Bachmann Chinese SY 2-8-2 Mikado: a modern-day steam engine? 

The 3 last Non-tourism SYs retired from the Wujiu Coal Mine, Inner Mongolia in Dec 2021. There are a few used for tourism services around China The final SY was made in Oct. 1999, numbered 1772. 1772 worked at the Diaobingshan Coal Mine, Liaoning province before being repurposed into tourism. The Diaobingshan Coal Mine houses a few SYs for tourism and filming purposes

Howdy! I volunteer for the Belvidere & Delaware Railroad, the operators of NYSW 142, and have spent many hours working on her myself. I've gotta say that the Bachmann model does a pretty good job of representing her. The only thing I could notice without being able to see a model in front of me was that it lacks the two tender water hatches on either side of the coal bunker.

This is definitely one of Bachmann's best locos. I have one with DCC and it's one of the best engines I own.

I've had an NYS&W #142 model since 2004 and it's been a reliable runner for me since then. I'd love to see Bachmann re-issue this model as I think it's been one of their best.

Sweet locomotive! I’ve seen the 142 and ever since then I wanted this model. Bachmann did a nice job on the locomotive. It would be nice for some of the Spectrum engines to come back like the SY 2-8-2, 4-4-0, 4-8-2....etc. Have a great day!

Really love the layout you did here and the Chinese locomotive is surprisingly well suited to this layout.

That is a cool locomotive! I wish “Bachmann Trains” would build a retooled version of it from the ground up by using today’s standards! Such as installing a smooth running DCC motor, multiple colors, road names and numbers as ways as appearances! They will also keep the way that the engine and the tender connect together!

Aim getting more and more amazed on every loco being reviewed. Keep up the good work

Really enjoy your videos on here. Very well done with your editing and footage. Keep it up!

Great video Michael! I've been wanting to get one of these for a while

Great Review of the engine!! I just finished modifying my own SY to better resemble the Valley's 3025. Mine seems to have similar issues at slower speeds as well, possible to the some of the modifications. (I needed to reverse all of the appliances to the other sides to match the prototype better. I have even been able to work on the actual engine during regular volunteer shop nights which also helped with getting reference photos. As for the two engines mentioned in your video; yes the Valley owned both but not at the same time. The first engines was No. 1647 and originally had the red wheels like other Chinese engines. It was sold in 1991 to NYS&W when the third engine sank and renumbered 142. Years later the Valley purchased the burnt remains of Knox and Kane No. 58. (Engine was damaged in arson fire) and restored to resemble a New Haven Railroad J1 Mikado. Now 3025 still in operation at VRR today.

I have this exact same locomotive. Not the fastest, but it runs well and is a decent hauler. It's my favorite locomotive in my collection because I had the opportunity to drive 3025 as a high school graduation present.

Correction. The K&K RR’s SY and The Valley Railroad’s SY are the same locomotive. It was first owned by the K&K and then the Valley RR bought it

I’ve had mine for a few years, great runner although it doesn’t pull well. I installed tcs wowsound in mine, they have a kit for it if I remember right, improves it ten fold.

Very nice! I never knew there was a genuine class of steam engines built past 1960.

Wow, didn’t think 142 was built by Chinese, thought it was American, I also rode the excursion up in NJ and i still love it, last time I rode my very first excursion is when I was 3 years old.

The looks great and I'll take the advice of if I see one that it will be a bit before I see another. Thanks for the vedio and have a great day.

That’s a nice steam locomotive ,nice buy

You should have your Royale Hudson bust the W&SC similar to how 611 is visiting Strausberg

Afaik SY in China Railways livery are still being made and sold brand new. I wonder how much would it take to convert one of the SY class to earlier MiKaRo (later known as JF6) class.

That connection system is used on the spectrum k4

That drawbar design is actually recycled and or copied from their 2000s era spectrum N&W j class models - my 611 hasn’t had any issues with it whatsoever and actually runs alright on 18 radius curves because of this. I have no idea what the modern ones use though. 2000s spectrum was a peak for bachmann and really it just seems they’ve been living on that high for about 20 years now. I’ve always wanted an SY to make New Haven 3025 (1658 as it stands today), however the only time I’ve seen one in person went for $450 at a hobby shop (I struggle to think about how I paid $460 for a Rapido EP5, even after waiting 5 years and seeing the model progress from render to functional prototype) and I haven’t seen one since.

Found one of these at a trainshow and preparing to add DCC to it so I can run it on my main layout…any decoder recommendations? I was told a TCS WOWsound 121 is a good decoder. Also where did you get those coaches? Would love to pick some up

Do you plan to do any Lore videos for your railway in the future?

The tender and loco draw bar is also on the spectrum prr k4

She’s such a beaut! I would love picking one up one day! But may I ask where did yours?

I have this locomotive as well it's a good runner. The only problem is I want to install a decoder and I've tried multiple times to get the tender open but it won't budge and I have no idea what else to do.

You cab also see some Soviet Russian influences in the photo of 0194.

You can never buy too many model trains 😂

I've got an off-topic question, what has happened to W&SC No. 12? Is it a parts engine or have you got it tucked away in a box somewhere?

can i get a link to where you buy your coaches, i really like them

Could you do a video on how you add whitewalls to your locos

Ok just pet peeve but guys, if your motors are weak. They either need cleaned or remagnatized. Please try to remagnatize them, you will destroy your engine over working them on bad magnets. Do not do this, just remagnatize and it should be ok. The best way to do it with motors that use two magnets is it rub a really strong magnet against one, then rub the two motor magnets. This equally divide the strength between them after a while of rubbing them together. Or just get a device that can do it.

Bachmann Spectrum will be missed…

Which loco was the loco that sank into the Indian Ocean

There is one SY in South Korea!

If you buy a Bachmann 2-8-0 install a 2A sound decoder it will run better.

can you help me find one please

W&SC #107?

OK, I have taken complete control of your finances you cannot buy another Loco without asking me first !!! Feel lucky punk ?!