Bargain DIE-CAST Bachmann Baldwin 4-6-0 | Unboxing & Review 

Im glad more and more American locos are getting reviewed on the channel. Im not from the UK so it is nice to see Sam indulge in trains from the US or just different varieties in general.

Ive ridden behind this very locomotive years ago! 316 has NOT been operational for quite a few years now, but she is stored and on display on the Texas State Railroad.

I have one, got it in 2018 as the first non-Thomas locomotive when I started in this hobby again and at the time I was very impressed. I like it a lot. Of course, that was for under $90 which changes things a bit! Even compared to the price you paid. Liked it so much that when I build my big layout it's going to be a common sight there. I managed to get one in another livery recently, again for about $90. Both of them are packed away at the moment.

FYI, a lot of American steam locomotives have red roofs because they were treated with lead oxide, which is sometimes known as "red lead." This was done to prevent rust as well as to protect the metal against acidic compounds in the smoke the locomotive generates. You'll often see the tops of tenders painted with lead oxide as well. As for the grey boiler, you're right, it is for photographs. Gray paint usually meant that the locomotive was used by the builder as a demonstrator, and if purchased, the railroad would sometimes just not repaint it.

As someone who just found and bought a Bachmann ten wheeler, I can confirm it’s a great model. I can highly recommend the older Bachmann Spectrum version of the model, if you can find it for a descent price. All the detail is separately fitted, and it runs a little smoother. If you can find one and do a comparison video, I think that would be pretty cool, but who knows.

Beautiful model in my opinion! I got it actually a month before this video was posted on Amazon. The going price was 299.99 but I got a deal and only paid 146.95! An amazing deal if you ask me given the quality of the engine.

I actually have one of those engines. Mine has dcc sound, and is painted up to resemble a Southern Railway (USA) steam locomotive. Back in 2018, I bought a second chassis and converted it to a 2-8-0 to properly replicate a Southern Railway G class 2-8-0 from the Richmond Locomotive Works. The Southern Railway’s G class 2-8-0s were a class of 173 2-8-0 locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Richmond Locomotive Company, Rogers Locomotive Works, Schenectady, and Rhode Island locomotive works between 1885 and 1891. They were all of the same specifications, and were originally operated by the Richmond & Danville, East Tennessee Virginia & Georgia, Virginia Midland Railway, and Georgia Pacific Railroad. In 1894, the Southern Railway was formed by financier JP Morgan by consolidating all of the G class’s former owner railroads into one coherent rail company. The G class would be the main locomotives on the Southern Railway until the early 1900s, when larger 2-8-0s like the H, J, and Ks class 2-8-0s, as well as the Ms class 2-8-2s, would take over. Today, only two G class 2-8-0s survive into preservation, with one (SOU 154) in operation in Knoxville, Tennessee, and another (107) on static display in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. My model was supposed to portray G class number 87 after its 1906 modifications. However, the 2-8-0 chassis didn’t work well, and I gave it back its old 4-6-0 chassis. I gave it a set of green southern railway shells from Bachmann. I am considering converting it back into a 2-8-0 permanently.

As a big fan of the T&P, I’m extremely happy to see you have a locomotive painted in its livery. Enjoy your loco Sam!

The bell on most bachmann US steam locos is actually die-cast, but is painted to match the plastic whistle and safety valves. The actual 316 has Stephenson valve gear, the model has walschearts because it is a generic 4-6-0 that is similar to 316. Another thing to note is that several batches of these were delivered with bad motors, yours may be one of them.

I am from the US and it’s good to see what you Brits think of our models!! If you want to review a really top quality US loco, review a Broadway Limited model!!! They are amazing

Well, you shouldnt have to, but for you, that no spring issue in the front bogey should be fairly easy to fix. I have every confidence that you could install a spring yourself or even just glue down a small weight on the top of the bogey to fix that problem. Again, shouldn't have to, but with spare parts you've got laying around you could probably fix that for "free".

Great review as always Sam. If you haven't already I would highly recommend you to look into Bachmann's (formerly Spectrum) 4-4-0 which has very similar specs to this 4-6-0 (diecast running board and boiler and proper bearings on the axles) with a bit more features such as separately fitted pipes.

That radiator is for the locomotive westinghouse air compressor. it's to cool the air down before it reaches the brake valves/ brakes cylinders

Hi Sam, though the locomotive is lettered as Texas and Pacific Railway number 316 the locomotive is actually a model of Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad 4-6-0 number 27 and 28. Bachmann changed a few minor details to make it more generic. Bachmann has made the model painted up for the actual prototype Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad locomotives. Maryland and Pennsylvania railroad number 27 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in December of 1906 and was classified by Baldwin as a class 10-32D-1002. Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad number 28 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in July of 1910 and classified by Baldwin as a class 10-32D-1092. Both served until 1955 with number 27 retired in December 1955 and number 28 retired in August of 1955. 28 was sold in September of 1955 to the M. N. Landy Company. Both locomotives unfortunately did not survive and were scrapped soon after. Info from the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Society website. Bachmann making a model based off one real prototype but painted up for a whole bunch of railroads that may or may not be accurate is pretty standard. Athearn/roundhouse does this with their 2-8-0 and 2-6-0 models, kind of like Mehano did back in the day. Some other models like this include, Porter 0-6-0 side tank - Model of a locomotive offered in Porters catalog around the turn of the century. The Midwest Quarry and Mining Company that your locomotive was lettered for is a fictitious creation by Bachmann. ALCO 2-6-0 - Model of Green Bay and Western Railroad 2-6-0 moguls built in 1924 by the American Locomotive Company, commonly shortened to ALCO. Model is of the locomotives in as built condition as the headlight and some other small details changed during their careers. Bachmann changed a few minor details to make it more generic. Bachmann Baldwin 2-8-0 - Model of a Illinois Central Railroad 900 class 2-8-0. These were built between 1909 and the early 1910s and received rebuilds during the 1940s. Bachmann changed the sand dome and other small details to make it look more generic. Happy railroading!

I think I've mentioned this before, you can solve the low tourqe issue by purchasing a DCC deocder with BEMF. What basically happens is whenever the motor slows down, the decoder compensates and gives the motor more power, and that low tourqe issue is solved. I'd reccomend getting a Train Control Systems (TCS) WOW-101 decoder and speaker to upgrade all of your modern Bachmann steamers. Trust me, it's worth the investment.

The local Long Island store! It was always worth the 50 mile drive west to there. Especially when all the train stores closed east from there. I have more local train shops in Pinellas County, Florida then I had growing up on the island..

I once heard the Bachmann 4-6-0’s were better in the black box spectrum, which was the run prior to this I believe. A good companion to this particular engine would be T&P 610. Broadway Limited Imports is doing a run this year since it’s been a good many years since they have last done them. They have that engine in the service scheme, southern excursion scheme, and my favorite and one I preordered the 1976 American Freedom Train. I can’t wait for mine to come in this fall and all I will need is the GS4 in the Freedom Train. I have the T1 2101 already in that paint.

The piping next to the air pump is a cooling coil. Quite common on steam locomotives in the US. FYI I have the same derailing problem with my 0n30 2-6-0’s from Bachman, with these not only no spring but a lack of vertical movement.

for your next american loco you should get a Broadway Limited pennsylvania railroad K4 those things are amazing or a Rapido Trains EP-5 (which would be your first New Haven Electric locomotive)

The fact that you went from underwhelmed to angry, to amazed & excited, and then to disappointed through the course of the review is pretty amusing.

if you run the loco backwards the bogie wont derail less. sam if you can you should try and get a "RoundHouse" "Santa Fe 2-8-0 steam locomotive no#.772, item number #.84942" there die-cast loco's and very heavy, i own one and its very cool.

12:57 american locos actually are oddly colorful, having (for the most part) bright green walls inside the cab, as well as the usual valves and levers mostly being picked out in red.

10:48 although the model looks a lot like the real T&P 316, the builder's plate is inaccurate to the real 136 as it is a Baldwin builder's plate.

When you were showing the headlight lit and were running the drivers, there was a wobble. Probably due to drivers not being perpendicular on the axles. This is just another reason I have not been a fan of Bachmann steam engines. The old Tyco/Mantua 4-6-0's lacked eye appeal but I always could count on them running fairly well.

Honestly while Bachman isn’t exactly known for quality, they do make some pretty great stuff so long as you take extra care of the engines. For me, they always seem to go the extra mile on even their most basic steam engines while for most of their diesels their mechanisms can be hit or miss. This is an example in my eyes of when Bachman actually puts forth a LOT of effort to try and make a good engine.

I would call it an honest review. Yes, I agree that the prices have gotten ridiculous lately! I model all steam locomotives. No matter the scale or how smooth a steam loco operates if it has a front bogey it gets weight added to it. I use a product called Moldable Lead. It is a soft lead that I can pack on top of the bogey, as most are some sort of U shaped channel holding the axles. Plus it won't mess with the axles. I have used fishing line weights squeezed flat and glued into place on top of a bogey for N scale. One of the products you might try to weigh down that bogey with is Deluxe Materials Liquid Gravity. If you really want to know how faulty your track laying is, then get your hands on a Broadway Limited Imports On30 C-16. It will run on your HO track. It has brass springs on each axle set in brass saddles on each side of the frame. It is also a Diecast Hybrid and very heavy. One of mine weighs in at 1lb 11oz. However, a C-16 by BLI will show every flaw in your track laying. I have a fleet of those. Those BLIs were manufactured around 2004. I am current using one as a test loco for my track laying using PECO 0-16.5 On30 track. If a BLI C-16 runs smoothly through my track laying then any other manufacturer's loco will too. I will tweak the track until it does. So far, so good!

My friend is constantly defending Bachmann for their high prices, so he's gonna KILL me when I tell him about the random three-digit number trick! Great video Sam! 🤣

Hey Sam, will you ever review a big boy? You’ve teased it and even though it didn’t win it was an option for one of your subscriber milestone videos. Would definitely absolutely love to see a review of one, especially considering it just finished up running an excursion this week

The T&P never went further west than El Paso, Texas.The original charter did mention California, but alas, the railroad never extended westward beyond the state of Texas.

If you want good American locomotive models, I recommend Broadway Limited, Scale Trains, Intermountain, and Rapido. They've consistently been the top American prototype companies that never fail to disappoint. Bachmann and Athearn are best regarded as the "bargain brands" or "beginner's brands".

Buy some Broadway Limited Imports models. They are really high quality. The only problems I have had with this locomotive is that it doesn’t do slow starts well and the wiring is a little messed up.

Texas & Pacific 316 is at the Texas State Railroad. Was just out there last year and got some nice pictures. Fun fact, she is the locomotive used for filming the station scenes in the TV show 1883. Wish I still modeled HO, I would grab one.

Great review! I actually don't live too far from the Texas State Railroad (Where 316 is currently located). She last ran in 2013 due to issues with her boiler and firebox, she spent a few years partially disassembled until she was cosmetically restored in 2020 and is pending an extensive overhaul. For the time though she is on static display.

Someone should animate Sam freaking out over those catalog ads, I'd watch that so many times XD

I can't say I have this loco and I don't really have a lay out at the moment but for me lay outs are locos are important it's a hand and hand thing but I see the problems there should be a spring at least I can forgive the motor and no bearings personally I like the realistic things how ever there's designs that wins my heart

If I'm not mistaken I believe this is the locomotive we have outside of the railroad museum in our town

Another regular brilliant Sam'strains upload.

5:12 ahh yes sams trains arch-enemy has returned

If you ant another (US) engine, I got a GEVO going up here soon. It's discounted, and less than 2 years old, but enough with the advert...I might grab one of these for my grandfather as we're putting a HO scale layout out in his barn. I'm modeling a bit earlier than his time, but we do both love us some good ol' American steam. With inflation, and jobs being somewhat out of reach I found my self working over there. With his back going out, and chasing lil kids around alot, I volunteered to take over some of the various back breaking jobs, such as mowing the property (6 acres, or 2.4 hectares) with his tractor, and helping him in his barn (which is where the layout comes in). But first, a few problems: 1, power (DC or DCC (he's not computer savvy) 2, He's modeling Great Northern (US), and 3, his layout will be set after the retirement of 99.9% of ALL steam in the US, with no known plans to include a preservation line. All things to ask next time I'm over. As it is, I'm not trying to push my luck, as my grandfather already does not like people driving his tractors. It shocked most off my family when I was asked to help him remove his backhoe (digger) attachment, let alone, take over mowing with it.

Sam, another interesting viedo. Adding a spring to the leading truck might solve the derailment problem, but doing that will decrease the pulling ability my experience is by around 30%. The poor pulling ability is due to the stiff axle pickups on the tender. Many US models are designed for a minimum 18" radius, and I suspect your curves are to tight for this model. The motor is underpowered as you have observed, and that is the main cause of poor performance on this model. Mechanically it is good, as there is no noticable binding. The end play in the driving wheels is excessive, though on this model, it is not causing a problem. Keep the reviews comming. Cheers.

I have one of these in New York Central livery. Great runner and my first locomotive fitted with DCC.

Just purchased this locomotive but in the green southern livery with DCC, I agree these are well detailed and beautiful in person. I have to admit I overpaid quite a bit since southern livery is hard to find 😬

Might be of interest about the torque but this loco is driven by a rubber band between the motor axle and main drive shaft. The band has teeth but when I opened mine up I was astounded as to why that was used

Sam, If you can Try and find the Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0 High Boiler Variant. Its one of the Best locomotives From the Spectrum line

Thanks for that Sam ,it’s nice to see a loco from another part of the world .& I hope you do a lot more on American 🇺🇸 locos & stock . Keep up the good work .

Great review Sam as usual. At first I liked the way the Bachman engine looked and the fact it had a die cast boiler and smoke box made me interested . But when you got up close and personal I could see all it’s imperfections. No cabin detail and mostly molded details . This is why I like engines from the UK more details and better mechanisms . And more variety. Thanks Sam keep them coming.

Bachmann models always look incredibly detailed.

Front Bogies with the screw at the read are "pushing" the bogie so the tendency is to hop the track because all the weight is in front of the screw. Be careful of the spring you retrofit it with, though as too heavy a sprint will lift the front driver up a bit, which is not good as well.

So your videos are great but I really need an explanation… *What is this sorcery* how are the wagons moving themselves behind the ratings screen

10:51 builders plate is wrong… says Baldwin when the loco was made by Cooke lol

That front coupler droops .. and at 11:20 you can see why .. the retaining base plate is loose. Thanks for the video

I had an A2 (N gauge) from Bachmann that kept derailing - it was also the front bogies that were the issue. I sent it back and said it looked like the front bogies. They replaced them under warranty and it ran fine after that.

It's the little things that make life worth while - and watching you go "OFF" over a catalogue ad is a VERY little thing When the front bogie of any steam loco causes grief, I add a thin sheet of LEAD (hammered roofing lead) on top with a little CCA and no more problems

I have that same loco in NYC colors! First loco I ever bought

I've been really busy and stressed lately with schoolwork and whatnot, just want you to know your videos are a massive help. :)

I saw the derailment if you have a tight curve right into a switch you have a high chance of derailment for ho engines

You were much more forgiving of this model than I would have been. This was clearly just a Bachmann 4-6-0 Baldwin that they slapped a T&P 316 livery on and called it a day. Didn't even bother to remove the Baldwin builders plate on a Cooke locomotive. Also the valve gear on the model was Walschaerts and not Stevenson. If it had Stevenson valve gear you would only see the main and connecting rods on the outside, because Stevenson valve gear sits behind the wheels and the frame under the boiler. Also the front pilot was wrong. It should have had combination road and switch pilot, but just had a switching pilot. My rating for this would have been 1/5 stars for minimum effort on Bachmann's part. Just a lazy repaint. I'm still glad to see you give us Americans some attention now and then!

Excellent Video. Back in 2013 I took one of the last rides on this locomotive before a start of a major overhaul, which is till in repair status (needs more money) Location is in Palestine, Texas on the Texas State Railroad. I was ready to purchase this locomotive till I seen your review about the front bogies. I also have the same issues on some of my other 4-6-0's, thank you for saving me a $140.00+

Más de lo mismo: Bachmann con su transmisión por correa dentada. He recibido para reparar algunas locomotoras de Bachmann Spectrum con ese sistema, y he encontrado esa correa desgastada o rota. Y conseguir el recambio...¿en Bachmann Parts? no las he visto. Preferiría la transmisión del motor a la rueda motríz con engranajes en vez de ese artilugio. Gracias por subir estos vídeos de productos.

I honestly come here for American steam loco reviews because every American model railroad channel seems to focus on freight diesels from athearn and extraordinarily priced locos from Broadway Limited, which I have no interest in or cannot afford respectively.

That Loco will run great on Kato Unitrack

Honestly its not as much that we in the US dislike Bachmann, its just generally viewed as the lower end of the quality spectrum. I actually like Bachmann at a good price, you just have to realize its not the high end model.

iirc the Baldwin 4-6-0 was used as a model for one of Red Dead Redemption 2’s locomotives

Bachmann's Spectrum line is much better than their standard line including these 4-6-0's which have been cheapened since they moved them to their standard line. They were much better quality when they were under the Spectrum label.

5:16 Sam, are you ok? A couple things I'd like to point out if you don't mind: Cooke is pronounced "cook". The 316, along with almost all American engines, have the Walschaerts valve gear, hence the return crank and expansion link. The "radiator" is a feedwater heater. It heats up the water before it gets injected into the boiler to help with efficiency. The "pump" is a straight air compressor for charging up the air reservoirs. The cylinder underneath the cab is for actuating the independent brakes. We actually had really beautiful cabs, brass and copper pipes everywhere, dozens of valves and levers on both sides of the cabs, and a lot of our cabs had a green interior. We have names for wheel arrangements. The ones you mentioned are: 4-6-0 (10-Wheeler), 2-8-2 (Mikado/MacArthur), and 2-10-4 (Texas). There's a whole Wikipedia article about them if you would like to learn more.

I have this loco myself, but I've never actually run it because I don't have a layout yet. On the other hand, I have it in N scale and it has the same pilot truck issue where it derails a LOT. The N scale version has a much bigger tender than the HO scale one.

just needs a mini Delorean to push around the layout ;P

5:13 can I ask: was that genuine anger or just an act? Either way very convincing

Perhaps Bachmann just forgot to install the spring. When will you be reviewing the Accurascale Deltic in 00 scale or the Bachmann Double Fairlie in 009 scale? Good video thanks Sam

Just a friendly correction the Cooke locomotive company is pronounced like Sam was a great Cook I loved his modelrailwaymans broth.

Funny you said something about Rivarossi. My best runner in my small fleet is a small 0-6-0. but compared to my second best, being a diesel loco, it can haul all of my cars ( which I don’t have a lot of ) with ease. I believe it has to do with the main driving wheels have grip tires.

Hi Sam, thank you for the video, I have the same loco except it's dcc and because it derails (same problem as yours) I use it as my test loco for my new layout (does not like some trackwork) in fact I had to replace some Peco set track points with larger streamline ones. Overall they run pretty good, so if it doesn't derail all my other locos will be fine also.😁 Cheers Gary.

5:16 You are entertaining Sam! well done on the child friendly 'Flying Funnel'!

316 is one of the engines in the preservation railroad right by me! The Texas State railroad, id love to have an n scale model of her some day

Is it just me or does the Baldwin 4-6-0 look like the the sierra no. 3 steam locomotive from Back To The Future Part 3?

Hey Sam did you know that bachman did this model back in 1999 and it had a 5 pole motor Cheers Jasper & Willow

Awesome unboxing & review video

I was close at £280. Great video Sam!

I will send you a bachmann catalogue for Christmas, ha ha, regards pete

Even Mehano put springs under their locos and they were made in like the 1980s

Can you get your hands on lead weights, such as those used to balance automotive wheels? They are small and self-adhesive, which would be perfect for the front bogey. I use them all the time...👍Sometimes a spring is not ideal, as it can lift some weight off the drivers...

Random but fun fact: the original spectrum model of this was better. They also had two versions, the current one, the low boiler, and the high boiler, the no longer produced one.

Hi Sam. Thanks in particular for this review. I am rather partial to American country music so my ears pricked up when your first piece of music played in this video. Can you please advise who is playing it ? Many thanks

I wonder if you have german models in your collection. We had great Steam Locos here,

The catalogue rant left me quite confused. I don't recall Sam getting that angry over anything, not even Hornby's questionable antics.

If I am not Blind I saw the bend was a Hair too kinked. Or not I think one of the Joiners was Throwing the trailer off could be wrong but that’s what I Saw was wrong with it Causing it to Derail.

Hey Sam I found the odd one out its the LMS 2-6-0 Cheers Willow & Jasper

It will run much smoother if you put in a quality decoder

maybe you should try a Santa Fe EMD F locomotives

You could retrofit a Japanese can motor. I did with my united models 2-8-4 nickel plate road Berkshire, runs much better!

love the old Baldwin 10 wheelers

my preference on trains are thomas and friends trains. idc if they are bachmann or not though i would like to get a hornby edward at some point. even though bachmann edward is more accurate to the show the hornby edward performs better from the reviews and comparisons ive seen here

This locomotive derails frequently like Smudger from Thomas & Friends (Stanley from The Railway Series) yet it doesn’t care a dime for a few spills.

Man, I wish 110 pounds was 140 Australian dollars… that’s more $190 here… And 230 pounds… ooof… that’s over 400, which is most of my rent for a fortnight. Admittedly, my rent is subsidised, but that’s still a lot of cash for a loco without bearings…

The prototype for the locomotive is Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad #27 and #28. Both were built by Baldwin in 1906 and 1910 respectively. They served the M&P until their retirement in 1955 and were sadly cut up for Scrap. The engine the model is representing (Texas & Pacific #316) is currently preserved at the Texas State Railroad in Rusk, Texas.

5:11 Everyone, back up... Sam's angry!

The valve gear appears to be Walschaerts.

American locos are for waight fraight not speed

I do like it when u do american locos maybe a running session 🧐

Hey Sam, I have a box of american locos and rolling stock just sitting around. If you want it, I can see about getting it to you.