I have a chance to pick up a couple Bachmann H16-44 for a good price. I am looking for any infromation on these engines...If flywheeled,how they run, are they worth put DCC in them.etc. I have checked Spookshow ,but I am looking for infromation from someone that uses them on thier layout.....Thanks, Jim
I have a couple of these. Don't recall any flywheels, and I certainly wouldn't say they glide to a stop. They're also a little loud...nothing real bad, just not whisper quiet like some of the newer products available. As for the positives: they're fairly heavy for their size and will pull a decent amount, run pretty smooth, and can usually be found at a good price. DCC wasn't hard, just took a little soldering. I liked the first one enough to get a second, but some of that was certainly because of the price.
Hi, I have one I painted up for the New Haven: I had some initial problems with it -- loose connections -- but I fixed that up and it runs well. I use it mainly for hauling short local freights, so I have never pushed it very hard and it isn't an exact duplicate of the model the New Haven ran. But I like the overall feel of it and it you couldn't beat the price.
I have one in the CP livery and have had no issues with it. Don't know about DCC since I don't run DCC. Overall a nice loco and reflects Bmanns improvement in their newer diesels. I don't know how this compares to the Atlas version since I wanted a CP unit at the time and only Bmann made one. The only thing I don't like is the oversized coupler which at some point I will replace.
Hi! I own a handful of them and another handful of the technical similar B23-7. The early versions had some problems with the two wipers from the pcb to the frame holding electrical contact. In the later versions is this problem cured since Bachmann added a new fixing to the pcb. They all run great from out of the box and even better after a large break in. With decoders inside they improved a lot more. Some were a bit noisy while the rest was reasonably quiet (ok, not a Kato!). The noise was caused by vibration resonances between body and shell and was easyly fixed with some foam and tape. Regards Mathi
I have four of them, 3 N&W and one B&O. IMHO they are excellent value for the price, never had problems with them The noise is partly caused by pulse modulated current, if I switch to plain DC the noice is reduced. This is similar to the E&R Baldwin Sharknoses, they might use a similar motor. The engines don't have a flywheel, but it is not missed too much. I converted mine to MTL 2004 couplers instead of the rigid knuckles they came with, it is not smaller but works properly.
Thanks for all the help...I am picking up two in CP colors for $40.00 each and will put DCC in them.....Jim
