Bachmann Spectrum HO E33 on Sale

[Frank Rizzo]

I've been looking at the E33 from Bachmann, never bought any of their engines before. Their steam looked decent, the diesels a little lacking in detail, and then there are the electrics. I purchased a VGN E33, which is a PC or NH name, VGN referred to the General Electric locomotive as the EL-C from what I have read about it.

The Bachmann E33 looks nice, runs fine out of the box(DC), has painted handrails (hate molded colored handrails - Athearn), is heavy, and the operating metal pantograph looks sharp. The blue colored light for the headlight is strange and some feel the the trucks could use more detail. Anyone have any experience on replacing the headlights?

They were on sale at http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/ for $40 each, regularly $60, MSRP $130. I liked the price so much, I bought three: 2 VGN + 1 NW. They also have a PC E33 on sale, as well as Bachmann Spectrum HO AMTRAK HHP-8 on sale for $50.

Now I'm going to have to string wires.

Frank

 

[V&AL]

I currently own 5 of those units and they are incredable. I took 2 out to the Paper Valley Model RR in Kaukauna, WI and they yanked a 40 car coal drag up their steepest grade without a burp.

one note of warning to those who are new to juice jacks... check your clearances with a single engine running at slow speed!

nothing like hanging, (literally!) up on some obstruction with a tripleheader hot-shot merchandiser. even with the train hanging down hill, and all 3 units pulling I still couldn't back the units out. Removed emergency hole in terrain, found the lead unit's pantograph stuck on the bridge with the front truck about 5mm above the railhead.
oh yea, and when running on a 'foreign' road and most folks tell ya "it's got lotsa clearance!" listen to the guy who says "I dunno about that bridge at the top of the hill..."