Thanks Jenny. A full and well detailed review. Remember fondly travelling on the old British Railways green stock in the 1960’s from Portsmouth to visit my grandparents in London. If I recall, the fare was around 6 or 7 shillings, one way, 30 - 35p! That dates me rather! A fine looking model and I think a bargain at the price. With the conductive couplings being only two wires, these are ONLY going to control the lighting. One for the end of train, and the other for carriage lighting. As such, the loco drive power is ONLY picked up within the motor unit. Likewise, with two separate lighting functions, individually controlled, the supply or return ( + or -, usually - from the decoder) has to be derived from the power pickups in each coach / trailer. This is where after some considerable time, the Bachmann Achilleas Heel kicks in. The problem is that over time, the wires connected to the kinetic couplings brake away at the solder joints due to the coupling having to flex to negotiate curves. I’ve experienced this on two Bachmann 2 car units more than once. Repairable with a steady hand and a very fine tipped soldering iron. Having said that, would I buy one?… Already ordered!👍
The 411/2 is a particularly nice electric multiple unit. I often used them when I went to see my grandparents in Kingston-Upon-Thames. Sadly, they weren’t around in a layout that depicts 1945 or earlier!!
As in my previous comment, had one on order, now here! Being interested in CV’s but still not fully understanding how the LokSound V5 works, I have found four more sounds (and there may be more) not mentioned in the accompanying paperwork and missed out in Jenny’s review. Try F buttons 24, 25, 26 and 27. They are programmed, and they all play sound files. F24, Driver’s Handbrake. F25, Station Announcement. F26 (only plays when F1 is on) sounds like Air Brake, similar to F2 Brakes. F27, not too certain but sounds like another version of coupling. It’s always interesting to see if there’s something already in the decoder setup that’s not published in the manual. Sometimes you can find that hidden gem!
Quite a comphrensive review going over all the features Bachmann has incorporated into its model. It is a bit annoying that Bachmann has never released the Buffet car on its own allowing owners of CEPs to make up a BEP! However, if you get this offering, then you could do that! Thanks for uploading.
Spent may a summer going to watch Kent play Cricket at Canterbury or Folkstone, with my mum, uncle and grandad. Travelling on 411 0r 422, the sounds bring back many memories.
Britannia Pacific has made one, but it is very expensive. We can only hope that Bachmann do a 4CIG in due course! I don't know why they have not done one already.
You would want some space for that layout sadly ive nothing near that space, a shunting layout is all the room i would have. What a beautiful model and layout
I have several of the original 4 CEP units, and MLVs, and a newer refurbished 411 in Jaffa Cake livery, plus the bargain 4 TEP from TMC. The lighting controls have not changed at all - F0 works the headcodes, and F1 works the interior lights (on non-sound versions). The interior lights in the newer refurbished units like the TEP are brighter than before, though. All are lovely runners, but I found the TEP whines a bit, which none of my other units do. Annoyingly, the diagram Bachmann include shows the correct formation for a class 411 4 CEP, but not for the TEP unit. I actually got the Buffet Car the wrong way round initially, meaning the interior lights didn't work. Having worked out the correct direction for it, I put a silver arrow under the base using a Sharpie pen to indicate which was the forward direction.
I purchased my sound fitted version from TMC and I must admit, I'm a little disappointed. I originally thought that 40% off was an offer too good to pass up - but now wish I'd spent on something else. I think the rigid drawbar couplings are a nightmare! Most of my loco and coaching formations are coupled together with Hunt magnetic couplings, and these are fantastic. If I fit Hunt couplings to my 4-TEP, I lose the electrical continuity for the coach lighting. I believe Fleischman Trains do a magnetic coupling with electrical continuity - but these have been unavailable/sold out for months. DCC experts have said I could use Hunt couplings - but the coaches would need serious re-wiring/additional pick-up's to keep the lighting. The glaringly visible decoder is also a serious issue for me (highlighted when the coach is illuminated).
The original version was a Hornby model produced from 1960-1968, under the Tri-Ang Hornby name. The next version was from Hornby Hobbies. I can hardly believe that the latest version comes from Bachmann Branch Line!!
Hornby version, R2946, 423VEP, BR blue and grey. Managed to get one secondhand from Ronlines in 2017 for £115. There may have ben other “Hornby” releases prior to 2017, but I’m not aware of any.
