Life in the fast lane: Bachmann’s HO Acela HHP8 electric passenger locomotive

A nicely detailed HO model of Amtrak’s ultra-modern Alstom/Bombardier HHP8 has been released in Bachmann’s Spectrum line. The ready-to-run model has terrific pulling power and can operate using conventional track power or – just like its real-world counterpart – it can draw current from an overhead catenary system.

Prototype background. Amtrak took delivery of 15 HHP8s from the Alstom/Bombardier consortium between 1998 and 2001. Nicknamed “rhinos” by Amtrak crews, these hard-charging brutes live life in the fast lane – powering Acela Regional trains on Amtrak’s high-speed Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., and Boston.

The 8,000 hp double-ended “motors” (as electric locomotives are called) toil in the shadow of their more-glamorous cousins, the high-speed Acela Express trainsets. However, the regional trains powered by H8s (and by Amtrak’s older AEM7 and AEM7AC rebuilds) remain the backbone of the busy Northeast Corridor services.

New locomotives often have teething troubles, and the high-tech Acela Express and H8s have been no exception. Most of the problems were soon ironed out – but the first months of service were nothing if not eventful.

An Amtrak engineer, who asked that his name not be used, commented, “One thing that drives engineers crazy with both the HHP8s and the Acela Expresses are the ‘ding faults’ (problems detected by the on-board computer and announced by a bell-like signal in the cab). As one guy said, ‘You’re tooling along at 120, enjoying the trip, and suddenly-ding! – you look up and you’ve lost your pantograph.'”

Model construction. The Bachmann Spectrum HHP8 is a great-looking model from its delicately sprung pantographs down to its eye-catching wheel-mounted brake disks. The model is decorated in a beautifully rendered silver-and-blue paint scheme – even the subtle shades of blue in the Acela logo are precisely reproduced. The cab interior is light tan, and an engineer figure sits in the F-end cab.

The cab doors actually open, a fun feature but one that quickly lost its play value for me. The model also has nifty recessed grabs alongside the doors and a full set of separately applied air hoses and m.u. cables on the pilot. Bachmann’s E-Z Mate magnetic knuckle couplers mounted at the proper height on both ends.

The raised rectangular roof-vent cover on top of the model pops off to reveal a printed-circuit board. A socket is provided for installation of a Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder, and the model comes with a jumper plug installed for DC operation. There’s also a sliding switch on the board that changes the pickup from track to catenary. The raised pantograph operates in a range from 18 to 21 scale feet above the rails.

Performance. The model is a smooth runner. It started and ran steadily at 3 mph and topped out at 121 mph, which is just about cruising speed for the real thing. The Bachmann HHP8 is a very heavy model – it tips the scales at 11/2 pounds – and that weight gives it a substantial amount of pulling power. Our sample delivered nearly 6 ounces at the drawbar, which equals 28 free-rolling passenger cars on straight, level track.

The directional light-emitting diode (LED) headlights and ditch lights come on at 2.1 volts and reach full brightness at about 4 volts. The LEDs have a distinctly bluish tint. When the engine is going down the tracks the front headlights are on and the trailing end headlights are off, replaced by illuminated red markers – a neat effect, but they’re normally turned off on an engine coupled to a train.

Bachmann’s new Spectrum HHP8 is a winner, with a first-rate paint job and exceptional performance – no ding faults here! Modelers with an interest in modern Amtrak-corridor passenger operations will definitely want to give this “rhino” a look.

HO Acela HHP8 electric

Price: $148.00

Manufacturer
Bachmann Industries
1400 E. Erie Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19124
www.bachmanntrains.com

Description
Plastic-and-metal ready-to-run
double-ended, heavy electric passenger locomotive

Road names
Amtrak, Acela Express numbers 655, 650, and 664

Features
Cab interior and engineer figure
Die-cast metal chassis
Drawbar pull: 5.92 ounces (28 free-rolling passenger cars on straight, level track)
Eight-wheel or pantograph electrical pickup
Five-pole, skew-wound motor with flywheels
Formed wire grab irons
Locomotive weight: 1½ pounds
Minimum radius: 18″
NMRA RP-25 contour blackened nickel-silver wheels (in gauge)
Reversing light-emitting diode (LED) headlights, ditch lights, and marker lights
Space for a Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder with an eight-pin DCC socket