What is a Bachmann Digital Controller?  

It’s just a straight forward remote control that allows you to control more than one train at a time, no big deal.  It just looks like your regular sort of boxy gizmo, kind of like a smallish DVR maybe.

Are they easy to purchase and use?  

Bachmann is perhaps most recognized for their beginner kits for beginning toy locomotive hobbyists.  Most Bachmann beginner kits will include a digital controller right with it.  Usually they will also include a couple of different locomotives and some cars for them to pull.  And enough track to create a little loop as well.  There’s a reason why Bachmann has made a name for itself with these beginner kits.  They don’t stiff you on the bill either.  If you’re just getting started and are into HO size you can’t go wrong with a Bachmann starter kit.

Are Bachmann locomotives good?

Ask almost any hobbyist who got started in the last two decades what train he or she bought to begin and you’ll always get the same answer: a “Bachmann starter Set”.  Bachmann does a cool job of producing simple straight forward beginner sets that let you get going with your model train experience in just a matter of minutes and it does all this at bargain prices.  Bachmann is excellent at responding to customer needs and so you will have a good deal of choice as to the type of train that you want and the kind of kit.  Bachmann’s just a really wonderful deal if you’re just starting to indulge your model train fantasies!

How long has Bachmann been around? 

The Bachmann company has been in existence since the 1830’s and the original 19^th century families that founded Bachmann, the Carlisle’s and the Bachmann’s still have descendents on the company’s board.  Bachmann was created in the cradle of democracy itself, but moved its operation from Philadelphia to Beijing in 1999.  Although they were around long before relative new comers like Lionel and American Flyer, Bachmann didn’t enter the model train making business until after these other 20^th century companies were the well established industry leaders.  Bachmann’s m.o. has greatly been defined by its attempt to find a niche outside of the sphere of influence of what was then the major player in model locomotives, Lionel train (now Lionel LLC).  Just as people were trying to find a simpler, less space consuming and less expensive alternative to Lionel’s O gauge trains, there was Bachmann with its easy to set up starter Kits.  By tapping into the customers that Lionel alienated Bachmann established themselves as the new kings of the hill in the model locomotive making world.  The Bachmann Digital Controller is just the one of the many advances that Bachmann has adopted in order to remain the most popular beginners model trainer makers around.

How does the Bachmann digital controller function?  

Well to get it you first have to get the problem that it solved.  Back in the day before controllers, it used to be that trains moved because the track was electrified.  So if the train was on the track it took off when you ran electricity through it.  If you wanted to operate more than one train and not have them moving at the same time, you needed two sources of power and two separate tracks.  This was okay if you were only going to operate say two locomotives, but if you added more locomotives than this, all the separate wiring and devices started to really make a mess.  The computer age allowed Bachmann to use tiny processor technology to get around this problem. These microchips make it so that the individual trains only responds when commanded.  Since the locomotive is in control and not the track, you can have as many trains on the same track as you want.  The controller tells the tiny processor when to go and the locomotive follows its command.  It was an easy computer age solution to an old hardware puzzle.  That clear things up?

If I collect classic trains am I just out of luck?  Do you just have to stick to the old fashioned way? 

No. Lots of model locomotive hobbyists install the microchip into their older model trains.  There is some explanatory literature out there but it is possible to make old trains operate with a digital device.  Sometimes it involves some soldering but for an old school guy like yourself this shouldn’t be a big deal.  It’s not quite as simple as knowing the difference between a Phillips head and flat head, but it’s not brain surgery either. 

Anyway, that’s what I know about the Bachmann Digital Controller.  Now, which one of these is a Phillips? Now, the one with the straight head or the one with the x head?

Here is more information on Bachmann Model Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

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Today you will be able to find Bachmann trains in a five different scales. The HO Scale, N Scale, O Scale, On30 Scale and what they call the Large Scale. They also produce a membership model called “The Williams by Bachmann” which is only available to Platinum Club members. These cars are limited additions and are part of the membership package for the Platinum Club. The limited addition “The Williams by Bachmann” cars come in the affordable O-gauge. The annual membership cost $35 and other benefits include:

? Limited Edition Platinum Club Car
? 2009 Williams by Bachmann catalog
? Quarterly e-mail newsletter
? New product announcements by email

The Large Scale includes the world known “Thomas & Friends” model train collection. The faceplates for all the characters in “Thomas & Friends” are available as an individual purchase or as part of a package set. The “Thomas & Friends” train collection is a great way to get your kids or grand kids involved in model trains. Bachmann has “Thomas & Friends” as their featured product this month. A starter set will run you about $385.00.

The price of acquiring Bachmann model trains varies considerably. The least expensive of these train sets will cost you about $59.00 whereas the more detailed steam engine trains will set you back more than $900.00. The steam engine trains come in every scale except the O. You need to understand that this is just for a basic track, a locomotive and a few basic cars. The real cost of collecting and building a model railroad train collection is in the elaborate detail of your bench work.

Bachmann has been building model trains since before World War II and it is the pre-war lines that are of the highest quality of craftsmanship and therefore of the highest value in collector circles. The postwar lines, although still well built and with nice detailing, pale in comparison to the pre-war line in their value. However, for someone just starting out in collection of model trains the economical value of the post-war line will make a beginners collection much more affordable. Although the older trains have more collector value one is required to put in a considerable amount of time and effort in order to restore their appearance. This is why beginners are advised to stick with the more recent models. Leave the restoration to the more experienced model railroading enthusiasts.

The pre-war model toy trains by Bachmann are considered to be vintage items since they date back to before World War II. In fact World War II is considered to be the turning point when it comes to model train collecting. Experience model train collectors solely seek to acquire pre-war trains. The design material, attention to detail and just the pure age of the items are why experienced collectors seek out these vintage trains. A hardcore collector will tell you that there is no substitute for the look and feel of a vintage train. The sound and spirit of the real-world train is truly captured in the Bachmann pre-war trains.

Although the Bachmann post-war model trains are built with superior technology and are still very authentic in nature they do not hold the sentimental value and the collectable value of the vintage age. However, the new trains are extremely popular with children and new collectors. Either way, Bachmann has been an integral part of model train history and will continue to lead the way in the future. Happy collecting.

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Removed or Overhead Lighting – These lights are what you have in your room to showcase your model railroad.  These lighting sources, sometimes referred to as track lighting, should showcase the project in its entirety. One idea is the inclusion of strip lighting with adjustable heads that allow you to shine the light on any particular area.  Consider adding a dimmer switch to the room’s overhead lighting too.  It’s a great way to define the light – if you’re working with small pieces from Bachmann trains, the brighter light will reduce eye strain or if you’re showing off your masterpiece, by dimming the lights, you can change the effect of your presentation.

Why Would I Even Want to Modify the Lighting? There are a few reasons for using adjustable lighting sources:
•    To recreate dawn or dusk scenes – consider using low watt pink or blue bulbs.  They can be found in hobby shops or hardware stores.  Alternatively, electroluminescent cable lighting can be used with the same effect.  This is ideal for placement behind scenery with little height since the cable is easily hidden out of sight.
•    To light billboards, streetlights and even railroad crossing lights
•    Small headlights for automobiles

It’s all about creativity.  You’re limited only by your imagination.  Few things allow us to “write our own rules”, but when it comes to designing Bachmann trains or any model railroad, you, as its owner, are allowed complete creative liberty.  Keep in mind too that nothing’s permanent.  If one method doesn’t create the desired effect, it’s easily changed or moved around.  Too many times, we get tunnel vision and forget the countless other ways to recreate a scene or design a layout for our model railroad.

Lighting that Varies with Your Train’s Speed – Sometimes you may notice your locomotive’s light varies depending on the speed of its motion.  If you’ve run into this, consider incorporating diodes or resistors to ensure its light is consistent.  Although many find a way to insert batteries, keep in mind it can be bulky and awkward trying to fit it into the allocated space. Remember to wear safety goggles and use caution when working with electricity.  And finally, don’t forget to use your creativity.

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Plasticville USA was something, which was sold previous to the first Bachmann model train. These were plastic buildings and other accessories, which would fit in with the trains being sold by other companies. While they were not producing any model trains themselves, it did not prevent them from being known in every home as having fine model train products. These products are still sold in conjunction with model train sets by Lionel to this day. While some may argue the pieces are nothing but mere toys, it opened the door to the ornate layouts created to this day.

While the N scale was the original line of Bachmann models, they quickly made changes in order to expand into the HO scale. They could foresee at the time the HO scale would become the most popular scale to date, which it has. Unfortunately for the company, they were not positioned to sell globally and were losing money. Bachmann Bros. sold the company to Kader who was the manufacturer of Bachmann products. From this sale, Bachmann industries was born and the company began selling globally. Even with a dwindling interest in model trains, the company was able to stay profitable.

In order to appeal to a broader market, the Bachmann model train company came out with a new product line called Spectrum. The Spectrum line was kept completely separate from the Bachmann line in order to cement the product as a luxury model train line. They did not want there to be any relation between the luxury Spectrum line and the Bachmann industries toy model trains which had sold up until that point. These trains offered much more detail at a much higher price. Made of metal with plastic gears, the company was able to keep costs down while building revenue from those who were serious about model railroading.

As an effort to reach the middle of the road, Bachmann model trains began selling Bachmann Plus in 1992. These trains had more detail than the regular Bachmann line, but not nearly as much as the Spectrum line. The creation of the line signified the move of production to China. Eventually the Bachmann plus line was dissolved and was replaced by the silver series. This is the middle grade that is sold today by Bachmann industries for those who aspire to have the Spectrum series, but cannot quite afford it yet.

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