Bachmann 2-6-6-2

davidone Mar 19, 2010

  1. davidone

    davidone TrainBoard Member

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    I can't believe nobody has one yet. How about you shops, take one out of the box and give it a nice run and tell us how it is. Some pics would help also. I wouldd like to buy one but i need some reports first.

    Dave
     
  2. oldrk

    oldrk TrainBoard Supporter

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    Maybe a bit early to ask but I have to wonder if the new tender will be available seperately. Can imagine a half dozen or more projects I could do with them. C&O H-7 with V12 tender.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

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  4. skipgear

    skipgear TrainBoard Member

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    The VC12 that comes with the H-4 is a 4 axle medium length vanderbuilt. The VC16 that came with the Heavy Mountain and available seprate is a 6 axle long vanderbuilt.
     
  5. jmha

    jmha TrainBoard Member

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    Picture is on BLW website today, haven't gotten mine yet.
    [​IMG]
     
  6. oldrk

    oldrk TrainBoard Supporter

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    H-4 with V-16 tender
    [​IMG]

    With V-12 tender

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

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    Ok, I put my glasses on and had another look at the photo of the H-4 and you're right. I wonder if the new tender will available separately? Bachmann is looking after C&O steam fans.
     
  8. skipgear

    skipgear TrainBoard Member

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    A loose quote from one of the Bachmann higher ups....

    C&O fans are very loyal and they buy multiples of whatever is released. More so than any of the western roads.
     
  9. BikerDad

    BikerDad E-Mail Bounces

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    Is this a new large/heavy 2-6-6-2, or is it a re-issue of the lit'l one previously released?
     
  10. skipgear

    skipgear TrainBoard Member

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    It's and earlier version before the last release (H-5). Similar in size, different valve gear and smaller tender. The H-5 was a USRA offering. This is a C&O specific loco.
     
  11. oldrk

    oldrk TrainBoard Supporter

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    Bring on the C&O H-8!!!!!!!!!!

    I never thought of having the Bmann do the H-8!!
     
  12. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

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    Only because all the Santa Fe stuff they've made is ________ (insert adjective of your choice, this is a family board) by comparison.

    If they retooled the 4-8-4 to current Spectrum standards and did the HO 2-10-4 in N I for one would beat a path to their door, not to mention other things, like for instance, a Santa Fe 4-6-4 to the Heavy Mountain standards. UP fans would have done the same if they had done a proper FEF instead of botching up an ATSF northern with a vanderbuilt tender.

    They've earned C&O fans loyalty by releasing quality items that they want, it's up to Bachmann to do the same with other roads if the want loyalty from us too.
     
  13. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    You are absolutely right on on this one, Westfallen; you get customer loyalty when you produce a quality product, and to an extent, they have in their Spectrum line. Their many iterations of the 4-8-4 are an embarrassment and as a Santa Fe modeler I wouldn't get caught with one on my layout...it's silly to expect loyalty from Santa Fe fans UP fans.
    Regards, Otto
     
  14. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    Unfortunately the problem manufacturers have with steamers in particular is the uniqueness of many of them. At least the USRA standard they the can use the 'kill several bird with one stone' approach to amortize tooling faster. Once a manufacturer deviates from that approach, the likelyhood is they will not sell enough units to satisfy the bottom line... making a profit.

    Don't get me wrong... I really hate when a manufacturer plasters a roadname on locomotives or rolling stock just to sell off excess production of a tooling meant for a specific roadname (ConCor' GS4 for instance). There are many who don't care and may even like to see their favorite roadname on a model the prototype didn't have... I'm just not one of them. Though I have begrudgedly accept several items simply to have a 'close-enough' model, it's not what I really would like to do... I'd rather have an actual scale model replica of the prototype in the railroads I model.

    I understand that the costs for tooling have been greatly decreased and the excuse of amortizing tooling costs is not as great... but profit motive is still a big issue... most manufacturers like a nice big return on their investment. In fact... the better the return... the more likely they will gamble on other projects. If B&O and C&O fanatics are loyal... SF, SP, UP & D&RGW fans can be just as loyal... but.. the products have to measure-up to get that loyalty.

    Athearn is now in the third production run of Challengers... both of the D&RGW versions sold out quickly in the first two runs and very likely the UP versions will sell out again in the third run... even a the high MSRP of about $450.00. Walthers has now run the Mallet a couple of times and probably has sold out of the Santa Fe units again. Intermountain has a big hit with the CabForward and is now producing a second run of an engine specifically used by ONE roadname... Southern Pacific. The loyalty will be there if the manufacturers come through with the right product.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 25, 2010
  15. davidone

    davidone TrainBoard Member

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    I am a UP and SF fan and most of my fleet is either one. The Bachmann Northern is just not worth having even after tweaking. I want a FEF but cannot afford brass so i'm hoping somebody makes it in plastic. Bachmann has to learn that in order for us to buy thier product the product has to be worth buying. So far most of the steam locos for western rr's and eastern for that matter have been poor to ok. Step up to the plate Bachmann and we will follow.

    Dave
     
  16. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    H8?

    Is the H8 the 2-6-6-6 Allegheny?

    That would be a natural winner for the eastern railroaders.
     
  17. oldrk

    oldrk TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yes, the H-8 is the 2-6-6-6 allegheny

    [​IMG]
     
  18. skipgear

    skipgear TrainBoard Member

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    Bachmann has done OK on this part, others have not. Walthers Berkshire with it's anemic pulling power is not correct for it's namesake with the sand dome in the wrong position, yet it still sold through 3 releases. The ones that hung around for the closeout pricing were the NKP and Pere Marquete that had the sand dome in the right place. C&O equipment in general sells out quickly. I was just looking for some HO RR hoppers for a customer at our shop. In RTR, only 2 hoppers of any quality available currently, although there are pleny of kits in the form of Bowser and Accurail. He wanted some more of the Athearns that he just bought a few weeks back, they are all gone now.
     
  19. David Leonard

    David Leonard TrainBoard Member

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  20. jdcolombo

    jdcolombo TrainBoard Member

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    Does anyone actually HAVE one of the new H-4s? If so, how do they run? Can the Bachmann DCC decoder easily be replaced with something else? Is there room in the tender for a speaker and sound decoder? Inquiring steamhead minds want to know!

    John C.
     

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