Extortionate Bachmann SECR Birdcage Coaches | Are They Worth It?

[@blakesmith6303]

I laughed seeing the thumbnail for this come up. When I got back into the hobby a few years ago I bought a set of these for about £100 altogether before the prices shot up, and having been wanting the alternative numbered set for a while I was able to bag them for £140 just recently. At roughly £40 per coach I'm so glad this hobby has a strong second-hand market.

[@SamsTrains]

Blimey I don't remember these ever being as cheap as that - you did good there! £40 is absolutely fine for these! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@davidashworth5740]

Extra info, back in 2017 when Birdcage coaches had their first release bachmann's RRP was £59. considering at the time you could get hornby pullmans with tampo print window curtains, interior lighting and sprung buffers for £45 the model was overpriced back then. bachmann is absolutely pushing the price up and hoping inflation will cover their tracks, there is no way supply, labor and materials has pushed around 80% mark up. if every manufacturer and product ended up like this it may actually make the 3d print option viable! BTW congrats on getting these for the stock clearance price, for all the mess with pricing they're still very nice models. @@SamsTrains

[@BrakeCoach]

There's a story why Bachmann stopped supplying Hattons. They did it because Hattons was making their own models, some of which (Class 66, garatt) was in direct competition with Bachmann. That's why they decided to not make Hattons their stockist.

[@The_Flying_kipper]

I believe that’s called “cutting your nose, to spite your face” 😉😂

[@Alpha-oo8]

So, a bit like how Hornby and rails of Sheffield fell out of grace?

[@vickielawless]

A really honest review Sam! Re. the lack of lights, I got caught out the same with the Bachmann LMS inspection saloon. I even e-mailed Bachmann, who stated it "gives modellers the choice of what lighting system they wish to use". On a £75 coach? Sadly, Bachmann (and others), know exactly who pays their wages- the mugs who complain but pay out over inflated prices regardless! Sorry if that offends anyone, but while people keep paying, manufacturers will keep over charging..

[@busboymk2]

I've got the N gauge ones and paid £95 (on offer) for the triple set in Southern green. Still expensive in my opinion, but they are amazing to look at and run very smoothly. I'd recommend the N ones if you can find them discounted.

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah that's quite pricey for N gauge isn't it? How does the detail compare?? Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@ShibaInYourWalls]

We have the same set! They're amazing, aren't they? I love the fine details.

[@busboymk2]

@@SamsTrains The details are very fine, no glue marks I can see. The finish is superb, paint has a beautiful satin sheen, lining is spot on and all the print is readable - with a magnifying glass of course !

[@UnderdogOverlander]

​@@SamsTrains£30 per coach is about right

[@busboymk2]

​@@UnderdogOverlander RRP I believe was £127 originally, probably closer to £150 now. £95 was a good price, even cheaper if you want the SECR ones

[@paullawrence6926]

I remember when the ones you have for review, were released at around the £50 marker, with a second batch being around £70 and then the current batch at £90. It is a shame about the price increase, but when getting them for their original value, they are great models to have.

[@SamsTrains]

Blimey I didn't realise they were ever that cheap... crazy how times have changed over the past few years! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@OlivierGabin]

Agreed. Below GBP 50, they are good models. I'm waiting for the Bachmann Presflo to go under the GBP 30 mark to buy one (GBP 42 by now, retailer's street price), and I don't care if it does not happens, I'm not the one who have to empty a wharehouse full of overpriced models.

[@vickielawless]

@@OlivierGabin I think my Bachmann Presflo was a tenner a decade ago. £42 seems extortionate by comparison.

[@SteveHarrison-cv8dg]

I'm a big SECR fan, I've ended up with 3 sets.😱 absolutely love them.

[@sweetroll1723]

Great review Sam. I was able to get these 43.50 each yesterday from Rails of Sheffield using their 5 percent off coupon. Cant wait to get them although shipping them to me in the US is not cheap! Cheers!

[@limeyfox]

I bet those white roofs didn’t stay white for long! Some simple weathering is a must.

[@David_Mattox]

Oh, so much to talk about, where to start… Well, never heard of dark lake before, looks pretty good, maybe Hatton’s will get an idea for their Genesis coaches. VERY surprised to see a pre-grouping bogie coach. Not something you see everyday, very unique indeed. Gotta say, Sam, you are spot-on about the price, £90 is absolutely ridiculous. Even though I’ve seen them priced at around £60, it’s still too rich for my blood. Whether or not Bachmann is still around in ten years, who knows! 😠 Hope you have a good day, Sam, and regarding an email I’ve sent, I hope to hear from you soon.

[@SamsTrains]

That's true for Hatton's actually - I'd love to see Genesis in this livery! And it is cool to see such large pre-grouping coaches, though these were a lot later than the smaller earlier ones. Yeah agreed, far too expensive, nice as they do look, Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@blakesmith6303]

I recall there being a lot of discussion about the exact livery when the SECR coaches were revealed and a lot of people were disappointed that Hattons went with the brighter red. I think in reality these birdcage coaches should be more of a reddish-brown than just brown, and the genesis coaches represent the same 'madder lake' livery but as fresh paint before it darkened naturally over time to a similar shade.

[@captaincool3329]

For me, price is one of if not the most important factor to consider when buying model trains. I don't really care about sprung buffers, lights et cetera- they're just selling points and add absolutely nothing to their operation. The Bachmann Birdcage coaches are superb, brilliant models, but I wouldn't pay even half the RRP, because coaches needn't be that expensive- Hornby's Mk1s exemplify the type of carriages I hope to see more of: good price, accurate to the prototype, fair detail.

[@DJ_K666]

I completely agree with you on the price. Getting them for £45 each is about the right price, they're quality but definitely not worth £90. Definitely comparable with a current mk1 or mk2. Such a shame they had to be on a 50% discount. There are some of these coaches on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex including one from the SER (coach 1050) and even in third class they're far superior in comfort to a modern unit with that horrible ironing board seating.

[@exarkun42]

You paid 45 quid each for these. For about 10 quid more, the Hornby Coronation Scot coaches have lighting and sprung buffers. These do roll better though

[@Blur4strike]

The Bachmann Birdcage Coaches do look nice from a distance, but up close you can see the flaws (basic interior detail, lacking in interior lighting, lacking in a way to fit the interior lighting). The price that Bachmann set on top the flaws is mad as a hatter and justifies either waiting for a deep discount or looking elsewhere (Hatton's themselves, Accurascale).

[@rottenroads1982]

I am patiently waiting for Sam’sTrains to Finally do a Review on the Heljan BR class 28 and start an OO9 layout.

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

FANTASTICALLY TERRIFICALLY AWESOMELY MIXED EMOTIONS ON THIS OFFICIAL REVIEW DESPITE SEVERAL ISSUES!!!

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

BUT, NONETHELESS NICELY WELL DONE!!!!

[@lindaoffenbach]

Blimey, ~double overpriced in our minds... Just madness this, considering that the likes of Roco do offer interior lighting with stay-alive at ~75 Euro. However, the overall quality of these coaches from B would put them at around ~45 Stirling, and no more. They're not half bad at all but just worth ~half of B's RRP in our opinion. Perhaps all the intricate lining could have added to some cost but it still wouldn't add up. Even the packaging isn't premium at all. Excellent calling out B once and for all Sam. They need to get real but they also know too well perhaps that too many buyers just fall for it as is. Scandalous practices. Cheerio.

[@JRS06]

This might be a good idea for Hornby and Hattons. They both produce various pre-grouping 4 and 6 wheeled coaches (there's still some more they could make like Furness Railway or North Staffordshire Railway coaches). I imagine making some pre-grouping bogey coaches would draw a bit of attention.

[@SamsTrains]

Very much so - a range of generic bogie coaches would be awesome! The price would obviously have to be higher though, so maybe customers would be less forgiving of their generic nature at greater cost? I'm not sure! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@OlivierGabin]

It's an interesting proposal. If they can pull out such models for around the GBP 40 mark, they've got my buy.

[@europacifictradersltd3717]

hi sam. as always you hit the nail on the head. the two leading British model train companies have grown used to max profit for poorly cheap produced products baring a very sparsely few models which could be counted on both hands. i have yet to buy a bachmann product but always put it off due to exorbitant high prices unfortunately hornby are following suit and i havent even bothered to be interested in what they offer any more as they are becoming worse especially in describing a product with misleading features. it is a shame that the only two companies that offer a wide selection of british train models have stooped so low and rob us blind .

[@tubularap]

I am puzzled by the fact that Bachmann put in the pickups through the axles, but nothing to use the electricity for. Am I missing something? Or is the available electricity for tinkerers that want to put LEDs in themselves? I could see an additional DIY LED-kit as an option (all for reasonable prices of course).

[@ronjohnston8693]

hi Sam I love your reviews and by and large agree with your comments, in the case of these carriages they look good, work well this is what we pay for in new models, the RRP is a total joke! and your discount off 50% sounds good but £45 per coach is still very high, and I think 1 star on value would of been generous keep up the good work on reviews

[@kevinludlow7561]

They are a joy to the eyes, I too purchased a couple from Hattons at the discounted price. Even pre-owned they attract premium prices in SECR livery over other liveries. They derailed on 1st radius curves😮... I increased the gap between bogie and coach with a piece of plasticard. While doing this, lo and behold the bogies had pick ups!!! So why no lighting!!

[@williamsquires3070]

Maybe Bachmann has abandoned the U.K. market to pay more attention to the U.S. market. And their SC-44 Charger locomotives in the Amtrak livery are absolutely crushing it, in both HO and N scale! This is a modern “covered wagon”, meaning the body shell is the same width from front to back, like the F7 or the British Class 47, not like an SD40-2. And, inside the box is - and Sam will LOVE this - an offer for Bachmann’s 300 page catalog! 🤣😆 These are rather expensive, but they run like a Swiss watch, and the DCC lighting and sound effects are just BONKERS!! It’s like a UFO on rails! Like most sound-equipped models, these are just jam packed, so serviceability only gets maybe 1-1/2 stars, but the details and quality get the full 5 stars from me. Since this is a passenger loco, it is geared for higher speed, so I’m not expecting a great crawl from it. Someday, I might do a review, “Sam’s Trains” style. 😊

[@rdgk1se3019]

A lot of us model railroaders here in the USA started to call Bachmann, BARFMAN back in the late 1980's early 1990's.......a long past model shop owner Stew Marshal who used to own "The Train Depot" in Winter Park Florida USA personally wrote a letter and also paid Bachmann a visit in their offices in Philadelphia PA to express his concerns......he also refused to sell BARFMAN in his shop.

[@mcollier4566]

I've been waiting for a video like this confirming that they are lovely coaches but really expensive! I have to say that I was shocked to see the new Bachmann Bulleid coaches on sale at Swanage for £75 each. I'd imagine they must have a similar RRP but for unlined coaches with no panelling and probably a similar lack of features.

[@brlsm9141]

Another good Review Sam, honestly I am really shocked how it is such high priced carriages is so basic and featureless... If more wagons and coaches are going to be turned out like this then it might be worth adding features to your review categories to split it from details for the sake of clarity? Honestly though I am glad I waited for you to do a review on these first before buying them as I would have felt so robbed if I only found out about these short commings when they turned up in the post.

[@peterwilliamson4663]

Have you thought about producing your own coaches? It would be interesting to see how much it would cost. Keep up the good work.

[@LucasTrains1]

Yes, that would be a cool idea but very time consuming and possibly expensive but if he ever started I would definitely go to him.

[@ManOfUnknownWorth]

Sam has already made his own coaches.

[@iancoop76]

I have just acquired 4 L&B coaches from Lionheart at £99.99 eacd. I think that is a reasonable price considering that they are very big as they are 0 gauge.The locomotives were dearer but are also reasonably priced as they are also 1/43 scale and look very nice.

[@bow-tiedengineer4453]

I never thought I would ever say this being the stingy college student that I am, but I think you are being a tad harsh on the value for money. I fully agree on the lack of sprung buffers and lighting and on the middling to poor interior, unforgivable at their RRP, but I actually disagree on the diecast thing, and I don't think you accounted for the complexity of the livery compared to the other coaches you compared them too. Normally I'm a sucker for die cast, in a loco I'd sacrifice most of the other features for a fully die cast loco, but these are rolling stock, not locos, and pregrouping as well, so they need to be very light and free rolling to match with very small locos. And the rolling test shows that the lack of die cast paid off, with how far they went. I'd guess that less than 5% of the models you review do as well. And the intricately lined livery, compared to the plainer liveries of the other coaches, is worth at least a few bucks. I don't disagree that the RRP is madness, but I think the price you got was a bit of a bargain rather than right on the money. I think 60 pounds or $75 is about as high as they could go without being a ripoff, so that should be the RRP, and that 50 is about where they ought to be at the retailers. Comparing to your other reviews (which I have watched all or very nearly all of, despite being a broke college student who can't afford to pursue this hobby seriously yet), that seems to me like the amount of value worth of models I would exchange for these coaches. The way I see it, a decent tank engine seems to run at 100-150 pounds, and if I already had a decent tank engine and some decent coaches, I'd value 2 of these coaches about the same as I'd value another decent tank engine. Though, right now, if anyone offered to buy me $100-$150 worth of model, it'd have to be either an 0-4-0 Peckett or that other good 0-4-0 saddle tank you reviewed a while back, because the highest quality locomotives I have right now are my Bachman Thomas locos from when I was a kid, and with the crappy rolling stock I have, shunting with them just isn't that much fun. I'd probably actually break out my models more than twice a year if I had a Peckett, and I might bother making that shunting diorama I started planning too, instead of just using that snap together trainset track when the urge to play with model trains gets too strong.

[@NWRJ_WStudios]

Although they're expensive Sam, I really love these coaches. I might get a few of them for my layout, but I'll probably wait until the price comes down a little. Cheers Jasper & Willow

[@SamsTrains]

I don't blame you, they do look lovely and unique don't they? Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@matbeech7518]

I'm amazed at the price they aren't lit from the factory. Bachmann US coaches I've bought in the past for far less all came lit. I'm amazed that Bachmann UK doesn't put lights in their coaches.

[@jeannedarcalterberserker8620]

Besides the excellent livery and the fact that these are pre-grouping, there is absolutely nothing special about these. It seems like they did the Autocoach or Dance Hall treatment here (The latter I own because I like the shape). However, Accurascale, Dapol and Hattons offer way more for about a third or half the price. I mean, a rake of four is gonna set you back 360£ RRP which is quite insane. If they did an S&DJR version of these coaches, maybe I would have bought some, but not for 90£ a piece. 45 seems reasonable, if not slightly impressive. If lighted, I'd day 50-60 would be expected for Bachmann but yet again this is a good example why I don't have a lot of Bachmann modern rolling stock. Too expensive, Oxford and Dapol cover my back on value for money wagons and coaches. Great review of beautiful, yet slightly overpriced coaches again, Sam 👍👍

[@vernongardner1958]

Thanks for sharing and advising that even New, these are just about affordable. I see some are just over £50 which is still expensive in my book but it then comes to how much I want them. I did buy a set of these in BR Crimson livery second hand for £30 a coach a year or so ago. However, I really want the Dark Lake Livery, so thank you for making me aware how much the price has come down for new stock.

[@1471SirFrederickBanbury]

With the price of rolling stock nowadays, the bogies should be metal and sprung, or at least compensated. Speaking of suspension, you should buy a pre-war Varney locomotive, a modern csb kit, and something with compensation beams to test how well it can work on the carpet! I know that the Varney system and csb make the smoothest running, most powerful locos on most layouts, but I think a video by you could bring more light on the topic which is usually only for finescale crazy people like me! :)

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah absolutely - you'd just expect a lot more for up to £90! I'll definitely have to try something from Varney! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@simonbaker6962]

I have not purchased any locos or rolling stock for almost 2 years as the costs cannot be justified. 90 pounds for a coach is eye wateringly expensive. It is absurd.

[@SamsTrains]

I don't blame you Simon - it's all a bit silly isn't it? Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@tobyytlai]

Kernow and Rails have these in stock now for £51.99 to £54.95 each. Maybe Bachmann's strategy is to let retailers discount their products to reach the "right price". Who knows.

[@EmperorJack1000]

Hey Sam guess what remember showcasing class 08 diesel shunters on your channel well one that I had preordered last year arrived today it's called the PHANTOM and it's beautiful in it's blue livery.

[@lukejackson8741]

I have to say, although I’m a North East Guy and will forever have teak as my livery of choice for coaches, that is an incredibly beautiful train with that loco and these coaches

[@ianjeffery6744]

Yes, OK at £40, maybe, although they usually ran in 3-car sets even in BR days, so a high price to pay for authenticity. A single brake 3rd was used on the Kent & East Sussex line for a short while before closure to passengers - it was probably in BR red (carmine).

[@RichardKuivila1947]

Coaches without lights means a higher profit margin ! (maybe you have to turn off the room lights and set your clocks to 1AM ...)

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah very true, haha! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@johncottee8314]

I have said this before. but will say it again, we were told that when manufacturing was moved to China it would make the cost of manufacturing cheaper for the manufacturer and the consumer but as prices continue to rise I believe it probably is cheaper for the manufacturer but they don't seem to be passing on their savings to the consumer, I may be wrong but that's how I see it.

[@and7barton]

It would have been great to have seen the interior detailing (with the body removed).

[@Tinhat47]

I have all three, bought second-hand for a good price. I run them with my LBSCR locomotives, since no one makes any LBSCR lined umber coaches (or really any LBSCR coaches post-1899).

[@billywindsock9597]

I bought the set when they first came out. They are the best looking rtr coaches I have seen.

[@DipCheesus]

I managed to snag 3 of the for £63 (+commission from an auction). I am bloody delighted with mine, although they are in SR green compared to the SECR brown.

[@nigelcole1936]

Great video thanks Sam. I recently paid £59.95 each to my set of three (same as yours) , I do really like them but the RRP is crazy.

[@jamtart606]

Bachmann's coach prices are definitely not what you would call "value for money" or "cheap" but frankly they've always been like this even before the pandemic, back then a coach for £30 would have been considered a lot considering how much less Hornby were charging (and quality wise they weren't exactly amazing either), safe to say their pricing policies have not really changed much and I don't see it ever changing. It's fair to say that the only thing that stops them from being a total "joke" is the paint application which in my opinion miles better than what Hornby could ever achieve, and certainly when it comes to running peformance most of the time Bachmann is definitely up there with the best. Is £90 RRP each fair for coaches without any interior lighting at the very least? Absolutely not, but at least they have somewhat thoughtfully put brass pickups on each bogie meaning fitting/soldering interior lighting PCBs will be a LOT easier and you can buy long lengths of them for under a tenner these days so it's not the end of the world in fairness. Still though, those are some pretty stunning Birdcage Coaches, won't lie.

[@McZachoman]

Evening Sam... With these and the Hattons and Hornby's Genesis coaches, your pre-grouping SECR locos will be spoiled for choice! Great video as usual.

[@SamsTrains]

haha very much so - it's crazy to think there was nothing like this a handful of years ago! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@neilharbott8394]

Been saying for a while, that both Hornby and Bachman need to step up their game... a lot!! So many 10 year old toolings offered for more than Dapol and Accurascale are charging for modern high detailed rolling stock and locomotives. But when even their recent tooling offers are lower quality and higher prices, they're just going to alienate their customers.

[@kimcason8764]

Hum..! What were the Pick ups for on these models. They look great , but the Price is a "How Much..!?" Moment..! Great Review as Always Sam. Thanx for your Efforts. 😎 P.S. £89 = $170 in Oz..! That is way outa my Price Range..!! 🤑🤮🤢

[@modelrailwaynoob]

What a lovely loco. I have several grey SE&CR steam locomotives and I have been looking at these as I need coaches for them. However, they are too expensive for what you get. I wanted 2 to respray as LMR coaches too

[@poshdan4071]

I think they’re worth every penny, I have a rake of 3, and they’re probably the most used coaches on my layout. Never fault weed, and look amazing

[@stupididiot6116]

If you think a non lit plastic coach is worth every penny that Bachman are asking for it then you must have more money than sense !

[@cmdrflake]

Inflation is really hitting hard. Rapidly rising oil prices have made themselves evident. The price of plastic is rising a bit faster than the overall supply curve. The “sticker shock” factor is going to get worse, not better.

[@BrokenIET]

Managed to get a pair for about £80. They're nice enough, but certainly not worth the usual price of around £50-£60 each. They are absolutely stunning though.

[@RoyPeters-hj3ou]

I must disagree with you about the overall value of these Bachmann coaches. Whilst 'Yes' they are expensive per se, however I think you need to compare them against the cost of building a kit. Currently an etched brass kit with wheels, couplings, paint and transfers for one of these coaches will cost you in the region of £80-£90! And then you've got to build and paint it, and etched brass coach kits are very difficult to build and paint well in 00 scale. I would say that very few modellers could produce a model as good as Bachmann have. Keep up the good work with your reviews.

[@donsharpe5786]

I think at nearly £90 per coach for the level of detail is absolutely ridiculous. I have paid £60 for a coach I really wanted, but considering I paid £90 for a set of 3 Hornby Somerset & Dorset Maunsell coaches not that long ago and the spec on those was really good, this price is over the top.

[@FormallyknownasE100]

I think the usual argument that economies of scale with pre-grouping locos and rolling stock would normally be somewhat justified. With these however, there are probably as many SECR modelers as some of the individual big 4 modelers. There's plenty of locos and stock. If these were say Caledonian coaches then ok fair enough but they aren't. Glad to see them being discounted down to a more reasonable cost. I'm noticing a trend over the past 6-12 months where the RRP's keep climbing but models aren't selling out with the exception of Accurascale and even then you can still get a 37 and 92 if you aren't too fussy which example you go for. This seems to be allowing for later sales to take place. I therefore wonder, especially with Heljan and some Bachmann examples, are they just trying the price on for those that must have it and then expecting that an increasingly fair portion will be discounted sometimes by 50%. I can only assume they are still making some money at this level. Either way there are plenty of sales about but rarely are they at your local model shop which does concern me as well but that's a whole other debate.

[@adriannash2705]

I forgot how much I paid for mine but I’m pretty sure I got them in red and considerably cheaper than the retail price

[@wakefieldtrainlad340]

Replacing the swear words with stars, these coaches are ******* overpriced as hell. The features they have does not suggest the price should be that extortionate. My theory for ten £90 price tag is they are the earliest coaches Bachmann have produced or at least the first pre grouping coaches they attempted, and while very true they are absolutely beautiful and with no faults within the decoration, I’m glad you paid £50 odd quid less than the asking price. If you paid the full RRP for all the coaches then you’d been robbed in broad daylight my friend. Nice review, hope Bachmann read this and take notes (unlikely). Take care Sam, always looking forward to the next one, Dan.

[@BattleshipOrion]

Those coaches are FANCY! I'm working on concept art for a fusion powered train in the Proxima B system in a sci-fi setting, I'll keep the coach livery in mind for the governmental body's train. Got any ideas on parrent locomotives y'all? Steam preferably (those are easier to convert to a fusion design) or something with a cowl bodies with or without B-units (for fusion turbine engines).

[@davidstrains4910]

I don’t have any of these coaches myself but my dad has a pack of these in n gauge but going back to the OO version they look very nice and overall they make a nice train of coaches for the various pre grouping locomotives that would have pulled them, I will be honest with you for the price that you paid for all three of these it’s the same price I paid for a rails/Rapido dynamometer car and that was second hand.

[@SamsTrains]

Ahh interesting - I've been hearing a bit about the N gauge ones - yeah the Dynamometer was very pricey too... but at least it had a detailed interior and lights! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@timbervalleyproductions]

Fantastic review Sam, at RRP these really are shocking! Thanks for the email before, appreciate it. Also which extrusion 3D printer would you recommend (that you use) for creating high detail prints for a beginner?

[@SamsTrains]

Thank you so much - they sure are aren't they? The one that makes the best bodies is the Ender 3 pro, the better one for small parts/accessories is the Mingda Magician x... that's just of the ones I've tested though, it's worth shopping around! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@timbervalleyproductions]

@@SamsTrains Thank you!

[@theblackleafninja3858]

Expensive but I’ll definitely be adding them to my Christmas list this year they’re really nice indeed amazing review to day sam

[@SamsTrains]

That sounds great - hopefully you can find some! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@JustinFrazier_360]

That's amazing

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Justin!

[@abbanon]

Considering there is no amount of lighting or power linkage with other coaches available on these, why did they bother giving powered pickups? For the extra weight, maybe?

[@richardlee653]

Agree with your review, except I thought that you could have been a bit more generous on detail. When they first came out I got a set of 3 in Southern Railway livery. They look exquisite in lined green, and I have no problem with their running on my layout (please note that I am not the best at track laying). I felt that they were dear then, but the current prices take my breath away.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Richard - that's fair enough - I'd love to have some in lined green, will keep a look out! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@OragamiTobichi-bi6lh]

Looks very nice. Keep being awesome my friend. Ur trains are the best. I still have lots of work to do on my layout. Until then I still have to get new trains cause all of them stopped working. Sadly

[@SamsTrains]

Thank you so much - that sounds great, good luck with the rest of your layout! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@j0nn032]

It’s a shame. They looked lovely on first glance. I’ve had great experiences with Bachmann rolling stock. Also quick question for Sam to answer: Have you had good experiences buying from the retailer The Model Centre? I’m considering buying the 85th anniversary Mallard from them and need to know if they are a good retailer or not. Sam is the one to ask when it comes to this!!

[@OlivierGabin]

I am a regular customer of TMC since 2020, and they are good overall. Even if you are not interested by their services (I use their DCC installation from time to time), they have good bargains, they deliver at a decent speed (I buy to them from France, in the UK, it might be faster). TMC is overall good for me.

[@LiveSteamNick]

TMC are one of the best in thge retail sector.

[@raymondleggs5508]

You can get a set of 8 roco wagons for that price or a set of piko expert coaches.

[@iancoop76]

two three coach sets which gives the keen modeller the opportunity to have that longer train or two short but similar trains. However value for money is rather dubious as Hornby offer so many Maunsell coaches that can be formed into so many sets as well as nearly 50 Pullman coaches with lights do we need Bachmann's contribution?

[@brianmicky7596]

Hi Sam , Yes they do look good, but the price makes my knees go funny 😂, All the best Brian 😃

[@mikeblatzheim2797]

That price is absolutely ludicrous, that's about as expensive as the most premium, limited production H0 gauge coaches you can get. And needless to say, these coaches are a far cry in terms of detail and quality.

[@paolomargini7904]

They thought that putting pickups would be an added value because the buyer could say "Good, I can put on the leds myself!", so it is important that you downgraded them to tell Bachmann how wrong they did.

[@adamwilliams192]

I do wonder what it is about Bachmann (Kader) that means the feel the need to charge what they do. They (the group) do own their own factories and employ a lot of people across Europe so their overheads are high. However as a competitive strategy it’s highly questionable. That being said; have you noticed that some prices on previously announced Bachmann models (00 and N) have been REDUCED as per the last winter announcement? Is the tide turning?

[@NWRJ_WStudios]

16:15 I'm really surprise about that Sam, I thought that they would have had lights in them for that price. Cheers Jasper & Willow

[@SamsTrains]

I was really expecting lights too!! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@zah465]

I recently got some Mk2 coaches and although nothing too special, they were nice for the price I paid, but that was around half the original asking price. It just fustrates me how can companies expect new people to get involved and keep the hobby alive when so much of the worthwhile kit is prohibitively expensive.

[@nigelericogden3200]

What a beautiful looking train Sam. Excellent !!

[@guyrixon5406]

Why did you expect the roofs to be shiny? They were painted canvas on the full-size coaches. Matt finish is correct.

[@thestocktonflyer4059]

Nice coaches 👏 but not £90 Nice. Great review sam 👏 keep up the good work my friend 👍

[@dcb_trains]

Speaking very good common sense Sam, Bachmann need to change and improve.

[@LiveSteamNick]

Sam, these were NOT £90 coaches, they were 45-50 when the first batch were released in 2017 or so. We have had a world of problems since then and Kader are no different to any others manufacturer, they need to catch up and stay in business. Meanwhile, we will all look out for the old bargains which is half the fun!!

[@Brayden4472]

Great video Sam! I love the color on these coaches

[@SamsTrains]

Thank you, me too!! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@Jimyjames73]

Cor - Very posh looking Carriages Sam!!! 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@maley2552]

Are you going to get Bachmann's model of the Thomas & Friends character Rebecca? The Rebecca character is a Southern Railway Battle of Britain/West County class

[@Sigil_Firebrand]

I'll be honest these suckers are pricey, not the worst I've seen (or paid myself for a coach), but I've gotta say I agree they don't entirely seem worth the price. For example I had to work a lot of overtime this week to afford a new locomotive, so I can't imagine paying the price Bachmann is asking for these, I'd rather spend similar money for something better, or a little more for something MUCH better.

[@ShikiKiryu]

Short answer, no. Long answer, these being sold for triple their value imo for what ya get is insane. Absolutely agree with you, it feels more like just paying for the name more than anything else.

[@southerncanadiancoins757]

BRUH!!!! thats like 130 canadian what are these things laced with gold!!!

[@northernblue1093]

Interesting and informative as always, but why pose a question in the title and then proceed it with the answer?

[@nameless5413]

aren't there engines of decent quality available for about 90 pounds? or at least were i seem to vaguely recall few reviews where mr.Sam's trains did on them. i always wan to defend mechanicaly solid products but for that price i too would expect all the bells and whistles rolled out.

[@Albert-fu1vq]

I got a couple of these in BR colors plus a 2P loco for £57 second-hand, it's a shame the RRP is so high.

[@mikesolejazz]

Really do t understand why the pickups were fitted, without lighting circuits! Doh!

[@jeffreysmith156]

I recall that when they first came out they were about £65 each. I cannot believe that they now cost £90. They are beautiful but........

[@lukejackson8741]

I’d love to see the dapol top lights reviewed

[@jordandegraaff]

Do you have a video, or can you make a video about the most essential British locos, (steam era) and rolling stock one should own? I’m an American but love the British modeling scene, so I’d like to know what are some essential locomotives and rolling stock to get…and maybe if you have some pointers on where to get them in America too. Thanks!

[@SamsTrains]

That's a cool idea Jordan, thanks for that idea! Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@jimkemp3142]

Rails of Sheffield have some at the moment for £54.95 each

[@MisterHampshire]

I'm a bit confused. I can understand a locomotive boasting a die-cast chassis being a premium feature, that's where you need the weight, but - and putting cost issues aside - wouldn't die-cast chassis rolling stock be a disadvantage? Plucking figures from the air, a rake of three coaches with die-cast chassis could equal six with plastic. Thus the locomotive would have to pull far more weight than would otherwise be necessary. Additionally, given that a normal range of viewing would be from top down rather than side on, any perceived lack of detail due to plastic chassis be negligible? To me though, die-cast chassis on rolling stock would actually be a negative feature due to unnecessary weight and excess drag.

[@SamsTrains]

Well, the advantages of a diecast chassis in coaches are - A metal finish on the underframe which looks better - No need for an additional weight (a degree of weight is needed to make the coach stable), this also allows the chassis frames to be modelled accurately, as they're heavy enough if made of metal - More robust, less prone to warping Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@Deuce_and_a_half]

I always wanted these given how beautiful the prototypes are. But even a small rake of 3 would set you back more than a top of the range locomotive. I’d actually say that what you payed is still not a fair price for these. To me they have a similar build and decoration to the hornby clerestory roof coaches, which were like £35 each if memory serves me. Honestly I don’t think I’ll ever buy these.

[@97SEMTEX]

I tend to buy the models that are on the pricier end of the spectrum, so these should be something I'm interested in. But not for the price that Bachmann are claiming they are worth! I have a rake of Bachmann Mk1 coaches and as far as I can see these Birdcage coaches are only marginly better at best. The Mk1's do not have as nice a livery and the underside detail is not as good, but they are about £35 each. I would only value these at around £45-50 a coach. Retailers are currently selling these for £58. This is better but honestly they still don't feel like good value to me at that price. I won't be getting these as they are not good value for money in the slightest. Accurascales Mk1's and Mk2's are £59 each and come with much more detail, lights, a better finish, a better box, a better everything! Accurascale should just do a set of these and show them how its done.

[@LegoTrainBoy]

Honestly, the whole "being harsh on Bachmann that they stand no chance," sounds a bit much. Your stats on however, sounds reasonable enough.

[@stratman9449]

ohhh...well...BUT...i just bought some (excellent) Roco coaches 1:87 exact scale in mint condition from ebay.....cost me 25.- Euros ( about 22/23.-gbp)....and thats what i call a "realistic" price.....obviously brand new ones from Roco and dealers are probably 3 times that....but i just won't pay that kind of money.....anymore.

[@robinforrest7680]

Weird they seem to have pick ups but no lights? But even with lights 90 quid? WTF I must be completely out of touch. Unbelievable, I won’t pay they for a locomotive. Who the hell can afford that?