The default whistle, according to the CV chart on the soundtraxx website, is set as a Southern Pacific 6 chime while the SP 4449 whistle is a CV value of 1 and the air horn is a CV value of 2.
christopher peter my experience is that they aren't very strong. (Able to pull 6 or more freight cars up a 2% gradient) Maybe that's true for any steamer outside of BLI and/or brass.
It's not because of their current models, it is an attitude developed from bachmann releasing many, many years of garbage. It wasn't until just recently did their models start getting up to speed on quality standards. The older GS-4 locos were complete and utter rubbish!
Don't go too hard on the slow speed rigidity. Right out of the factory a lot of steam engines will be stiff. Typical break in for a locomotive is 30 minutes each direction slower speed then 30 minutes each direction medium speed then 30 minutes each direction high speed. Lightly lube the motion each direction change.
James, your reviews are fantastic (as are all of your other ones.) I really wish I could plunge right into this hobby but I wouldn't even know where to start. I would suggest making a video on where to begin if you haven't already. If you have, and you happen to see this comment, please let me know where I can find it in your video library!
Sir, I enjoy your reviews of HO model train's. your fair honest and thoughtful. I was led to believe bachman was junk however those 4-8-4 s were impressive considering. The SP road was the one i would purchase. keep me advised thanks
Nice rock formation on the Freedom train run by. It's too bad you don't have any HO scale Daylight passenger cars. I have the KATO N scale Daylight set with GS-4 #4449, both re released. Believe it or not the top headlight known as the mars light really works, even on DC mode. It actually blinks.
It never ceases to amaze, certain "people" seem to being paid to watch reviews that they know they won't like then throw in their ignorance for everyone to see. bassbone52, your comments add exactly nothing, can be safely ignored, or just laughed at.
These GS 4 class locomotives from Bachmann seem less like decent models, I may decide to purchase one of these in the future at some point as the MTH and BLI GS 4 models are too expensive for me at this current moment.
The bell is not quite right due to the 4449 having an "Air Ringer" bell,however,some have said the whistle is incorrect. Its actually the Firemans Whistle being utilized. The more familiar Hancock 6 chime is not used.
Nice review mate. I have a non sound dcc one in daylight colours and my curves are 24 inches but it still seems to derail. What do I need to do to fix this? I appreciate any help thanks
SP 4449 wore that whistle in 1989. She actually wore her regular whistle and that Southern Pacific 6 chime. Look up 4449 arriving at LA Union Station with UP 8444 and 4449 blows her 6 chime.
The Official CRR2000 I think this channel is more about HO scale product reviews. Da Bobs N scale man cave reviews does N scale reviews. James has done a few N scale reviews but no too many.
Most SP engines never burnt coal, most burnt oil. The reason for that wasn't because coal was harder to obtain or wasn't available, but oil was cheaper and oil doesn't create cinders and sparks possible of causing a fire. Thats the main reason a lot of tourist engines in the western US burn oil instead of coal is the risk of starting a fire.
No way is Bachmann Sound Value ever worth $400. I got the 2-8-2 Mikado from Trainworld for $170 the original MSRP was $280 before their sale. The engine I have can pull probably 12 cars max with grades 15 max on a flat surface. Good engines just not worth more than $200.
I don't like the whistle. The running gear between the third driver and forth driver seem odd to me. Like it was not in quarter. They should flow smoothly both up and down. This seemed to bind kinda. That and it may be me but the front pony truck wheels are too small. I mean between the Athearn and bli steamers that have front pony trucks these seem.... Puny. But good video James
TheBrantfordRailfan you get what you pay for. Buy a cheaper plastic product, it will often not be so good. Bachmann has had some good hits, but they are few and far between. Most of bachmann steam has binding. It does affect the operation. Even after a good run in, it still binds. I've been modeling for a long time. And every manufacturer had issues. MTH's decoders don't play well with other DCC systems forcing you to buy their DCS system, and their sounds still sound exactly the same as from 2010. Athearn still uses bulbs. BLI has had some hits and misses with their QC control. But I've had too many bad ones from Bachmann that I will never buy another one from them again.
I'm gonna be honest...I don't like the model. I don't buy anything from Bachmann after my SOU 8099, which sounds like crap. It looks better than these, though. These look too much like plastic, they should work on hiding the plastic look, and a note to bachmann, USE ESU LOKSOUND! I will never buy another Bachmann product, they're cheap, but for a reason, they're bad, as in they look, sound, and run bad. But you did cover a lot of things in the review, so great review.
It is sad that they "manufacturer" do not put smoke units in these beautiful loco's! I personally think it is a sin! I know there are some ppl out there that do not like smoke but that is ONE of the significant features of a steam loco! I added 2 smoke units to my old rivarossi Big Boy. Such a dramatic difference! It is just a shame! Great video jlwii2000
Joe Sanders You could get one from mth that has a smoke unit that you can turn on and off. Bachmann is geared more toward budget friendly people, so that's why none of their engines have more than 8 functions on a decoder & no smoke unit.
The default whistle, according to the CV chart on the soundtraxx website, is set as a Southern Pacific 6 chime while the SP 4449 whistle is a CV value of 1 and the air horn is a CV value of 2.
on which cv code?
224 is BLI I think 115 might be it but not sure
thanks
This seems like a fairly decent model. It really makes you question the irrational hatred of Bachmann in the model railroad sphere.
christopher peter my experience is that they aren't very strong. (Able to pull 6 or more freight cars up a 2% gradient) Maybe that's true for any steamer outside of BLI and/or brass.
It's not because of their current models, it is an attitude developed from bachmann releasing many, many years of garbage. It wasn't until just recently did their models start getting up to speed on quality standards. The older GS-4 locos were complete and utter rubbish!
Yeah
Good looking locos and great review James! Thanks for all the good info and for the nice run by at the end. Cheers, Dan
Don't go too hard on the slow speed rigidity. Right out of the factory a lot of steam engines will be stiff. Typical break in for a locomotive is 30 minutes each direction slower speed then 30 minutes each direction medium speed then 30 minutes each direction high speed. Lightly lube the motion each direction change.
James, your reviews are fantastic (as are all of your other ones.) I really wish I could plunge right into this hobby but I wouldn't even know where to start. I would suggest making a video on where to begin if you haven't already. If you have, and you happen to see this comment, please let me know where I can find it in your video library!
Not bad, Bachmann is going good with their newer engines!
Sir, I enjoy your reviews of HO model train's. your fair honest and thoughtful. I was led to believe bachman was junk however those 4-8-4 s were impressive considering. The SP road was the one i would purchase. keep me advised thanks
O
9mmmo.ol.ollom.mom.p.0moloml
.molom.
.
Oml.ommopllmol
mlo.ol90mopollpoloolo.l.mlMlmlolm0ooomom.o.m.omol
ommo..omollo.
.lo.o.omo.o.m.lmp
M
ooo.pmoom
l
Omp.llomlo.oo.llo.mpolp.omlo.lml.p.o.lo.mmolo.l.
o.l0mlomol
mo.l0ompol.lmolomlo.lp.moo.
0o.moolpmm
olo.lo..ol90moo.l.
.m.o9om.ml0o.lm.loo.bo.ol..momoo.l
om.op
o.m
L
Bmoolmo.mml.moo.oolmo.oml.o
ol.mLobrigado .omo.lomllom..pl0o.lmo.o
om.
4449 is my favorite train!
4449 is my 2nd favorite train. Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway (SP&S) E-1 4-8-4 Northern # 700 is my most favorite train.
Do these also have the air horn as a sound option like the real 4449? Also with a reading of 2.4, how many cars are you able to pull? Thanks!
Great job on the review I like the positive reviews that you always give to TH-cam great job. Casey Fitzgerald 4449
Nice rock formation on the Freedom train run by. It's too bad you don't have any HO scale Daylight passenger cars. I have the KATO N scale Daylight set with GS-4 #4449, both re released. Believe it or not the top headlight known as the mars light really works, even on DC mode. It actually blinks.
It never ceases to amaze, certain "people" seem to being paid to watch reviews that they know they won't like then throw in their ignorance for everyone to see. bassbone52, your comments add exactly nothing, can be safely ignored, or just laughed at.
These GS 4 class locomotives from Bachmann seem less like decent models, I may decide to purchase one of these in the future at some point as the MTH and BLI GS 4 models are too expensive for me at this current moment.
how did you control the whistle the bell and all those noises, just curious
Zidthekidtv M DCC
The whistle is appropriate. During the AFT 4449 used a different whistle.
Thank you for the review
Didn't Bachmann update the chassie design to be non-split chassie?
You need some AFT and some Daylight cars
Does the horn work
Have you done a review on the WarBaby GS4?
Air horn ?
The bell is not quite right due to the 4449 having an "Air Ringer" bell,however,some have said the whistle is incorrect. Its actually the Firemans Whistle being utilized. The more familiar Hancock 6 chime is not used.
What controller do you use for this loco
Nice review mate. I have a non sound dcc one in daylight colours and my curves are 24 inches but it still seems to derail. What do I need to do to fix this? I appreciate any help thanks
I have a question for you all. This Bachmann with the sound. Can it run on DC as well?
CSX2057 yes
Yes I had both a dcc w/ sound and w/o sound and they both worked on my dc and dcc layout
Does BLI make these locomotives anymore?
For parts and all the above
Your not get any luck for getting a new gs4 Bachmann does not make them no more…
Is there anyway to program in the correct whistle to the factory decoder?
Does anyone know a good video based on this prototype (AFT)?
Leonard Whalen. The. AFT is the 4449 in 1976
what is this place
I believe the whistle for this model is prototypical for the time of the AFT, but I'm not sure
SP 4449 wore that whistle in 1989. She actually wore her regular whistle and that Southern Pacific 6 chime. Look up 4449 arriving at LA Union Station with UP 8444 and 4449 blows her 6 chime.
I think the side rods on the fireman side are in the wrong position. (Compare to the real sp4449)
is this the same as the bachmann western pacific model?
Great video like always
so its the same model as they did in the 90's but with DCC sound and no smoke
Brian Berthold compared to dc, this looks much better
Amazing
Look like Bachmann will run this old tooling forever.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
It's been broke a long long time. I can't believe the price they charge for this POS.
What exactly is so bad about it? Seriously, tell me why it's broke, or why it's a POS
James is the drive of the loco ran off of the motor with a worm gear or is it ran with a band like the older runs of these locos had back in the day?
worm gear.
What is 2.4 means like how many cars it could pull?
12:08
Pretty cool video. LJL
can you do more N scale reviews?
The Official CRR2000 I think this channel is more about HO scale product reviews. Da Bobs N scale man cave reviews does N scale reviews. James has done a few N scale reviews but no too many.
6 chime, not bad
Definitely on my Christmas wishlist
Third, love the vids! Keep it up! Second person
Hey jlwii2000 i have western Pacific gs64 4-8-4 cab number 485
I want the AFT. I already have the Daylight, but with the large billboard lettering on the tender, and no sound.
Does daylight run on coal and water
Lavette Lee it used to fueled by water and coal but when they made it into an excursion train they converted it to oil
SP GS-4 was built to run on Oil and Water never coal.
Lavette Lee no they were used out on the west coast where coal is short so they used oil
Most SP engines never burnt coal, most burnt oil. The reason for that wasn't because coal was harder to obtain or wasn't available, but oil was cheaper and oil doesn't create cinders and sparks possible of causing a fire. Thats the main reason a lot of tourist engines in the western US burn oil instead of coal is the risk of starting a fire.
Lavette Lee it ran on bunker oil
I love you so much
No way is Bachmann Sound Value ever worth $400. I got the 2-8-2 Mikado from Trainworld for $170 the original MSRP was $280 before their sale. The engine I have can pull probably 12 cars max with grades 15 max on a flat surface. Good engines just not worth more than $200.
Douglas Schultz I find it’s easier to get the non sound but then buy a Tsunami 2 sound decoder as it will be better sound and more sound options.
I don't like the whistle. The running gear between the third driver and forth driver seem odd to me. Like it was not in quarter. They should flow smoothly both up and down. This seemed to bind kinda. That and it may be me but the front pony truck wheels are too small. I mean between the Athearn and bli steamers that have front pony trucks these seem.... Puny. But good video James
The whistle is wrong for the locomotive in both cases, and the running gear bind is typical for Bachmann
TheBrantfordRailfan you get what you pay for. Buy a cheaper plastic product, it will often not be so good. Bachmann has had some good hits, but they are few and far between. Most of bachmann steam has binding. It does affect the operation. Even after a good run in, it still binds. I've been modeling for a long time. And every manufacturer had issues. MTH's decoders don't play well with other DCC systems forcing you to buy their DCS system, and their sounds still sound exactly the same as from 2010. Athearn still uses bulbs. BLI has had some hits and misses with their QC control. But I've had too many bad ones from Bachmann that I will never buy another one from them again.
You must have bad luck, i have had nothing but good experiences with them
TheBrantfordRailfan good for you, I don't give a crap. You want a wooden spoon to stir your pot?
I'm gonna be honest...I don't like the model. I don't buy anything from Bachmann after my SOU 8099, which sounds like crap. It looks better than these, though. These look too much like plastic, they should work on hiding the plastic look, and a note to bachmann, USE ESU LOKSOUND! I will never buy another Bachmann product, they're cheap, but for a reason, they're bad, as in they look, sound, and run bad.
But you did cover a lot of things in the review, so great review.
It is sad that they "manufacturer" do not put smoke units in these beautiful loco's! I personally think it is a sin! I know there are some ppl out there that do not like smoke but that is ONE of the significant features of a steam loco! I added 2 smoke units to my old rivarossi Big Boy. Such a dramatic difference! It is just a shame!
Great video jlwii2000
Joe Sanders You could get one from mth that has a smoke unit that you can turn on and off. Bachmann is geared more toward budget friendly people, so that's why none of their engines have more than 8 functions on a decoder & no smoke unit.
I understand that. I just remember back in the day everything had smoke in it. I guess I am really getting old?? LOL