Kato vs Bachmann? Unlikely N Scale Locomotive Shootout.

[@Trains-With-Shane]

I don't hesitate to buy Bachmann stuff manufactured within the last 15 years or so. They really stepped up their quality over the horrid offerings of the 80's and 90's. Most of my early channel content was rehabilitating old Bachmann locomotives. Honestly a brand new Bachmann bough today has no less detail than a Kato or Atlas.

[@andreweh4]

I personally will never buy another Bachmann engine. I have been collecting N scale since 1977 and the older Bachmann, besides being crude and noisy, worked well and still work to this day. However the splitting gear problem that Bachmann had with no offer to help after warranty soured me to them. I have 4 SD40s in boxes plus others with very little running time on them as an example. They were simply just junk. I have never had a problem with any Kato engine and they have all worked out of the box perfectly. Kato are serious quality collector pieces and Bachmann are more along the toy line. Just my opinion.

[@AlcoLoco251]

You have to admit, the quality of Bachmann has been going up in recent years.

[@chuckmaddison2924]

Love the layout. On other channels I have jokingly said I would like to model our Indian Pacific. All I need is a long straight and a bucket of sand. I tend to lean to Kato and Tomix over Bachmann.

[@cleverkitsune4302]

Why is the bachman way bigger? Looks weird on the track

[@ElJefeNScale-dj2wt]

The Dash 8 (Bachmann) was a much larger locomotive in real life.

[@owenlaprath4135]

Kato usually has the hoses and other small parts as add-on pieces in the case. The small bags are easy to overlook and lose! As far as speed is concerned, everybody gets that wrong. I take a fast runner over a crawler any day! High top speed means, the motor is efficient, whereas needing to crank the voltage on your powerpack for even just a fast crawl, means a motor that sucks power, and can even burn out fast. The high speed "racers" make for easy multiple traction! I have no problem with recent 4 Kato E9s or FP7s running in a consist, and the powerpack stays cool. Just a double traction with a few old engines that run "realistic" causes the same MRC 1300 to overheat and shut down! Lesson here: The "racers", so hated by many, run easy and can slow just by throttling back, and in multiple traction, they share power efficiently and thus slow down to how they "should" run. If you like DCC with its programmable speeds and accelerations, it is no problem anyway, and then you REALLY want the power saving fast runner!

[@roady1710]

What kind of track is that I've never seen that before... Looks like something's missing

[@markbaker8607]

It is like looking at a '67 Mustang and driving one. It might look great, yet you do not know until you drive it.

[@charleswalsh9895]

You are comparing apples and oranges. You have to compare same engine types

[@ElJefeNScale-dj2wt]

In this case of the production era being shown the apple is very close to the orange. Both locomotives are 3 axle trucks...the truck spacing on the chassis is nearly identical. I felt it was a fair comparison for the ~ 2002-2003 manufacture time. Yes Kato has come even much farther in quality and detail since the early 2000's....I think Kato is great, I do own a couple of their newest offerings. Yes Bachmann is generally entry level and has quality control issues...but they don't all deserve auto-dislike. They did very well with the Spectrum series at the time. In this particular video I feel the Bachmann has finer detail and being the near equal running performance I prefer the Spectrum in this vid compared to this particular Kato....not based on a bias of an SD40 vs a Dash 8 but purely detail and respect for what Bachmann was doing at the time. The End 😂

[@geraldgaffney1331]

Can you use bachmann on kato track

[@After_Aftermath]

Yes

[@claytontanner7631]

You didn’t test the high speed of the Bachmann.

[@ElJefeNScale-dj2wt]

True. I realized this after I completed the video. I'm still getting used to making videos. The top speed of the Bachmann is about half of the Kato.... A much more realistic speed.

[@claytontanner7631]

@@ElJefeNScale-dj2wt I figured that the Bachmann was more true to scale speed than the Kato model. Back when these two were out, I enjoyed the more realistic look and running of the Bachmann. This changed for me whenever I was buying the newer Atlas and new to the hobby Intermountain locomotives.

[@Gilsreptiles]

👍🚂🚞🚞

[@angelmoratroncoso9431]

Honestly, it's imposible equality Kato with Bachmann, BLY, Scale Trains or another chinease product. These looks so good, but when the time come to run, Kato is infinitely superior

[@robertmason7553]

Im staying with Kato regardless. Bachmann I had years ago and they sucked.

[@AlcoLoco251]

Bachmann has gotten much better in recent years.

[@robertmason7553]

@@AlcoLoco251 is that in terms of detail or quality of engines. To me they looked plain and plastically. I have Kato and great pullers but you lasting impression is of what you had and what you buy and try.

[@AlcoLoco251]

@robertmason7553 both actually. I'd say Bachmann's newest products have reached a similar level of quality to the earlier Kato products from the 90s.

[@robertpeters199]

If you can afford Kato Good for you ! but you quickly have become Kato Snobs, Model railroading has become a rich mans hobby, I myself enjoy the hobby for what it is a pastime for relaxation and find myself making more of the scenery as well as spraying low cost locos to fit my needs. Comparing Bachmann to high cost Kato does not seem fair, but I guess if you can afford Kato, then use them but stop bad mouthing Bachmann for us poorer peons who still enjoy the hobby.

[@ElJefeNScale-dj2wt]

Some are overlooking the Kato unit in this video is a much older machine than today's Kato. It is not mechanically or visually equal to a modern Kato. In addition the Bachmann Spectrum line was a much higher quality beast than the traditional Backmann line.

[@robertkindermann96]

Anyone compared comparable Kato and bachmann engine prices lately? Bachmann now is more expensive...in some cases signicantly so. 300 bucks for an n scale diesel is crazy...might want to compare prices...tables have turned.

[@jhonny1392]

With all respect, this is a very, very poor comparison ! and because of that, anyone with a *little real knowledge* about this hobby quickly realizes that you are still a novice, at least in this aspect of model railroading. If we make an analogy with automobiles, so that any novice can understands it perfectly well, comparing *in N scale* a Kato locomotive with a Bachmann (even its Spectrum line) is like comparing a Rolls-Royce with a Fiat car !. Both cars on the outside may seem identical in quality, even a Fiat could easily surpass a Roll Royce in beauty, but what is REALLY IMPORTANT *is on the inside* especially when it comes to N scale locomotives. And here Kato is *absolutely UNBEATABLE* in N scale and beats any Bachman, Like-Life, Mehano, VERY, VERY EASILY in any aspect !. You compare aspects that have no importance for an expert model railroader, such as the top speed of a locomotive or the external details of its body, whereas what is truly important when it comes to locomotives is how they are designed and built at the inside, which materials were used, etc. In this sense, Kato is made TO LAST MANY, MANY YEARS with a MINIMAL maintenance and that, dear friend, can only be offered and guaranteed when the product has something called *QUALITY* ! ! !, something that sadly Bachmann simply CANNOT OFFER !. Greetings from Santiago de Chile, South America. This is John.

[@ElJefeNScale-dj2wt]

@@jhonny1392 Okay

[@theknight.181]

Are they really that small? Like i never have n scale or ho scale electric american diesel which is my childhood dream to have, im between ho and n scale as European im gonna pay a lot and really need advice

[@xfiles-thetruthisoutthere8038]

Come on now, Bachmann is NO comparison to Kato !

[@AlcoLoco251]

Bachmann has gotten better in recent years. I'd say it's now on par with the early Kato drive engines.

[@MassMangoMurder]

I hate saying this: Every single Bachman loco Ive owned both pre-owned and new have given me issues with extreme consistency. Every single engine. Why? It always comes back to an issue with the gear assembly. I’ve learned to avoid Bachman engines while enjoying their rolling stock. Spend the extra on at least a Kato locomotive.