This model is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ worthy. Even if Bachmann isn't the best Model brand. This has gotta be their best Model so far, and one of the best Model locomotives, period.
I have the SC44 from the first run and it’s holding up fantastically. Runs great, sounds great, looks great and pulls like crazy. A home run for Bachman for sure. These are definitely not the bachmanns from 20 years ago. LOL
im not usually a bachmann fan but I love these locomotives and the sc-44 too they truly knocked it out of the park and I am extremely pleased with them in every way
Bachman is coming up in the detail department, typically I never purchased anything Bachman other than track , but these have me giving them a second glance! Glad you’re getting over the virus 🦠 👍🏾
Just amazing looking locomotives James! Bachmann really hit it out of the park with these! It sounds great too, it'd be darn near perfect if it wasn't for the EZ Mate couplers, but on this model, that's a VERY minor inconvenience!
Great review (as always!) James. I recently acquired #300 and #301, and I've had the SC-44 Surfliner #2111 for a few months. Bachmann has really hit a home-run with these Chargers. p.s.--funny, I've always thought the voice on this station announcement @14:32 was you! ;-)
I absolutely LOVE my Bachman Locomotive N-Scale GP-38 with DCC sounding just bought. It’s one of my best running engines. Don’t know about their HO locos. I’ve heard a lot of people say Bachman is junk, but I can only speak of this one Bachman locomotive of mine.
Great video, Cool to see these Models in scale I have been inside the prototype of both of these locomotives and are very nice also I start chargers daily at work and to hear the sound I must say very accurate bell, horn, and startup sounds, they are spot on!
Glad you are better James. Bachmann did a great job on those models, there nice. However I my personal opinion I like the GE P42DC’s better than the Chargers, just because the P42 sounds amazing in real life and looks very streamlined. It’s just a shame they are going to get replaced.😔 The P42 was one of my favorite locomotives ever to ride on and catch, I just hope to ride it one more time before they retire for good, I hope the 2023 Amherst Show will offer it. Please don’t criticize me this my opinion everyone and you have yours. Keep it up James
Hey James it good to see you are feeling better awesome video I have 2 of them good running engines as always awesome video reviews thanks for sharing.......Robert
Use caution when pulling a high number of cars! I would use a two locomotive consist of the same locomotive type. I heard it's better to double up on these engines. Great Review James!!!!
I've had my 301 pull a consist of 8 kato superliners and 2 baggage cars. Only really struggled on the 18 inch radius curves. Walthers Horizons, Amfleets and Superliners are way heavier, so if 6+ of those are what you're pulling, then you'll need 2.
Don't forget to change the couplers too! Even though the EZ Mate II is an improvement over the original EZ Mate couple, they're still among the worst couplers in Model railroading and are notorious for breaking when put under high stress. Replacing them with Kadee no. 5 or modified "F" couplers (you can make the F style passenger couplers using the 118 SF double shelf couplers by removing the upper and lower appendages on them) for a more prototypical appearance.
Really cool locomotives I'm getting me one to pull My superliner cars. Those are some powerful locomotives thanks for sharing the video I really appreciate it 🙂
In the past Bachmann would not have been one of my top choices for a locomotive. The key here is the first three words of this review - in the past - because that is no longer the case. Bachmann has improved dramatically.
Just got my sc44 charger. I love this day one scheme paint job A LOT. However, I'm a sucker for lights etc. I really wanted to buy one of these, but there's no strobe lights, no lit route board which I'm sure the real thing has. I wish I could get another sc44 and put this shell on it lol. Gorgeous paint scheme though.
Nice models but the likely potential of Bachmann making a VIA Rail Canada version is probably low since it's not as popular as Amtrak. I could only hope that Rapido will make one in the far future? Edit: It looks like I may have spoke too soon. A train store in Ontario, Canada is listing pre-orders for a VIA Rail Canada SC-42 Charger No. 2200 from Bachmann in HO with DCC/Sound for $350 CAD. Even though it's not officially listed on the US Bachmann website. This is likely for the Canadian market.
I have to say I have several TCS WOW sound decoders and the horns are excellent but I HATE HATE HATE !!!! the voice menu calling out functions etc, how much more unprotoypical can you get than that stupid voice coming out when you press a function key?? TCS please get rid of that voice mode crap. Is there a way of disabling it? The only way I see around it is to use on my NCE procab the horn , or headlight button, and avoid touching any function keys , which sort of defeats the object of having additional functions that you can deploy in operation. Good review though James, but as you can see that voice mode rubbish caught you out too, which helps to makes my point.
This model is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ worthy. Even if Bachmann isn't the best Model brand. This has gotta be their best Model so far, and one of the best Model locomotives, period.
I have the SC44 from the first run and it’s holding up fantastically. Runs great, sounds great, looks great and pulls like crazy. A home run for Bachman for sure. These are definitely not the bachmanns from 20 years ago. LOL
Bachmann really stepped up their game here
One of the best models ever done in HO scale by ANYONE
im not usually a bachmann fan but I love these locomotives and the sc-44 too they truly knocked it out of the park and I am extremely pleased with them in every way
Beautiful engines. Bachman did a great job on this model.
Bachman is coming up in the detail department, typically I never purchased anything Bachman other than track , but these have me giving them a second glance! Glad you’re getting over the virus 🦠 👍🏾
Just amazing looking locomotives James! Bachmann really hit it out of the park with these! It sounds great too, it'd be darn near perfect if it wasn't for the EZ Mate couplers, but on this model, that's a VERY minor inconvenience!
Randall I can change the couplers, I pre-ordered the VIA version, Canadian version
Great review (as always!) James. I recently acquired #300 and #301, and I've had the SC-44 Surfliner #2111 for a few months. Bachmann has really hit a home-run with these Chargers.
p.s.--funny, I've always thought the voice on this station announcement @14:32 was you! ;-)
I absolutely LOVE my Bachman Locomotive N-Scale GP-38 with DCC sounding just bought. It’s one of my best running engines. Don’t know about their HO locos. I’ve heard a lot of people say Bachman is junk, but I can only speak of this one Bachman locomotive of mine.
Great review ! I own these locos and I still learn things about them watching your reviews !! Thanks for sharing !!
Great video,
Cool to see these Models in scale I have been inside the prototype of both of these locomotives and are very nice also I start chargers daily at work and to hear the sound I must say very accurate bell, horn, and startup sounds, they are spot on!
Very nice looking locos James hope that you are feeling much better GOD BLESS STAY SAFE THANKS FOR SHARING
That horn is very accurate to what I heard
Glad you are better James.
Bachmann did a great job on those models, there nice.
However I my personal opinion I like the GE P42DC’s better than the Chargers, just because the P42 sounds amazing in real life and looks very streamlined. It’s just a shame they are going to get replaced.😔 The P42 was one of my favorite locomotives ever to ride on and catch, I just hope to ride it one more time before they retire for good, I hope the 2023 Amherst Show will offer it. Please don’t criticize me this my opinion everyone and you have yours.
Keep it up James
Hey James it good to see you are feeling better awesome video I have 2 of them good running engines as always awesome video reviews thanks for sharing.......Robert
Nice review, James!
Amazing! Even the sounds are about the same as the SC-44 Chargers. Looking forward to getting a couple soon.
Just got the 300 model definitely impressed with the weight and the sound and detail
Bro i had the rona for the 2nd time as well and i just got off my quarantine. Excellent video btw 🤙
Use caution when pulling a high number of cars! I would use a two locomotive consist of the same locomotive type. I heard it's better to double up on these engines. Great Review James!!!!
I've had my 301 pull a consist of 8 kato superliners and 2 baggage cars. Only really struggled on the 18 inch radius curves. Walthers Horizons, Amfleets and Superliners are way heavier, so if 6+ of those are what you're pulling, then you'll need 2.
Don't forget to change the couplers too! Even though the EZ Mate II is an improvement over the original EZ Mate couple, they're still among the worst couplers in Model railroading and are notorious for breaking when put under high stress. Replacing them with Kadee no. 5 or modified "F" couplers (you can make the F style passenger couplers using the 118 SF double shelf couplers by removing the upper and lower appendages on them) for a more prototypical appearance.
The new Amtrak charger is unique for a train although the semeins trains are nice grate video Mike's trains
Beautiful! Props to Bachmann
This is so cool Bravo for Bachmann
Belíssimos modelo !
Ótimo trabalho, Bachmann !
Really cool locomotives I'm getting me one to pull My superliner cars. Those are some powerful locomotives thanks for sharing the video I really appreciate it 🙂
Great job Bachman
In the past Bachmann would not have been one of my top choices for a locomotive. The key here is the first three words of this review - in the past - because that is no longer the case. Bachmann has improved dramatically.
Nice to see Bachmann upping their game. Finally moving beyond Tyco
They will be releasing a VIA version in late 2022, which I pre-ordered, nice looking locomotive, hope they make passenger cars too
Just got my sc44 charger. I love this day one scheme paint job A LOT. However, I'm a sucker for lights etc. I really wanted to buy one of these, but there's no strobe lights, no lit route board which I'm sure the real thing has. I wish I could get another sc44 and put this shell on it lol. Gorgeous paint scheme though.
I don't like Amtrak but beautiful models and good review James.
The alc-42 is pretty, but it’s replacing my beloved p42s, and that is a sin I can not forgive.
Awesome locomotive!
I don't care for these Amtrak units in real-life, but the models look amazing!
I want to get one but there always priced so high so I'm still looking
Thanls for your review. Do you know is they are going to procude the VIA RAIL for real this time or is it again only hoping for....?
Hi I love your reviews I have HO scale trains can the aclamtrak run on D C
This is one of only three times I find it acceptable to buy Bachman trains for anything more serious for a toy train set.
I’m colorblind too 😮
those look brand new
I got 300 but not 301 or 305 yet and the station sounds is the same as northeast regional schedules.
I need help trying to figuring out some of the functions. How do you start or which button is to activate the strobe lights on the engines.
Nice models but the likely potential of Bachmann making a VIA Rail Canada version is probably low since it's not as popular as Amtrak. I could only hope that Rapido will make one in the far future?
Edit: It looks like I may have spoke too soon. A train store in Ontario, Canada is listing pre-orders for a VIA Rail Canada SC-42 Charger No. 2200 from Bachmann in HO with DCC/Sound for $350 CAD. Even though it's not officially listed on the US Bachmann website. This is likely for the Canadian market.
Was announced at Springfield that they would be indeed doing the VIA Rail version.
I have to say I have several TCS WOW sound decoders and the horns are excellent but I HATE HATE HATE !!!! the voice menu calling out functions etc, how much more unprotoypical can you get than that stupid voice coming out when you press a function key??
TCS please get rid of that voice mode crap. Is there a way of disabling it? The only way I see around it is to use on my NCE procab the horn , or headlight button, and avoid touching any function keys , which sort of defeats the object of having additional functions that you can deploy in operation. Good review though James, but as you can see that voice mode rubbish caught you out too, which helps to makes my point.
Wish it wasn’t Bachmann…..I’d buy a couple of it was Scaletrains or athearn Genesis
Will one of those units come down here to Texas?
Is those similar to the SC-44?
Could you revist the SC-44 in ACE and Coaster
Very kool ❤️👍👍👍👍👍👍
good
I mean ALC 42
Bachmann W
First