The Bachmann Sound Value HO scale Norfolk & Western Class J 4-8-4 models one of the most famous steam locomotives in North Amerida. Watch no. 611 as she chuffs along the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy main line with a railfan special in tow.
Video: Bachmann Trains HO Sound Value Class J 4-8-4
By Angela Cotey | November 20, 2017
| Last updated on February 11, 2021
The HO scale steam locomotive features a SoundTraxx Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder
The whistle sounds like hell and you shouldn’t have to do that much work to a $400+ locomotive to get it to run smoothly and STILL have binding in the running gear (read the print review). Looks like it still has the “crabbing” problem that the older version had, the tendency to twist itself diagonally to the direction of motion especially at low speeds. I recall there’s a workbench fix involving Kadee washers on the drive axles, but again: this is a >$400 loco, you shouldn’t have to do that.
My Addendum – From American-Rails.com: “First and foremost it always kept its physical plant in top-notch condition, pouring millions annually into maintenance programs. Likewise, it was meticulous about keeping its locomotive fleet and equipment in good running order.”
While the original, working engines may not have been kept up to polished standards, 611 has been restored and is kept to the nice shiny standard that Bachmann depicts. For a workhorse, I suggest another road number. One of these years I hope to have a Powhatan Arrow passenger streamliner passing by my Southern Crescent going
in the opposite direction!
What’s wrong with that whistle?
I am not overly impressed with the sounds coming from this locomotive. The chuffs were kind of tinny, the bell marginally passable; but the whistle was atrocious. It didn’t sound like either a steam whistle or an air horn but something wrong in between.
While the N&W were quite proud of these engines, I don’t think they were as shiny as Bachmann represents. A dusting of Dulcote would make a world of difference.
All in all, not worth the price of admission.