I picked one up for $45 at a train fair, not expecting all that much. Was pleasently blown away and am now kitbashing it to be a DM & IR loco! Much better than buying brass which can be finnicky!
Definitely one of Bachmanns best. The bachmann models is based off of a Illinois Central Railroad 900 class 2-8-0. These were built by Baldwin between 1909 and 1911. Several were rebuilt in 1943 and that is what the bachmann model closely matches to. However to allow the model to be painted for different railroads they changed and moved some details around such as moving the air pump on the side, changing the sand dome and using their usra medium tender. I wish they would make a smaller 2-8-0 model such as Sierra Railroad #28 or New Hope and Ivyland #40 which would work better as a purpose 1920s built short line 2-8-0 as the Bachmann 2-8-0 is a bit too big in my opinion for a 2-8-0 built for a small short line. The 4-6-0 is still my favorite model though. I had a spectrum one a long time back and currently have one of the newer ones and I guess I got a good one as I haven't had any issues apart from not being quite as quite as the old one.
I actually have two of those Spectrum 2-8-0s, lettered as Southern Railway locomotives 630 and 722 respectively. My 630 is a newer one that I got with DCC, and my 722 is an older one that I bought dcc ready and custom fitted a dcc decoder into. They run adequately, but are prone to jerky running due to their belt drives.
Yeah, to be honest, the Bachmann belt drive isn't my favorite. Especially on older examples, the belts can get stiff and cause them to lurch a bit at low speed. A lot of my favorite locos do have the belt drive, but I'd like them even more with normal gear drives.
It’s still one of my favorite engines in my fleet. I installed a Soundtraxx LC-B280 sound decoder and it’s still running strong after all these years. The only thing I had to repair was the connector between the loco and tender. The wires tend to separate from the connector after a lot of use.
I know this video is about the loco but DAMN that is a nice layout, not too large but just big and detailed enough to get some good running shots, definitely what I aspire to have one day.
Funny enough, my first ever steam locomotive and sound locomotive was a bachmann spectrum K4. I still have it, but unfortunately, it's not in Great condition. It always had running issues, but I suspect it was because it didn't get enough traction. I miss spectrum
I have several of their older spectrum engines. They are all nice runners and I’ve had zero issues so far with them. I’ve got the E33 electric, a K4 and the USRA Light 2-10-2. All of these engines have been upgraded with added dcc and I had a friend install Loksound in the k4. The detail and running performance on the engines is quite nice overall.
I have a New York Central ho scale model. The only steam engine I ever purchased! It's still running, but it seems the price has more than doubled!! Good luck with your website!
This engine is a enigma thats for sure. I had a few which i modified for people so they could have a accurate Illinois Central 790, i also had one i was gonna placed a new shell custom done for a D&H super 1100, the driver size and loco length are perfect for that specific loco.
I can say this is a great model, I got the NYC one for last year for Christmas and it’s run smoothly and can pull all of my rolling stock with some wheel slip, my first one did break Because the left cylinder broke and be bent down causing the valve gear to jam, don’t know why it did that but I got a new as a refund so I’m not that mad. Any way glad you got another 2-8-0 for your collection, it might outlast all your current WP&SC Engines who knows.
I have a pair of these 2-8-0 in undec that I used for my old freelanced line. Now that I am modeling a prototype (C&NW) I may use them again eventually... I also have a CNW/Omaha Road 4-6-0 that runs well still.
I just got an older spectrum 4-8-2 for an ok price, I put a decoder in it and it’s a really solid runner! If you find one for cheap enough I really recommend them
It's a Spectrum 4-6-0 (high boiler version) that I bought on eBay a long time ago. The Vanderbilt tender is from a Bachmann USRA 0-6-0. I retrofitted tender pickup and hard-wired a small DCC decoder inside it.
@@e.n.3614 If you can't find one used, you can order the tender from the Bachmann parts department. estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_155&products_id=12820
I think that might actually be Bachmann's best train set right now. It bugs me a little bit that it's a standard gauge set marketed as a model of a narrow gauge train, but it's a nice enough set that it doesn't really matter that much.
@@TheTransportationFanfromCA I saw that in their recent update video! Really exciting. Might be time to start that On30 layout I've been wanting to do forever.
The shots in this video are amazing! It’s awesome to watch your channel evolve! Also what’s your current plan for the 2-8-0? And how is it going to fit on your turntable?
Dude. You go to film school? EPIC video!! Totally subscribed and I have one of these beautiful units,but I'm gonna rip her apart after I bought it new in 99. She wobbles. I put a ESU lokpilot V5 decoder in her after a decade of sittting (was in a rush at a train show)and fiddled with the back emf but she's needing some TLC. Still I really enjoyed your video tho. Keep up the fantastic work!!!
I hope you do more videos in this general style, I thought this video was really well put together when I first saw it, and I still do now that I’m trying to decided whether or not to buy a 2-8-0 myself. I just don’t like the price, as is the case with any locomotive these days. Also, my Proto 0-6-0 started running poorly again, and this time I really screwed up, as I managed to make something short inside it. Oddly, it was fine if I lifted the locomotive off the track and it was only picking up from the tender, but when I put the body back on so I could at least have it on an isolated siding while I waited to have time to repair it, it wouldn’t move even if I lifted the loco off. The even stranger part is all the wires are in place, and I didn’t even touch any of the electrical stuff. I did put some Bachmann contact lube on the drivers, but I can’t see how that would cause an issue…
The Bachmann contact lube can be finicky stuff. I believe the Proto 2000 steamers use a partial split-frame design, and if even a little bit of the oil gets inside, it can bridge the narrow gap between the halves and cause a short. That happened to me a long time ago with one of the old Bachmann 0-6-0s, and I had to take the whole thing apart, thoroughly clean it, and relubricate it with non-conductive oil.
@@michaelramsey81 Yeah, the proto steam engines are actually completely split chassis, only they have brass bearings unlike the old Bachmann split chassis engines. Thanks for the advice, might try cleaning the lube out. I also took the screws out that held the motor block together, and one was longer than the other, so it's possible I could have put those in wrong and power is not getting to one side of the frame... Thanks for all the assistance!
Just waiting for that one joker to comment that this thing belongs in the trash… Seriously tho, this is a great model. Had one for a while and loved it. Might try to get another one.
Do it! I kinda regretted my Prairie build because it was such a nice loco to start with. Glad I found a good deal on another one. I'm really glad the version they still make is so good.
@@michaelramsey81 Technically I’ve had two, the first was the blue box version and I ended up selling it for parts after tripping over a turnout and diving off my table. The second I only had for a day because it was sent to me by accident instead of a Spectrum N&W J class, should’ve asked to buy it off of the seller to go with the J. I probably could’ve snagged it for a good price too, they sold me the J for $97 shipped.
The K4 came out first, but it had much more in common with the old Bachmann Plus models. The 2-8-0 was what really set the standard for future Spectrum locomotives.
Very nice. I recently got one from the standard blue box. Overall very good, except that awful wiring harness with one set lower than the wheels. Any remedy for that?
The wiring harness is a universal Bachmann problem. I made a video a long time ago about removing the pin on the tender and replacing it with a screw to semi-permanently couple the engine and tender together, preventing the wires from getting yanked out. In addition to that, you could try using a small zip tie around the wires and the drawbar to keep them from dragging on the track (don't pull it all the way tight, just enough to lift the wires clear of the rails).
Speaking of Bachmann I was eyeing up one of their H1, H2 or C1 Atlantics, preferably in pre grouping colours. I wonder how Bachmann's UK range compares to its US one? More testing is needed.
I don't have any UK Bachmann locomotives, but I've heard good things about them. I've run a few on a friend's layout before and they seemed better quality than their US range.
Great video! Love your channel. However I will add that I honestly cannot see that Baldwin catalog being from 1881. That 2-8-0 is much too modern of an engine to be dated from that era. To me it looks c. 1915 - 1920, as you can see that locomotive has an electric headlight and is relatively modern looking...
Thanks! I was confused about that too. The catalog claims to be from 1881, and most of the other locomotives in it look more plausible for the era, but I wonder if the publisher included a page from a later catalog by mistake. The Walschaerts valve gear is definitely unusual for 1881, although not unheard of. The Baldwin classification for such an engine would have been 10-42-E, according to the catalog page, but so far, I've been unable to find a photo or a build date for one. It is possible, that Baldwin introduced that design in 1881 and they just didn't sell very many of them until after 1900, but that seems unlikely to me. I do think the locomotive pictured in the catalog might have had a center-mounted oil headlight - the photo is too blurry to tell, but I've seen other large engines from that era with oil headllights that were later replaced with electric ones.
@@michaelramsey81 The Spectrum 2-8-0s are actually Illinois Central designs with modifications to make them more all purpose. Apparently, the design closely resembles the IC's "900" series of consolidations - personally, as a Chicagoan, the thought has crossed me to try and find one for cheap and make it an IC steamer. From what I've observed, some work with the handrails and domes should bring it up the spec.
@@2026_Productions True - the model is not a perfect match for that catalog engine. I just used that picture because it was the closest one I could find from an actual Baldwin catalog.
Thanks! I'm not sure what you're referring to. Do you mean the virtual mockup of the layout from my old Red Oak video? If so, the program is called 3D Train Studio.
Hey mike what if the 2-8-0 was originally part of the red oak fleet but when the railroad later shut down, the 2-8-0 was sold to the WP&SC. And kept its original number. Do you think that would hit in your cannon.
Yep, that's the one I used for the disassembly video. It was a recent eBay purchase, and while I probably paid slightly more than necessary for it, it is quite a nice example. My eventual plan is for it to be the "new" #12. I'm going to paint and letter it similarly to the old one.
I have in some of them. To be honest, I don't know the exact specs - I just ordered a bunch of cheap yellow LEDs and put them in series with 1K resistors, and that seemed to work, so I kept doing it.
In your Prairie video there was actually a slightly more accurate Prairie produced but is no longer produced it was by tyco/ mantua and it looks similar to the Prairie you showed in the real life picture
Yep, I had one of those as a kid. They were dimensionally much closer to a typical real Prairie, and I believe they shared the same boiler as Mantua's 0-4-0 and 0-6-0. Maybe someday I'll get one of those and try to update it (although it would be a pretty big undetaking).
@@michaelramsey81 ok didn't know the 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 used the same boiler I know the Prairie and the 0-6-0 did, and the Prairie doesn't have the horrible power torque motor it has a mantua one sometimes older is better BACHMANN
It may be my imagination, but the radius rod doesn't appear to be connected to the expansion link. The motion of the valve stem is driven solely by the movement of the combination lever.
Good eye! I think it's because, like most models, the valve gear is depicted as being in "neutral" all the time. I've noticed that on the 4-6-0 as well.
I’ve recently been trying to buy one of these, and I found some on eBay used for $170 Canadian, but didn’t know if that’s a good price. Also, what is the music used in the video? It sounds great, but I couldn’t find a link in the description.
Hey mike is it possible to kitbash the mechanism of the Bachmann 2-8-0 and swap the sheep with an athearn 2-8-0, making it lot similar to something like Sierra 28
Unfortunately, no. The Bachmann one is significantly larger. Its mechanism would not fit inside the Athearn model, and its wheelbase is much longer. At 4:27 in this video, you can see the two locos next to each other. They almost look like different scales. th-cam.com/video/w911hBx13CA/w-d-xo.html
Another fun day on the Westport and Shelter Cove! Looks like you got around to relettering your 0-6-0, how did you go about removing the ACL logo from the tender?
The logo is actually still there - I just painted over it. I've found it's almost never worth the effort to strip factory paint from models. I just clean the model thoroughly, paint it black, and go from there.
I have the one in a B&O scheme. I got it cheep at a great model store hear in Melbourne. But it's verry worn out and the holes in the coupling rods are VERRY Oval. It still runs well enough but I am wondering were I could get some new rod's? Great video
@@michaelramsey81 hey mike I did another dumb thing to one of my engines, I put rubbing alcohol and then all of. A sudden white splotches are form, will this damage my loco motives shell, or will I just make it look trrrible and if so is there a home made cure
@@TheTransportationFanfromCA Rubbing alcohol will partially dissolve the paint, and leaves those white splotches when it dries. I've run into this myself. The best solution is to repaint the whole shell. It won't damage the plastic underneath, but it does mess up the paint.
@@TheTransportationFanfromCA It looks like you were right after all! I just saw an ad for the new version of the K4 with TCS WowSound, and it is a Spectrum engine.
Hey mike what is your favorite bachmann n scale set, me personally is the trailblazer I just love that Russian iron boiler jacket. Also hey 100th comment of this video!
@@michaelramsey81 yeah simplest way I think is to grab a dcc ten wheel and swap shells, ps does the n scale ten wheeler have the same type of drivers as the spectrum high boiler ten wheeler. Becosue idk but it looks smaller.
while I agree this 2-8-0 is much better than the old Reading one they used to make with the pancake motor. There is a lot wrong with the details on these engines. The thing that stands out right away is the air lines are a joke. They are not even tied into the air tanks, and they go nowhere on either end. The feedwater lines are questionable. The list can go on. Even the cheap brass engines you claim these are as good as have the piping on correctly going where it is supposed to go. From a distance these do look good. I owned two of them at one time. They do exceed the norm for Bachmann junk and if you just want to see a decent looking steam engine run and you don't care if it is correct, then this is the engine for you. If you care about modeling correctly, these need loads of work to be correct and I would buy brass instead. It is still just better in my opinion.
Those are Athearn/Roundhouse 50' Overland cars. I got them for my 12th birthday in 2009 - in fact, I think I've had those longer than anything else on the layout. Athearn still does a production run of them every couple of years. They're great passenger cars - only downside is that the roofs are glued on, so adding interiors isn't really feasible.
It's an old Spectrum 4-6-0, the high boiler version. The Vanderbilt tender is from a Bachmann USRA 0-6-0. It took some DIY work to get it wired up, but it's the perfect size for this loco. The Spectrum 4-6-0s are good runners if you get one that's been looked after. Keep an eye out on eBay and at train shows. If you get one that does have running issues, I have a video on how to take them apart and access the motor.
Are you going to be making a video on how to install the metal gears on the shay? I got one recently and would like to know how to put them on in the future.
They come in several road names, but to my knowledge, there has never been an I.C.R.R. version (which is weird, since the I.C. 900 class is probably the closest prototype match for these).
That's weird. I've ordered from them recently and had no issues. Various parts of their website have been down intermittently, though, so there might be something wonky going on with the parts store as well.
You know, if they can really knock this 2-8-0 out of the park why are they holding off making the Reading I10sa again but more modern? Best way to fix that engine is a modern frame, better set of axles to avoid the Bachmann syndrome, and a die cast boiler and tender shell/chassis.
Bachmann's signature move seems to be making one model of a given wheel arrangement and then offering it in every roadname imaginable, whether or not it's anywhere close to accurate. I doubt they'll bother to make new tooling for another 2-8-0 until this one is long gone.
Hey mike just a heads up does the modern 2-8-0 use the same cheap motor they use for the current 4-6-0, or do they atleast have a good 3 pole motor, or does it uses that same motor it did when it was in the spectrum range.
Great point - I forgot to address that in the video. The modern 2-8-0 uses the same motor as the old Spectrum version. It's a much larger motor than the one in the 4-6-0.
@@michaelramsey81 oh my god that is amazing, wait how did bachmann chose to use the same. Motor on the 2-8-0 but not on the 4-6-0. That’s litterly a scam.!
@@TheTransportationFanfromCA Yeah, it's not great. I'm hoping, since they're bringing back some of the Spectrum stuff now, that they'll rectify this as well.
@@TheTransportationFanfromCA True, and they seem to be moving in a positive direction with recent releases. I've heard rumors that the new sound-equipped USRA 0-6-0 may be a Spectrum model as well. I do hope they fix the 4-6-0 at some point, but even as it is, it's not *that* bad - I honestly just wish it was cheaper for what it is.
I do have a brass model of Sierra #28. It was an impulse buy at a train show. I've thought about making a video on it, but after buying it, I realized just how little I know about brass trains, and I'm thinking I might just sell it.
I generally stick to smaller steam locomotives - even this 2-8-0 is large by my standards. As such, unfortunately, it's not likely I'll get a 2-10-0 in the near future. Of course, if I find a really good deal on one, that may change.
@@michaelramsey81 haha fair enough. The N scale engines that were rebranded as standard line (so the 2-6-0, 4-6-0, and 4-8-2) are identical to the spectrum versions. I was surprised to learn that the HO ones are worse. The new ones being released, the K4 4-6-2 and the J3 4-6-4, are at the same level too. In N scale at least, Bachmann is one of the best brands for steam, up there with BLI.
@@Ruiluth To my knowledge, the N scale 2-6-0 and 4-6-0 were never sold as Spectrum models. They were introduced around the same time as the rebranding of the 2-8-0 and all the HO stuff.
@@michaelramsey81 oh yeah, that's true, I'm not sure why I was thinking that lol. I guess it's just the 2-8-0 and the light 4-8-2, because the heavy 4-8-2 and the 2-6-6-2 were retired
I picked one up for $45 at a train fair, not expecting all that much. Was pleasently blown away and am now kitbashing it to be a DM & IR loco! Much better than buying brass which can be finnicky!
Definitely one of Bachmanns best. The bachmann models is based off of a Illinois Central Railroad 900 class 2-8-0. These were built by Baldwin between 1909 and 1911. Several were rebuilt in 1943 and that is what the bachmann model closely matches to. However to allow the model to be painted for different railroads they changed and moved some details around such as moving the air pump on the side, changing the sand dome and using their usra medium tender.
I wish they would make a smaller 2-8-0 model such as Sierra Railroad #28 or New Hope and Ivyland #40 which would work better as a purpose 1920s built short line 2-8-0 as the Bachmann 2-8-0 is a bit too big in my opinion for a 2-8-0 built for a small short line. The 4-6-0 is still my favorite model though. I had a spectrum one a long time back and currently have one of the newer ones and I guess I got a good one as I haven't had any issues apart from not being quite as quite as the old one.
I actually have two of those Spectrum 2-8-0s, lettered as Southern Railway locomotives 630 and 722 respectively. My 630 is a newer one that I got with DCC, and my 722 is an older one that I bought dcc ready and custom fitted a dcc decoder into. They run adequately, but are prone to jerky running due to their belt drives.
Yeah, to be honest, the Bachmann belt drive isn't my favorite. Especially on older examples, the belts can get stiff and cause them to lurch a bit at low speed. A lot of my favorite locos do have the belt drive, but I'd like them even more with normal gear drives.
Model Railroading’s “Knight in Shining Armor”
It’s still one of my favorite engines in my fleet. I installed a Soundtraxx LC-B280 sound decoder and it’s still running strong after all these years. The only thing I had to repair was the connector between the loco and tender. The wires tend to separate from the connector after a lot of use.
I know this video is about the loco but DAMN that is a nice layout, not too large but just big and detailed enough to get some good running shots, definitely what I aspire to have one day.
Thank you! The layout is about 7 by 8 feet total. I designed it with filming in mind.
Funny enough, my first ever steam locomotive and sound locomotive was a bachmann spectrum K4. I still have it, but unfortunately, it's not in Great condition. It always had running issues, but I suspect it was because it didn't get enough traction. I miss spectrum
Great Review + Great Music Score + Awsome Layout !!! Congrats !
I have several of their older spectrum engines. They are all nice runners and I’ve had zero issues so far with them. I’ve got the E33 electric, a K4 and the USRA Light 2-10-2. All of these engines have been upgraded with added dcc and I had a friend install Loksound in the k4. The detail and running performance on the engines is quite nice overall.
I have a New York Central ho scale model. The only steam engine I ever purchased! It's still running, but it seems the price has more than doubled!! Good luck with your website!
This engine is a enigma thats for sure. I had a few which i modified for people so they could have a accurate Illinois Central 790, i also had one i was gonna placed a new shell custom done for a D&H super 1100, the driver size and loco length are perfect for that specific loco.
Michael, you mentioned not being able to find pictures of UP #721. I think she’s at the northwest railroad museum in Washington state.
I can say this is a great model, I got the NYC one for last year for Christmas and it’s run smoothly and can pull all of my rolling stock with some wheel slip, my first one did break Because the left cylinder broke and be bent down causing the valve gear to jam, don’t know why it did that but I got a new as a refund so I’m not that mad. Any way glad you got another 2-8-0 for your collection, it might outlast all your current WP&SC Engines who knows.
One beautiful locomotive. I just got one two weeks ago. Heavily used, but she’s still going strong. One of the best Bachmann locomotives,
I have one! It´s a superb and amazing model! This is the best locomotive of Spectrum Line.
I have a pair of these 2-8-0 in undec that I used for my old freelanced line. Now that I am modeling a prototype (C&NW) I may use them again eventually... I also have a CNW/Omaha Road 4-6-0 that runs well still.
It's been like that with me for almost 1 month now
Cheers Jasper & Willow
I wonder if it could be a region-specific issue? Might be worth emailing Bachmann about it. You can contact them at service@bachmanntrains.com.
I got one of these a few days ago as a graduation gift. It is PERFECT!
I just got an older spectrum 4-8-2 for an ok price, I put a decoder in it and it’s a really solid runner! If you find one for cheap enough I really recommend them
Jesus Christ man your cinematography is outstanding!!! ❤
Please tell me more about Ten-Wheeler #13, with the Vanderbilt tender. I like the looks of that.
It's a Spectrum 4-6-0 (high boiler version) that I bought on eBay a long time ago. The Vanderbilt tender is from a Bachmann USRA 0-6-0. I retrofitted tender pickup and hard-wired a small DCC decoder inside it.
Thank you. That really looks good. I've got one of the high boiler version, un-dec, so now I'll try to find that tender.
@@michaelramsey81
@@e.n.3614 If you can't find one used, you can order the tender from the Bachmann parts department. estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_155&products_id=12820
Still glad they use this model to this day, it makes the Durango passenger set worth it
I think that might actually be Bachmann's best train set right now. It bugs me a little bit that it's a standard gauge set marketed as a model of a narrow gauge train, but it's a nice enough set that it doesn't really matter that much.
I have one of these in New Haven livery. One of my favorite models.
Man would it be nice if bachmann continued the spectrum range
But never say never, they did just rereleased their on30 2-8-0 that was discontinued way back.
@@TheTransportationFanfromCA I saw that in their recent update video! Really exciting. Might be time to start that On30 layout I've been wanting to do forever.
@@michaelramsey81 yeah and if that can happen mabey just mabey they would rerelease another spectrum engine.
@@TheTransportationFanfromCA I hope so! I'd love to see the 4-4-0 return, not to mention the high boiler 4-6-0.
Wait what do you mean a on30 layout isn’t there no more room, or will you use the wall to put the layout on.
The shots in this video are amazing! It’s awesome to watch your channel evolve! Also what’s your current plan for the 2-8-0? And how is it going to fit on your turntable?
Thanks! I haven't figured out the plan for it yet. It doesn't currently fit on the turntable - I'm thinking it will need a shorter tender.
You could keep it as a UP locomotive and figure out an interchange addition for your layout
Dude. You go to film school? EPIC video!! Totally subscribed and I have one of these beautiful units,but I'm gonna rip her apart after I bought it new in 99. She wobbles. I put a ESU lokpilot V5 decoder in her after a decade of sittting (was in a rush at a train show)and fiddled with the back emf but she's needing some TLC. Still I really enjoyed your video tho. Keep up the fantastic work!!!
Thanks! I did go to film school for 9 months in 2018.
@@michaelramsey81 well it shows! Nice camera work!!!
To me, the great thing was a getting a 2-8-0. I mean, every railroad had them and noone made them.
I hope you do more videos in this general style, I thought this video was really well put together when I first saw it, and I still do now that I’m trying to decided whether or not to buy a 2-8-0 myself. I just don’t like the price, as is the case with any locomotive these days. Also, my Proto 0-6-0 started running poorly again, and this time I really screwed up, as I managed to make something short inside it. Oddly, it was fine if I lifted the locomotive off the track and it was only picking up from the tender, but when I put the body back on so I could at least have it on an isolated siding while I waited to have time to repair it, it wouldn’t move even if I lifted the loco off. The even stranger part is all the wires are in place, and I didn’t even touch any of the electrical stuff. I did put some Bachmann contact lube on the drivers, but I can’t see how that would cause an issue…
The Bachmann contact lube can be finicky stuff. I believe the Proto 2000 steamers use a partial split-frame design, and if even a little bit of the oil gets inside, it can bridge the narrow gap between the halves and cause a short. That happened to me a long time ago with one of the old Bachmann 0-6-0s, and I had to take the whole thing apart, thoroughly clean it, and relubricate it with non-conductive oil.
@@michaelramsey81 Yeah, the proto steam engines are actually completely split chassis, only they have brass bearings unlike the old Bachmann split chassis engines. Thanks for the advice, might try cleaning the lube out. I also took the screws out that held the motor block together, and one was longer than the other, so it's possible I could have put those in wrong and power is not getting to one side of the frame... Thanks for all the assistance!
Just waiting for that one joker to comment that this thing belongs in the trash…
Seriously tho, this is a great model. Had one for a while and loved it. Might try to get another one.
Do it! I kinda regretted my Prairie build because it was such a nice loco to start with. Glad I found a good deal on another one. I'm really glad the version they still make is so good.
@@michaelramsey81 Technically I’ve had two, the first was the blue box version and I ended up selling it for parts after tripping over a turnout and diving off my table. The second I only had for a day because it was sent to me by accident instead of a Spectrum N&W J class, should’ve asked to buy it off of the seller to go with the J. I probably could’ve snagged it for a good price too, they sold me the J for $97 shipped.
I believe that the 2-8-0 was revolutionary for the time along side the k4.
The K4 came out first, but it had much more in common with the old Bachmann Plus models. The 2-8-0 was what really set the standard for future Spectrum locomotives.
Very nice. I recently got one from the standard blue box. Overall very good, except that awful wiring harness with one set lower than the wheels. Any remedy for that?
The wiring harness is a universal Bachmann problem. I made a video a long time ago about removing the pin on the tender and replacing it with a screw to semi-permanently couple the engine and tender together, preventing the wires from getting yanked out. In addition to that, you could try using a small zip tie around the wires and the drawbar to keep them from dragging on the track (don't pull it all the way tight, just enough to lift the wires clear of the rails).
Speaking of Bachmann I was eyeing up one of their H1, H2 or C1 Atlantics, preferably in pre grouping colours. I wonder how Bachmann's UK range compares to its US one? More testing is needed.
I don't have any UK Bachmann locomotives, but I've heard good things about them. I've run a few on a friend's layout before and they seemed better quality than their US range.
@@michaelramsey81 oh intresting to know because I had no idea the ranges had a big difference in quality.
I love your videos especially your kitbashing videos.
Surprisingly good video of your layout
Great video! Love your channel.
However I will add that I honestly cannot see that Baldwin catalog being from 1881. That 2-8-0 is much too modern of an engine to be dated from that era. To me it looks c. 1915 - 1920, as you can see that locomotive has an electric headlight and is relatively modern looking...
Thanks! I was confused about that too. The catalog claims to be from 1881, and most of the other locomotives in it look more plausible for the era, but I wonder if the publisher included a page from a later catalog by mistake. The Walschaerts valve gear is definitely unusual for 1881, although not unheard of. The Baldwin classification for such an engine would have been 10-42-E, according to the catalog page, but so far, I've been unable to find a photo or a build date for one.
It is possible, that Baldwin introduced that design in 1881 and they just didn't sell very many of them until after 1900, but that seems unlikely to me. I do think the locomotive pictured in the catalog might have had a center-mounted oil headlight - the photo is too blurry to tell, but I've seen other large engines from that era with oil headllights that were later replaced with electric ones.
@@michaelramsey81 The Spectrum 2-8-0s are actually Illinois Central designs with modifications to make them more all purpose. Apparently, the design closely resembles the IC's "900" series of consolidations - personally, as a Chicagoan, the thought has crossed me to try and find one for cheap and make it an IC steamer. From what I've observed, some work with the handrails and domes should bring it up the spec.
@@2026_Productions True - the model is not a perfect match for that catalog engine. I just used that picture because it was the closest one I could find from an actual Baldwin catalog.
Looks great just needs and new whistle and it is perfect
Yep, I'm on the hunt for a new whistle as we speak.
I bought a Bachmann 2 10 2 spectrum locomotive and it broke on the second lap of a 6 by 4 layout. (Update) it now only runs in reverse
Cool Video and nice information Michael! :)
About to get one didn't see this video before.
Love the videos, and the layout progress. I was wondering what computer program you used to virtual run the layout.
Thanks! I'm not sure what you're referring to. Do you mean the virtual mockup of the layout from my old Red Oak video? If so, the program is called 3D Train Studio.
Hey mike what if the 2-8-0 was originally part of the red oak fleet but when the railroad later shut down, the 2-8-0 was sold to the WP&SC. And kept its original number. Do you think that would hit in your cannon.
Possibly. I haven't really decided yet whether the Red Oak and the W&SC are part of the same universe or not.
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I wonder what that other 4-6-0 is all about…
Edit, it was from the disassembly and repair video
Yep, that's the one I used for the disassembly video. It was a recent eBay purchase, and while I probably paid slightly more than necessary for it, it is quite a nice example. My eventual plan is for it to be the "new" #12. I'm going to paint and letter it similarly to the old one.
Have you replaced the LED headlights in your locomotives, and if so, what led did you use/what was the voltage of it/did you use resistor, which ones?
I have in some of them. To be honest, I don't know the exact specs - I just ordered a bunch of cheap yellow LEDs and put them in series with 1K resistors, and that seemed to work, so I kept doing it.
I have the Durango and Silverton train set DC version
I have the #721 and it’s amazing! I put a TCS T1A decoder in it and it burned out the incandescent light. What’s the easiest way to replace the bulb?
I put an LED in mine. The bulb just sits in a gap in the front of the metal motor block - you may have to solder the new one onto the old wires.
Was the dcc ready board in your 2-8-0 one like the older dcc ready bachmann pre-war k4s?
I'm not sure, as I've never had one of those K-4s.
In your Prairie video there was actually a slightly more accurate Prairie produced but is no longer produced it was by tyco/ mantua and it looks similar to the Prairie you showed in the real life picture
Yep, I had one of those as a kid. They were dimensionally much closer to a typical real Prairie, and I believe they shared the same boiler as Mantua's 0-4-0 and 0-6-0. Maybe someday I'll get one of those and try to update it (although it would be a pretty big undetaking).
@@michaelramsey81 ok didn't know the 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 used the same boiler I know the Prairie and the 0-6-0 did, and the Prairie doesn't have the horrible power torque motor it has a mantua one sometimes older is better BACHMANN
It may be my imagination, but the radius rod doesn't appear to be connected to the expansion link. The motion of the valve stem is driven solely by the movement of the combination lever.
Good eye! I think it's because, like most models, the valve gear is depicted as being in "neutral" all the time. I've noticed that on the 4-6-0 as well.
Very nice
I’ve recently been trying to buy one of these, and I found some on eBay used for $170 Canadian, but didn’t know if that’s a good price. Also, what is the music used in the video? It sounds great, but I couldn’t find a link in the description.
170 CAD is a pretty decent price for one. The music is licensed from Epidemic Sound, a paid royalty free music service.
@@michaelramsey81 okay, thanks a bunch!
Bro!! I just bought 4 different 2-8-0!! 2 Bachmann spectrums and 2 IHC's
Nice! I'm a fan of both models. The Bachmann is much more detailed, but I think the IHC runs better.
Hey mike is it possible to kitbash the mechanism of the Bachmann 2-8-0 and swap the sheep with an athearn 2-8-0, making it lot similar to something like Sierra 28
Unfortunately, no. The Bachmann one is significantly larger. Its mechanism would not fit inside the Athearn model, and its wheelbase is much longer.
At 4:27 in this video, you can see the two locos next to each other. They almost look like different scales. th-cam.com/video/w911hBx13CA/w-d-xo.html
Another fun day on the Westport and Shelter Cove! Looks like you got around to relettering your 0-6-0, how did you go about removing the ACL logo from the tender?
The logo is actually still there - I just painted over it. I've found it's almost never worth the effort to strip factory paint from models. I just clean the model thoroughly, paint it black, and go from there.
I have the one in a B&O scheme. I got it cheep at a great model store hear in Melbourne. But it's verry worn out and the holes in the coupling rods are VERRY Oval. It still runs well enough but I am wondering were I could get some new rod's?
Great video
Your best bet is probably to order them from the Bachmann parts departmet.
Tengo un problema... solo funciona en dc con sonido .
Dcc no lo detecta ayuda
Arnt bachmann k4s still apart of the spectrum line
I don't think so. They're listed in the catalog as part of the standard line now.
@@michaelramsey81 oh ok
@@michaelramsey81 hey mike I did another dumb thing to one of my engines, I put rubbing alcohol and then all of. A sudden white splotches are form, will this damage my loco motives shell, or will I just make it look trrrible and if so is there a home made cure
@@TheTransportationFanfromCA Rubbing alcohol will partially dissolve the paint, and leaves those white splotches when it dries. I've run into this myself. The best solution is to repaint the whole shell. It won't damage the plastic underneath, but it does mess up the paint.
@@TheTransportationFanfromCA It looks like you were right after all! I just saw an ad for the new version of the K4 with TCS WowSound, and it is a Spectrum engine.
Hey mike what is your favorite bachmann n scale set, me personally is the trailblazer I just love that Russian iron boiler jacket. Also hey 100th comment of this video!
I'd have to say the Trailblazer as well, for the same reason.
@@TheTransportationFanfromCA Installing DCC in N scale locomotives is always a pain. Everything is just so small.
@@michaelramsey81 yeah simplest way I think is to grab a dcc ten wheel and swap shells, ps does the n scale ten wheeler have the same type of drivers as the spectrum high boiler ten wheeler. Becosue idk but it looks smaller.
while I agree this 2-8-0 is much better than the old Reading one they used to make with the pancake motor. There is a lot wrong with the details on these engines. The thing that stands out right away is the air lines are a joke. They are not even tied into the air tanks, and they go nowhere on either end. The feedwater lines are questionable. The list can go on. Even the cheap brass engines you claim these are as good as have the piping on correctly going where it is supposed to go. From a distance these do look good. I owned two of them at one time. They do exceed the norm for Bachmann junk and if you just want to see a decent looking steam engine run and you don't care if it is correct, then this is the engine for you. If you care about modeling correctly, these need loads of work to be correct and I would buy brass instead. It is still just better in my opinion.
Slightly off topic: What brand are the 50' (?) passenger cars?
Those are Athearn/Roundhouse 50' Overland cars. I got them for my 12th birthday in 2009 - in fact, I think I've had those longer than anything else on the layout. Athearn still does a production run of them every couple of years. They're great passenger cars - only downside is that the roofs are glued on, so adding interiors isn't really feasible.
Thank you for your prompt reply.
What is that little 10-wheeler with the Vanderbilt? I would love to pick one up
It's an old Spectrum 4-6-0, the high boiler version. The Vanderbilt tender is from a Bachmann USRA 0-6-0. It took some DIY work to get it wired up, but it's the perfect size for this loco. The Spectrum 4-6-0s are good runners if you get one that's been looked after. Keep an eye out on eBay and at train shows. If you get one that does have running issues, I have a video on how to take them apart and access the motor.
Are you going to be making a video on how to install the metal gears on the shay? I got one recently and would like to know how to put them on in the future.
Definitely! It's not a project I'm in a big hurry to finish at the moment, but I will definitely document the process when I do get around to it.
Do these come in I.C.R.R. or any other road name?
They come in several road names, but to my knowledge, there has never been an I.C.R.R. version (which is weird, since the I.C. 900 class is probably the closest prototype match for these).
I can't buy anything from the bachmann parts store, because it says (approving pending) can you still buy from there?
Cheers Jasper & Willow
That's weird. I've ordered from them recently and had no issues. Various parts of their website have been down intermittently, though, so there might be something wonky going on with the parts store as well.
You know, if they can really knock this 2-8-0 out of the park why are they holding off making the Reading I10sa again but more modern?
Best way to fix that engine is a modern frame, better set of axles to avoid the Bachmann syndrome, and a die cast boiler and tender shell/chassis.
Bachmann's signature move seems to be making one model of a given wheel arrangement and then offering it in every roadname imaginable, whether or not it's anywhere close to accurate. I doubt they'll bother to make new tooling for another 2-8-0 until this one is long gone.
Do you work with National Geographic?
Nope. I did watch a lot of BBC nature documentaries as a kid, though, and probably picked up some filming techniques from them.
Can I have the link to the engine where I can buy it WITH sounds
Bachmann appears to have discontinued the sound-equipped version. I'd keep an eye out for a used one, or consider installing a sound decoder yourself.
@@michaelramsey81 ok thanks
Hey mike just a heads up does the modern 2-8-0 use the same cheap motor they use for the current 4-6-0, or do they atleast have a good 3 pole motor, or does it uses that same motor it did when it was in the spectrum range.
Great point - I forgot to address that in the video. The modern 2-8-0 uses the same motor as the old Spectrum version. It's a much larger motor than the one in the 4-6-0.
@@michaelramsey81 oh my god that is amazing, wait how did bachmann chose to use the same. Motor on the 2-8-0 but not on the 4-6-0. That’s litterly a scam.!
@@TheTransportationFanfromCA Yeah, it's not great. I'm hoping, since they're bringing back some of the Spectrum stuff now, that they'll rectify this as well.
@@michaelramsey81 well they did come a long way, now most of their newer stuff is good quality
@@TheTransportationFanfromCA True, and they seem to be moving in a positive direction with recent releases. I've heard rumors that the new sound-equipped USRA 0-6-0 may be a Spectrum model as well. I do hope they fix the 4-6-0 at some point, but even as it is, it's not *that* bad - I honestly just wish it was cheaper for what it is.
Do you own any brass models or considering acquiring a certain brass model?
I do have a brass model of Sierra #28. It was an impulse buy at a train show. I've thought about making a video on it, but after buying it, I realized just how little I know about brass trains, and I'm thinking I might just sell it.
I prefer the LL Heritage version.
would rather hear the train sound!!!
I do plan to use less music in future running videos, especially when I film sound-equipped locomotives.
@@michaelramsey81 I feel that would improve viewers. I for one love to hear the actual sounds of the items, especially trains.
If only spectrum made a 2-6-2 prarie....
I'd love to see that! Maybe a small logging Prairie like McCloud River 25 or Fort Steele 1077.
@@michaelramsey81 The only reason I say that is unless you want the union pacific bachman 2-6-2 (which I dont) there arent that many out there.
Any chance for a 2-10-0
I generally stick to smaller steam locomotives - even this 2-8-0 is large by my standards. As such, unfortunately, it's not likely I'll get a 2-10-0 in the near future. Of course, if I find a really good deal on one, that may change.
No love for the N scale version? It also defined an era.
I'd love to make a video on the N scale version at some point. I need to build an N scale layout first though, lol.
@@michaelramsey81 haha fair enough. The N scale engines that were rebranded as standard line (so the 2-6-0, 4-6-0, and 4-8-2) are identical to the spectrum versions. I was surprised to learn that the HO ones are worse. The new ones being released, the K4 4-6-2 and the J3 4-6-4, are at the same level too. In N scale at least, Bachmann is one of the best brands for steam, up there with BLI.
@@Ruiluth To my knowledge, the N scale 2-6-0 and 4-6-0 were never sold as Spectrum models. They were introduced around the same time as the rebranding of the 2-8-0 and all the HO stuff.
@@michaelramsey81 oh yeah, that's true, I'm not sure why I was thinking that lol. I guess it's just the 2-8-0 and the light 4-8-2, because the heavy 4-8-2 and the 2-6-6-2 were retired
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