A real American. Locomotives of the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement were named “American” because in the mid-1800s they were the most prevalent type in the United States, as well as one of the
longest-lived. With four drive wheels to provide adhesion and to support a larger firebox, as well as a four-wheel front bogie to stabilize and guide the locomotive into curves and turnouts, the 4-4-0 design solved many of the problems of earlier, smaller steam locomotives. It was particularly adept at achieving relatively high speeds on light track. Dozens of builders made about 29,000 “Eight-Wheelers” in the nine decades following the model’s introduction in 1836.
The need for bigger boilers and fireboxes led railroads to look beyond the 4-4-0 design by the turn of the 20th century. But even as larger locomotives took over America’s main lines, 4-4-0s continued to pull their weight on branch lines and other secondary jobs. Builders kept making them through the 1920s, and older Eight-Wheelers were modernized with new boilers, brake gear, and other equipment. A handful of the newer models stayed on the job through World War II. Bachmann’s model represents one of these modernized 4-4-0s, built by Baldwin in the 1880s and upgraded in the early 20th century.
In the sometimes 50-year lifespans of these doughty locomotives, many were rebuilt several times. This could account for the Bachmann model having a conical boiler wider than the straight one in the builder’s diagram. Other discrepancies such as the driver spacing can’t be as easily dismissed. These models should therefore be taken as representations of typical locomotives, not accurate models of particular prototypes.
That aside, the rendering of details on this locomotive is top-of-the-line. Wire and plastic handrails and piping are impressively thin, well-formed, and firmly affixed. The cab features a detailed backhead, opening windows, and painted engineer and fireman figures. Included in the box are replacement boiler domes, spoked pilot wheels, a straight stack, and two variant pilots for those wishing to customize their model.
The paint job is just as good. The green paint on the boiler is smooth and even, as is that on the graphite smokebox and red cab roof. The tiny Baldwin builder’s plate on the smokebox is legible under extreme magnification – nice!
Though Baldwin built the class B-14 4-4-0s in 1882, our sample model represents a later, modernized version. The smokebox plate denotes a 1906 boiler replacement; the Westinghouse cross-compound air pump was a late addition; and the GN’s front-facing “Rocky” herald wasn’t introduced until 1923.
The model is powered by a can motor, linked via a V-belt, driveshaft, and worm gear to the forward driver axle. Power is transferred to the rear driver by the side rods. Also attached to the motor is a cam that synchronizes the sound decoder’s engine chuffs to the wheel revolutions.
Wipers conduct track power from all four drivers. The forward tender truck picks up electricity from the left rail, while the trailing truck does so from the right. All four of the lead truck’s blackened metal wheels are insulated.
The decoder is housed in the tender, along with the speaker, which faces down from the bottom. This means six wires lead from the underside of the cab to the tender, but the hinged metal apron helps hide them from view.
The locomotive ran like a dream under DCC. It started out smoothly at speed step 1, with the engine chuffs perfectly synchronized. You can easily program configuration variable (CV) 25 to select a speed curve that best fits your preferred method of operation.
Under DC, realistic idle sounds began at just over 5 volts (V), but as the voltage increased, the locomotive started making noises as if it were to move – then stopped and restarted, repeatedly. It
occurred using two different modern power packs. The manual suggests
adjusting CV63, the Analog Mode Starting Voltage, but this didn’t fix it.
The locomotive’s sounds evened out at 6.5V, with the automatic whistle, bell, and steam chuff signaling the start of motion. However, the locomotive didn’t actually start moving until 7V, at which point the sound decoder was emitting the rapid, staccato chuffs of a locomotive tearing down the track at full throttle. Under DC, engine sounds are regulated by voltage, not the motor cam. By adjusting CV116 – the Auto Exhaust Rate – I slowed this sound effect down to a realistic four chuffs per wheel revolution.
A sound choice. With DCC and realistic sound, this locomotive is a boon to HO scale modelers of the early 20th century. Bachmann would be smart to start rolling out additional road names. I can’t wait for a Pennsylvania RR version (with Belpaire firebox, please).
Manufacturer
Bachmann Trains
1400 E. Erie Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19124
bachmanntrains.com
Road names: Great Northern, Baltimore & Ohio, Seaboard, Southern Ry.
Era: 1900s to 1930s (GN version 1923)
Features
- Chemically blackened RP-25 metal wheels, in gauge
- Cog V-belt drive
- E-Z Mate Mark II magnetic knuckle couplers, mounted at correct height
- Five-pole, skew-wound
- can motor
- Interchangeable domes, pilots, and trucks
- Light-emitting-diode headlight
- Removable fuel bunker
- SoundTraxx dual-mode DCC sound decoder
- Weight: 9.75 ounces, 7.25 ounces (engine only)
This is a very useful model but I am surprised that you do not mention one design flaw with this and the Baldwin 4-6-0. The rather stiff cable comes vertically out of the bottom of the tender and plugs vertically into the bottom of the loco beneath the cab. This creates a loop of cable which fouls anything between the rails, e.g. uncoupling magnets, or when passing through turnouts. It also tends to lift and derail the tender front truck. This contrasts with the more practical horizontal connection provided with the P2K switchers or my BLI PRR H10s, for example. It is puzzling, as Bachmann Europe provide a neat horizontal cable link on all their British outline locos. As the Spectrum 4-4-0s and 4-6-0s seem to be out of production at present perhaps this flaw can be rectified before the next run. It should not be necessary to fiddle with this problem on a $475 loco before you can run it.
Bachmann has really outdone itself with modeling this classic locomotive. I have to say, for Bachmann's defense, that there are very few standardized parts in American steam railroading; so modeling all the variations will be a challange. But, this loco gets 5 stars.
All that have said the price is too high have not checked out Trainworld ($220). My 4-4-0 runs good and the sounds are good except right out of the box they are too low. I tried reprogramming the address with my Digitrax Zephyr and I could not change it. I thought all DCC/sound decoders and DCC command systems have to meet NMRA standards and are compatible. I had no problem reprogramming my Walthers 0-6-0 steam loco with DCC/sound (QSI). Hope I can change the CVs that control the volume.
I purchase three of these from Micro Mark for much less that MSRP. They all run fine after you fix the small things. The biggest problem I have had is with the pilot truck mounting. It does a poor job of tracking and has taken a lot of little adjustments so that it does not derail.
ONE OF THE BEST RUNNING ENGINES IN MY COLLECTION.SOUND IS GREAT,PRICE IS RIGHT.
looks good price too high
Ordered the undecorated DCC/no sound (item 80101) version several weeks ago. The bell was in the bag of extra parts, no mounting hole provided. Oil bunker front piece was missing, and the oil bunker mounting pins do not match the holes left in tender after removing the coal load. Asked the Bach-mann about the missing part and mismatched oil bunker, waiting for reply. No sound sych cam according to the parts list. As Patrick notes above, they can be found for much less than MSRP.
$475 for this locomotive is more than a little steep I thought stuff made in China et al was supposed to be affordable. Have the Asians suddenly realized what the market can bear? As a pensioner this is way beyond my means. Thanks anyway R
Are you sure that the Baldwin 4-4-0 has a sound cam? This would be a first for an HO scale Bachmann locomotive. I doubt that the reviewer got that purported fact correct. Nothing in Bachmann's literature supports that comment.
Prices are getting into the stratasphere.
My eyes and ears tell me that there is no sync between the chuff and driver movement. Certainly, this loco should not have slipped through with this serious flaw.
Way too much money for a Bachman engine!!!
And of course, it's not right as usual.
rr
There is way too much PRR stuff out there already. A belpaire firebox would make what is now a fairly generic locomotive into something usable for mostly one road, the PRR. If Bachmann did something to that engine, I'd rather see one with a vintage wheel base offered, with the rear driver axle directly under the cab.
And….. these 4-4-0 boilers would look great on a 2-6-0 mechanism. No one offers an HO 2-6-0 right now.
The reviewed oil-burning 4-4-0 with the 1880's domes, the visored headlight, and the big modern cross-compound air pump… it looks a whole lot like some of the 1900-era-rebuild sugar-cane mill switchers that were down here in Louisiana up until around WW II or so, bumped down to that task in the early 20's or so when the Class I's retired them. I wish that I could get this version undecorated instead of with a green boiler that needs repainting for any road except the GN…. which it does not truly resemble anyway.
And the price ….. it's already at discount houses at prices at 60% of the list price or less. Look around, folks, it's there.
I’m sorry but $425 seems like a bit much for an HO steamer. I’m afraid it will not be appearing on my layout any time soon. The model looks great but the price, but not at that price.
I like it.
Wish it were also available as DCC ready, without sound at a lower price. Looks great! Thanks for the review.
Looks nice, but it seems a bit pricey. A Broadway Limited Imports GS-4 (4-8-4) has a $25 lower list price for their models with sound. Their lights function too.
For $475 it should have working headlights and marker lights. Big oversight by Bachman!