The Bachmann SD40-2 has landed

[u18b]

TrainWorld scolded me for trying to run an N scale locomotive for 12 consecutive hours, asserting that "tiny N scale motors are not intended for extended use such as this"

-Mark

Haha.  They never heard of Victor Miranda's torture test.   He ran one for what..... 29 days straight?

[Dwight in Toronto]

Haha.  They never heard of Victor Miranda's torture test.   He ran one for what..... 29 days straight?

I’m willing to bet that Victor did NOT accomplish that with a Bachmann though!

[peteski]

I’m willing to bet that Victor did NOT accomplish that with a Bachmann though!

Well  actually I think it was either a Life-Like or Model Power steam loco model.  Back then neither company was held in high regard.

It is really sad that the Atlas forum shut down (and didn't stay online in read-only mode).  A lot of good info was lost.

[Missaberoad]

It is really sad that the Atlas forum shut down (and didn't stay online in read-only mode).  A lot of good info was lost.

https://web.archive.org/web/20160116080039/http://forum.atlasrr.com/

[peteski]

https://web.archive.org/web/20160116080039/http://forum.atlasrr.com/

That's a blast from the past - thanks!  I guess I didn't realize that the complete forum (with its underling software) could be preserved.  Unfortunately its search feature is not working, so it will be difficult to locate some specific threads.

[Missaberoad]

That's a blast from the past - thanks!  I guess I didn't realize that the complete forum (with its underling software) could be preserved.  Unfortunately its search feature is not working, so it will be difficult to locate some specific threads.

And it also appears to be incomplete, but at least it's something

[peteski]

And it also appears to be incomplete, but at least it's something

True.

[Mark5]

Unfortunately its (old Atlas forum on archivce.org) search feature is not working, so it will be difficult to locate some specific threads.

^this^

I've been aware of the archived version for some years, but without the search function it is basically useless (unless you have endless amounts of time to fish around).

Mark

[daniel_leavitt2000]

TrainWorld scolded me for trying to run an N scale locomotive for 12 consecutive hours, asserting that "tiny N scale motors are not intended for extended use such as this"

-Mark

I'm not sure why running for 12 hours at a steady speed would differ from 12 hours of intermittent operation over several weeks. Can you replace the Econami board with an ESU decoder? I am would like to know if the failure is with the DCC board or the motor.

[peteski]

I'm not sure why running for 12 hours at a steady speed would differ from 12 hours of intermittent operation over several weeks. Can you replace the Econami board with an ESU decoder? I am would like to know if the failure is with the DCC board or the motor.

I would find it a fun project to try doing a postmortem on that model (yes, I'm volunteering if Mark still hasn't tossed it in a trash bin). 

[spookshow]

I haven't sent it back yet (still waiting for a return authorization), but it cost me a pretty penny ($250) and I would like to recoup that expenditure.

I will see if I can find a Next18 decoder in one of my other locos and try plugging it into the Bachmann.

-Mark

[basementcalling]

I haven't sent it back yet (still waiting for a return authorization), but it cost me a pretty penny ($250) and I would like to recoup that expenditure.

I will see if I can find a Next18 decoder in one of my other locos and try plugging it into the Bachmann.

-Mark

Now that's dedication to his calling. I voted long ago never to buy another Bachmann engine that I couldn't test run first.

[Mark5]

I voted long ago never to buy another Bachmann engine that I couldn't test run first.

This was my policy on ALL locos, until there were no more local hobby shops to do this in (Baltimore  ).

Mark

[spookshow]

I don't think there's a hobby shop in the world that'll let you test run a locomotive for 12 hours 

-Mark

[randgust]

Looking at the chassis, it looked to me that the motor was an afterthought.  Hmm, decoder, capacitor, speaker.... oh, yeah, we still need to put in a motor somewhere too.... have anything small enough handy?

I've had a couple more recent products, and other than shell casting glitches that are painfully obvious, the running qualities weren't half bad at all.   But I'm a DC guy, so the first thing that happens to Bachmann is that decoder is pulled out and sold and rewired for straight DC (listen for gasp...).  My transistor throttles DO NOT get along well with those one little bit.

But what you don't know for sure yet (Mark) is what crapped out - is it the motor or the decoder?

Say what you want about Kato, they have held up on me under constant use way better than anything else out there.     One of my maxims about N scale in general is that you only notice some of the details if it is stalled, not moving, or in the display case as a shelf queen.