DFF

And true...   

I don't remember what the specific offense was, but I do remember I pushed well past the generous boundaries here.  It was also my last banning...I learned my lesson!

[mmagliaro]

I went to the Bachmann booth today as well.  I asked the Bachmann rep if I could run the K4 so I could scrutenize how well it ran and creeped.  He let me.  (So he scored a point right there.)

It runs well.  I'd call it "very very good", but not great.   
In fact, most engines I have bought did not run this well out of the box, except
for Kato, Atlas, or IM diesels.   I'd say the Spectrum 2-8-0 or Kato Mikado are a bit better, but not much.

Start up from a stand-still was even with no jack-rabbit jerk in the slightest, and it could maintain
a slow speed, definitely under 5 mph, with uniform, even driver rotation.  It ran around curves and over
turnouts with smooth motion and tracking.  It's a good-running engine.

He had no cars on it at the time, so I have no idea how it pulls. 
It has no traction tires, by the way.

----------------
So why do I call it good but not great?

After playing with this one, I went over and played with an FEF at the Kato booth.   
Even though the K4 runs good, it is not in the same league as the FEF. 
The FEF starts and crawls with a silky perfection that is simply stunning.  (I have never been able to
run one of these before). 

The K4 is a good looking and good running engine.  But I don't think it merits its price. 

----------------------
So there.  No bashing, just my opinion after running and comparing it.  And I did run it first-hand.
I also presume that I was running a very good example of one, because the Bachmann rep wouldn't
let me play with a "klunker".

[John]

Max .. I wonder if the performance would improve once its broken in properly?

[tom mann]

Can we stop the "what if" games?  I'm sure someone will throw it in my face some day. 

[Bob Bufkin]

BLW, Feather River and some other sites now have the K-4 and GG1s listed.

[basementcalling]

And the newly tooled Kato electric toaster and Am fleet cars. And at a decent discount at BLW as always

Sarcasm on

How long before freight modelers start complaining that N scale manufacturers make too much passenger equipment? 

Sarcasm off.

I wish there were some new freight engines coming out.

Ducking

[tom mann]

And at a decent discount at BLW as always

Same price at Chuck's:

http://www.featherrivertrains.com/cgi-bin/webstore/shop.cgi?ud=CAcPDAQABwECABQUEhARHQANAgkBAAMHBAgSEAAA&storeid=1&sortby=itemid&cols=1&c=search.htm&categories=010001-041019-042023

[peteski]

Can we stop the "what if" games?  I'm sure someone will throw it in my face some day. 

Now that was funny!   

[jdcolombo]

I ordered one from BLW, which has delivery estimated in September.  The reports from the show are good enough and this is another of those iconic steamers that one just ought to have.  I'll put it on NKP train 6 now and then.

Looking forward to putting it through it's paces.  I hope Bachmann sells a zillion of them, and decides that a Hudson would be a great sibling.

John C.

[Joetrain59]

Ordered my K4, 1361 from BLW.
 Bman doing a G? Didn't hear about that before, but mentioned in e-mail from BLW I got just a while ago.
 Yes! NYC Hudson next please.
 Joe D