Model Railroading > Thoughts on the new Bachmann Siemens Charger?

Looks like the Charger is out. Has anyone gotten one? From what I see, they look good, but it seems like Bachmann is trying to get away with a slightly higher price point because they have a monopoly on the licensing/production of the model. $269.00 for sound/dcc as the dealer discount seems pretty questionable, given that new Athearn Genesis engines aren't even priced that high. Notably it doesn't seem like they have sold out right away.

I don't have one, nor have seen one, but will purchase one in Amtrak long distance service scheme for sure. Only game in town. 

Mike ONeill
Parker, CO

I'm glad someone produced it, but I agree the price is pretty steed for it being a Bachmann model. From what I've seen, it is a very nice model though and Bachmann has certainly improved from their toy train look. I personally think they would sell more if they were DCC ready though. Not knocking TCS WOW Sound, but a lot of modellers prefer either non sound, LokSound or Tsunami. Lasly, I think they will sell a lot better when the long distance units Amtrak has ordered get produced. The schemes they currently have, like the prototype, are for a limited market.

BUT IT'S BACHMANN. When I worked at a hobby store the owner would only sell Bachmann products if they were special ordered and paid for in advance and would not take returns. Another store in the area would sell Bachmann train sets at christmas, if he would sell 5 set's, he would get 10 back. The others being bought at swap meets and discount toy stores.

santafesteve Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BUT IT'S BACHMANN. When I worked at a hobby store
> the owner would only sell Bachmann products if
> they were special ordered and paid for in advance
> and would not take returns. Another store in the
> area would sell Bachmann train sets at christmas,
> if he would sell 5 set's, he would get 10 back.
> The others being bought at swap meets and discount
> toy stores.

Have you even looked at some of their current stuff? Not the same old stuff anymore.

They are a very nice model. I almost don't believe it is Bachmann!

The sound and lights were phenomenal. Just wish you could change the destination sign...

Bachmann is a very diverse company and makes a variety of products. Some are toylike which are for folks who have limited budgets and other products are very well done. Their narrow guage ON30 products are quite nice and in HO their SIEMANS ACS-64, 44 tonners and allot of their HO steam is quite nice. I am told their G guage products are fairly good. I do agree that reliability is an issue with them but have heard they are good at repair.  Anyways I am told by several folks that the new Chargers are very well done .  Bruce

santafesteve Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BUT IT'S BACHMANN. When I worked at a hobby store
> the owner would only sell Bachmann products if
> they were special ordered and paid for in advance
> and would not take returns. Another store in the
> area would sell Bachmann train sets at christmas,
> if he would sell 5 set's, he would get 10 back.
> The others being bought at swap meets and discount
> toy stores.

Bachmann almost has 2 personality's. They do produce a lot of junk for the US market but they do have the ability to produce stuff that is equal to any of the top Importers. If you were to see the stuff they produce for other markets you would be in shock over the crap we get here. 
From what I have seen on other forums about this engine it is a very nice engine. I don't model after 2007 so it is to new for me & won't be getting one.
I hope they start to do more quality stuff like this for us.

Tim
Hanesworth

I have a somewhat-larger-than-switching DCC layout with three locomotives (an S-2 switcher, a 2-8-0, and a 2-6-6-2), all of which are Bachmann products.  They look good, sound good, and run fine.  I had to junk an Athearn Genesis GP-9 because it constantly stalled in places the Bachmanns run without hesitation, even without a rigorous cleaning of the rails, and because resisted all my attempts to make it operate properly.

(And no, I have not needed to add keep-alives to the Bachmann locomotives).

I have a Rapido H-12-44 on order that I only pray will operate as well as do the Bachmanns.

Art House

aehouse Wrote:
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> I have a Rapido H-12-44 on order that I only pray
> will operate as well as do the Bachmanns.

When did they announce an H12-44? Typo? I only see the H16-44 on their website.

H12-44 has been needed in HO. Yeah, the old Walthers H10-44 can be made into an early H12-44, kind of sorta. Early SP diesel modelers (pre '70s) could use a later H12-44.

Arved Grass
Fleming Island, FL

Or the European and Chinese stuff.  As another poster said, they're a very bizarre, diverse company.  This offering sure looks to be on par with some of their "foreign" offerings.

- Jeff Carlson

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> santafesteve Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > BUT IT'S BACHMANN. When I worked at a hobby
> store
> > the owner would only sell Bachmann products if
> > they were special ordered and paid for in
> advance
> > and would not take returns. Another store in
> the
> > area would sell Bachmann train sets at
> christmas,
> > if he would sell 5 set's, he would get 10 back.
> > The others being bought at swap meets and
> discount
> > toy stores.
>
> Have you even looked at some of their current
> stuff? Not the same old stuff anymore.

Was looking at the Pacific Surfliner version - #2111 -- but lettering errors/omissions too great.   Road number on nose sides placed way too low; also does not have the Cali flag on the rear, nor the Caltrans decal and wording on the rear carbody sides.  Hoping someone else will do these at some point and do a more accurate job of the "as delivered" lettering.  

There's still no mass-produced California Cars to pull these with anywhay....

Bob



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/20 09:54 by alto_towerbob.

alto_towerbob Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Was looking at the Pacific Surfliner version -
> #2111 -- but lettering errors/omissions too
> great.   Road number on nose sides placed way
> too low; also does not have the Cali flag on the
> rear, nor the Caltrans decal and wording on the
> rear carbody sides.  Hoping someone else will do
> these at some point and do a more accurate job of
> the "as delivered" lettering.  
>
> There's still no mass-produced California Cars to
> pull these with anywhay....
>
> Bob

Hopefully somebody will do the new Siemens cars that are currently being built.

I purchased one and while I have not had a chance to run it, I'm quite happy with its appearance and mechanicals.

Bachmann also announced that they would produce Siemens passenger cars in the same press release that they announced the SC-44.

-scax330



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/20 12:06 by scax330.