Are Bachmann Trains Good? A look into Bachmann’s quality and production
Bachmann locomotives are a popular choice for model railroaders. They are durable and have a wide variety of options for locomotives. However, there are some complaints about the quality of Bachmann locomotives. Some people say that the engines do not run well and that the quality of the materials is not very good. This post will dive into this topic in detail and answer if Bachmann trains are good.
Bachmann locomotives, especially the Spectrum line, have a good build and quality. While the old Bachmann trains aren’t good, the newer releases now have features that are comparable to other brands. That is why some collectors are now going back to Bachmann since they provide ease of access and high-quality trains.
This blog post will talk about Bachmann, mainly if it is a good model train brand and collectible models. Later, I will give some examples of Bachmann models that have been sold for a lot of money and a guide on what to look for when buying quality Bachmann trains.
Are Bachmann locomotives any good?
Bachmann locomotives produce good quality model trains. While they had a bad reputation for offering low-quality model trains in the past, the company has come a long way, and their new releases provide not only more durable trains but are also filled with features such as high-quality sounds and lights.
Many old modelers would always say to stay away from Bachmann since most of their Bachmann trains went on a trip to repair stores.
However, what they’re talking about is the Bachmann trains in the early 2000s.
Right now, Bachmann has changed and has started to produce higher-quality train models. Their newer models are not only sturdy but also include multiple features.
For example, the newer versions of Bachmann trains now run on DCC with the TCS WOW sounds, different from the older models that only use Soundtraxx.
Another is their build. While there are still low-quality Bachmann trains, such as the starter sets, other Bachmann lines are built with high quality.
For example, when we talk about the Bachmann Spectrum, which is famous for Steam locomotives, they are often durable and offer fine detail, which Steam locomotive collectors love.
What’s excellent with Bachmann is their variety since they not only sell common scales like the HO and N scale, but they also offer other scales.
For example, the Bachmann Williams line offers O scale model trains.
Another is the Bachmann Big Haulers, which offers G scale model trains.
Bachmann also offers models on the On30 scale.
As you can see, if we talk about variety, Bachmann is the way to go. While they still offer cheap starting trains, you can get decent quality if you know what line to buy.
Furthermore, they are a company that keeps evolving from something that many collectors stay away from to one of the leading manufacturers of model trains.
So, whether you are a complete beginner or someone who is already experienced in model railroading, Bachmann has something to offer.
Lastly, Bachmann not only offers trains and tracks, but they also offer layout designs such as their line Plasticville which offers houses, built-ups, and kits in the HO, N, and O scale.
Examples of the things you can get with Plasticville are:
- Barns
- Cathedral
- Coaling Station
- Contemporary Houses
- Freight Station
- Burger Stand
- Gas Station
- Hardware
- Pedestrian Bridge
- Post Office
All of these examples are in scale. This means you don’t worry that these houses would look a lot big and small, making your layout unrealistic.
Furthermore, these are just examples, and you can find more layout designs from Plasticville in local model train stores.
In short, you can finish an entire layout by buying only Bachmann. They made themselves a one-stop shop for people who want to get into the hobby and are experienced in it.
That’s why the quality also varies. Since they offer cheap model trains to help beginners start their hobby, the quality may not be as good as model trains that are made for experienced modelers.
For experienced modelers, stay away from the lower quality Bachmann and try the Spectrum line.
Following these tips, everyone will be happy with Bachmann whether you are looking for price or quality.
But one question that wonders many people is the build. Many prefer metal models and would like to know if Bachmann trains are made of plastic or metal. That’s what we will talk about in the next section.
Are Bachmann trains metal or plastic?
Bachmann trains are a combination of metals and plastics. However, the parts that need to be sturdy are always made with metal, such as the wheels. However, parts that are intended for design are usually plastics.
Bachmann trains aren’t 100% metal. While there are parts that are metal, such as the wheels and the gears. The ones that are only needed for design are made out of plastics.
However, old Bachmann trains tend to have plastic gears. So they’ve changed and are now offering metal gears which made their models more durable.
As I’ve explained earlier, Bachmann had improved along the way, and they found that one of the things their consumers hate about them is that their old models are not durable because of plastic gears.
Right now, the parts that need to be metal are metal. However, some are still in plastic, such as the accessories in the model.
However, because of their continuous change, they are now producing high-quality and durable models.
In the next section, I will prove that Bachmann trains can be collectibles as I give real examples of some Bachmann trains sold at high prices on auctions.
Are Bachmann trains collectible?
There are Bachmann collectible trains that are worth the money, such as the Bachmann HO Scale The Dewitt Clinton Passenger Electric Train Set, which was sold for $5,000 in 2022. Another example is the Bachmann Branchline 35-990 London Underground Tube train, an Exclusive model for London Transportation Museum, sold for $950.
Bachmann trains are collectibles, and their collectivity could come for multiple reasons such as their manufacturing date, rarity, and if it is in limited edition.
One such example is the Exclusive model for the London transportation museum, which is the Bachmann Branchline 35-990 tube train. This model train was sold for $950 in 2021 because it is in limited edition.
Furthermore, Bachmann models are sold for a high price because it is vintage models. For example, the 1997 Bachmann Vintage Big Hauler G Scale train set was sold for $799 in an auction.
However, if you combine these factors, the price can go extremely up. For example, the Bachmann HO Scale The Dewitt Clinton Passenger Electric Train Set #40-130, a vintage and limited edition model, was sold for $5,000 in 2022.
As you can see, Bachmann trains can be collectible if you know what you are buying.
However, one piece of advice I have is not to get the starter Bachmann sets since they are not in limited edition. Instead, go for higher quality Backmann trains such as Bachmann Spectrum since their likelihood of being collectible in the future is higher compared to the starter sets.
Furthermore, beginner sets tend to be made out of cheap materials, making them not worth collecting.
Thus, if you want to have some collectible Bachmann trains, go for the vintage and limited edition ones.
Where are Bachmann trains made?
Bachmann trains are made by Kader group, whose products are situated in Dongguan, China. This ensures that the prices of their products are competitive due to China’s low manufacturing and labor cost. Because of this, we can enjoy high-quality models at a lower price.
Bachmann trains’ parent company is the Kader group. Kader Industrial Company Limited is a company founded in Hongkong in 1948. It is one of the largest hobby railway manufacturers in the world.
However, Bachmann Industries was founded in Philadelphia, where its headquarters are.
Many people wonder why they would outsource the production to China. Outsourcing to China reduced the production cost to offer products at a cheaper price.
Without it, they can’t compete with other brands since most of them are also outsourcing the labor and manufacturing to other countries.
Also, because of this, we can get these models at a cheaper cost.
What’s next? Now that you know a lot about Bachmann trains, people wonder if these trains are compatible with other tracks such as Kato, Lionel, Atlas, and Hornby. Luckily, I made a post about that, and you can find the answer here: Can Bachmann Trains run on other branded tracks?
