Does the HO Scale Bachmann ALC-42 Charger Pull? Detailed Review, Comparison to P42, Running Session

[@jeffreyrule8143]

Great video and comments from the viewers.

[@jameswatson5304]

I'm a Locomotive Engineer for 47 years, and I must say my favorite units are and always will be the F40PHs. The P42s are second and these new units................. still growing on me, but not by much.

[@DoctorHobby]

Oh, this is interesting to hear! Any reason you prefer one over the other?

[@Devilninja333]

Amazing camera angles

[@CentralJerseyRailfan]

I'm generally intrigued why the europeans love traction tires. I believe that another factor may also be on how free rolling the cars are. Scaletrains freight diesels are known to be very heavy and pull alot without traction tires

[@DoctorHobby]

I'm wondering if it's because they often run really tight turns due to space restrictions? Only a guess, tho . Maybe it's just tradition for them..

[@jamesmckelvey]

Many European layouts often have lots of helixes and steep inclines with big height differences in order to pack more in to smaller spaces, plus double heading is less common in real life, so single model locomotives have to be able to handle trains themselves

[@gerardlang9690]

As an Amtrak Engineer, there is a pro and con to either one. I love the Chargers for how sleek and sexy they look, and they do pick up speed faster than the P42, but for safety, the P42's are tanks.

[@MaxSupercars]

Hah! 😃 I finally received mine today in black Amtrak 50th anniv. paint scheme. The package spent the whole 1 month somewhere at the airport warehouse during Christmas parcel madness. 🙂 But finally is here and is a really mind blowing paint scheme. The model is not as detailed like from Athearn or others, but for Bachmann standards it's the upper (probably most higher) level what can you get from this manufacturer. The Sound from TCS is a really good, samples are clear a playback is enough loud with no side effects like body vibrations etc. In comparison to ESU decoder, TCS got no so fine drive control at low speeds. Overall very good model. I got 2 Chargers and will probably buy more with other paint schemes. Very addictive model... 🙂 I wish, Bachmann would do the Florida's Brightline Chargers, but they would must do also the coaches for it to have the whole sense... But, we can not have everything... 🙂

[@kevinwright2695]

Very nice video!! I love amtrak haven't got my charger yet!! Nice viewliners never saw one with windows all the way across the top!!

[@DoctorHobby]

They are really interesting looking carriages, aren't they? Thank you for your kind words!

[@train-addict4656]

Good Video, Yes like the Bachman model . Watched those E60'S go by my house for years , they used to scream , could hear them a mille away. What Decoder is in the P42 ? I do have the kato with Lok Sound.

[@DoctorHobby]

It’s my favorite locomotive. I’ve been thinking about taking a trip down to the southwest just to see them… wish I could have seen Amtrak’s model in person. The P42 uses a LokSound decoder as well.

[@jasonworden8209]

I just got 8 AmFleet's.. they pull SOOO hard. I felt my Bachmann Sc44 after pulling them on only speed 30/128, and the casing was warm. So I ordered a Alc42 last night to consist. Also going to pull all the AmFleet cars off and lube them.

[@jasonworden8209]

Forgot to add mine have the interior lighting so obviously the pickups are going to add drag. But like you said, I'm not trying to burn up my brand new loco.. so I'm going to just add on another loco for a consist and lube the cars. Love the detailed video. Subscribed!

[@DoctorHobby]

Thanks tons! And, yup, definitely want to go conservative on the horsepower and not over stress anything. I have the same problem with pickups and drag I’m going to have to overcome., as well. Best wishes!

[@cojack424]

Hello…I enjoyed your video. If I may ask, where did you buy your locomotive (301) from? I can’t find it anywhere…..

[@DoctorHobby]

Thank you so much! I pre-ordered it so that I wouldn’t miss out on any of the fun.

[@epacm50]

Awesome review! The price of the Amtrak cars substantially increased due to inflation and increased licensing fees. I mostly have Kato sets and planning to have Rapido ones in the future.

[@DoctorHobby]

Thank you for the kind words! It certainly doesn’t seem like the hobby is getting any cheaper, that’s for sure… hopefully I’ll be able to keep up enough to keep doing videos! :)

[@policefire911]

What brand was the Genesis P42?

[@DoctorHobby]

I believe they’re Athearns.

[@elioarmas-rojo8601]

A note on the beginning when you tried pulling the consist. An issue across manufacturers with the Amfleets is that they seem to be very tight on the trucks and actually can prevent the locomotive from being able to pull. You had enough Amfleets that didn’t allow the loco to pull. It’s annoying but lubricant surely helps with those Amfleet issues.

[@tillmang]

Can you make a video on how to add traction tire to the bachmann?

[@DoctorHobby]

To this model, specifically?

[@dinglebopsmoothedwithshlee6830]

@@DoctorHobby ok.. I guess that question's going to go no farther lol

[@petere4540]

I would say 3 view liners and 4 amfleet is nice. I do both via and Amtrak but the via version only runs with Bachman venture cars. Shucks

[@kevmeister6466]

I can see that DF4E in the background

[@DoctorHobby]

Haha.. Indeed.. The video is being worked on

[@scottdonaldson821]

The ALC-42 is a good looking loco, makes me want to do a US themed layout but if I did a non-UK I think either Germany or Austria would still be ever so slightly above on my list.

[@DoctorHobby]

Haha.. It is a good looking loco, indeed..i guess the Vectron would be the closest choice you'd have..

[@brandonpurple165]

I have that same issue with all Bachman Trains I have. I started buying Traction tires for them

[@DoctorHobby]

Are you able to keep them on without grooves or are you machining them in?

[@brandonpurple165]

@@DoctorHobby Yes. There is a slight concave to the flanges so the traction tires fall into the shape and they go on very tight. I place 2 on the front Bogey and 2 on the rear bogey to not fear breaking connection

[@DoctorHobby]

I’ll remember this tip! Thank you!

[@swagermcdevil6228]

Damn you got so many Viewliner sleepers that's over a thousand dollars given how crazy they get on Ebay. I think the ALC-42 is a bit underweight and over priced, way overpriced for a bachmann. I think the Bachmann ACS-64 is a good engine and is slightly heavier maybe you should weigh them and found out. I miss the older Bachmann back when they came out with the HHP8 and the Acela set those trains have real weight to them and pull a surprising amount. Now it's all over priced feather trains that cant pull a damn. Although the Walthers cars are notoriously bad at free rolling they are called Amsleds for a reason.

[@DoctorHobby]

Yeah.. You're definitely right about the weight of the Charger. It would have probably been better to go with traction tires at that mass. I appreciate them stepping up their game, but they have a bit more to go to really take it to the next level

[@motorwings1]

I run p42s out of meridian i dint care for lower perspective and the blind spots are horrible

[@DoctorHobby]

Oh, it’s great to talk to someone who actually drives these! You mean to lower perspective of the Charger?

[@sargentrowell81]

So just for future reference if you do want to do a more realistic consist for Amtrak long distance trains, they don't generally change all that much in the arrangement. It's only the quantities of cars. Amtrak single level long distance consists usually have Amfleet II coach cars, an Amfleet II cafe car, a dining car, between 1 and 5 viewliner sleepers (though 5 is no longer a normal thing now that Amtrak has separated the Silver services to Miami again) and a baggage car or baggage dorm car. The most interesting single level long distance consist is The Lake Shore Limited. When I would model it I had a baggage car, a sleeper car, Amfleet I cafe, and 2 Amfleet II's for the Boston section, and for the New York section I had 4 Amfleet II coaches, an Amfleet II cafe, a dining car, 2 sleeper's and a baggage car. That consist would be connected together with the coach sections together. That's a really neat consist to model. Side note, if you feel like being extremely accurate, I've noticed the Amfleet II coach cars always have the door's on the same side (like the door would always be on the north facing side of the train if it's southbound), and the Amfleet II cafe car faces the opposite way. The dining cars always had the portion with the seats on the side of the Viewliner sleepers as well, and the doors on the Viewliner sleepers were always positioned so the door was facing the dining car. It's fairly easy to identify the cars on the single level long distance trains. BTW, Amtrak is presumably going to skip painting any rolling stock in Phase VI since they've already accepting their newest ACL-42 locomotives exclusively in Phase VII.

[@DoctorHobby]

I’m not sweating it, but I know a lot of people will find this info of great interest.

[@gkjsooley]

The Railjet prototype only has 7 permanently coupled coaches, so there's your justification to run shorter trains and thus avoid powertrain failure or motor burn-out. PS: Spotted a VIA Rail Charger and matching consist at the Ottawa train station yesterday. These are push-pull sets with a driver's cab at one end. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3yoqIGBlKmHoMU

[@DoctorHobby]

It ALMOST works, except the NightJet doesn't run a Viaggio consist and they seem to pick up what they need, when they need it. I think I have another solution, tho... More to come on that. That's a neat find on the other item! Hopefully we'll see that modeled (and the Brightline) soon!

[@gkjsooley]

@@DoctorHobby The video link above is not mine - I took a couple of pics - waded through knee-high snow to do it!

[@gopalan77]

The Walthers cars are stiff, and they don't roll freely. I believe the ALC-42 can haul the same number of Rapido Horizon coaches.

[@DoctorHobby]

You might be very right there.

[@gopalan77]

@@DoctorHobby I was laughing out loud at 3:04 - Just do it part. It was very funny :) Thanks for an excellent video.

[@saadqureshi7993]

That’s a lot of viewliner cars

[@DoctorHobby]

Yeah ... It's on the verge of getting out of control, but it's not quite there yet

[@KJW-Transit]

Came back to this video watched it again and the blue Night jet sounds like what the ALC-42 is actually supposed to sound like

[@Northeast_trains]

Bachmann should get venture cars

[@DoctorHobby]

Those would like nice,,, they could probably license them from one of the European manufacturers

[@colevoncole3180]

It cost them 18 dollars to make these cars and they charge over 100 each no wonder the hobby is losing people

[@DoctorHobby]

Seems to be the way things are going more and more

[@jetbee1106]

Never liked the mud missiles

[@DoctorHobby]

Yeah..i can see how they're a bit of an acquired taste..

[@SouthcalRailphotography6908]

If anything you need 2 to 3 locomotives to do that

[@DoctorHobby]

I’ll see if I can run it with two and put that in a video…

[@mrg6103]

Chargers are lighter then the P42’s. So you have to use at least two chargers to pull that train.

[@DoctorHobby]

If that could only be proven somewhere…. On a video, perhaps?

[@KJW-Transit]

I don't know why you thought that one charger could pull that whole train because even in real life trains that look similar to that consists still have to use two locomotives, not one

[@DoctorHobby]

Mamma always said “never believe everything you see on TV” ;)

[@dinglebopsmoothedwithshlee6830]

(Facepalm) It's a video and he does things because it makes for a good story (and he did it to set up his joke). Yikes!

[@KJW-Transit]

@@DoctorHobby true

[@DoctorHobby]

Although I do try to be really honest about the actual review. That it's ok to trust :)

[@KJW-Transit]

I say the charger sound isn't really accurate as I railfan and see Chargers almost every day and they do not sound like this

[@KJW-Transit]

@Stroodle Goatcheese in used the voice thing for that comment I'ma fix it

[@dinglebopsmoothedwithshlee6830]

@Stroodle Goatcheese (facepalm again)