Review: Bachmann Berkshire w/ DCC Sound Value HO Scale Pere Marquette 1225

www.trainworld.com

[@jeffgentle6497]

This is the second steam locomotive I purchased from Bachmann and the first DCC. I am very impressed with this and it will be pulling my vintage Riverossi 1920s heavyweights. Thanks for this review.

[@sharadsharma1133]

Which radius turnouts are recommended for this loco

[@Hgshelby]

@@sharadsharma1133 Most locomotives are 18 and up.

[@sharadsharma1133]

Thank you

[@michaelgmoore5708]

Really great interview James. HO has come a long way with sound and smoke. Bachmann has sure changed with better items also. I like seeing the ladies who are getting into this hobby a lot more now. Many are really good artists. Thanks James for such a great program!

[@SeaboardCentral]

The Frisco 1522 used to be my favorite steam locomotive until I found out that the Polar Express movie was made using the PM 1225. How cool is that!

[@JAILRail]

Yup. Sounds and sights for the movie :)

[@randygelp1864]

James , it is good to see Bachmann sees you have value to the hobby by supplying their model for you to review . It is also noted your positive view on the value Bachmann has provided for the hobby . Great review as always hitting on the positive side of what Bachmann is providing now and what they plann for the future . It would be nice to see the planning and the building of the benchwork on the new layout . Yes we old guys have seen that before . However the new modlers have not seen it all . With that said , please consider a more detailed look on building a layout from start to finish .. As always , Randy

[@jlwii2000]

Randy, I will be doing a video series on the building of the new layout, but I'll be skipping bench work again but you'll understand why later. As for Bachmann, I have reviewed several of their items before but this one was the first provided for review. All of the other Bachmann reviews except for the ES44AC and SD70ACe has been very favorable towards Bachmann because they've provided a great value for the model. Take care! Thanks for being around as a long time subscriber!

[@DGModelworks]

Great review James! I love the Bachmann steam locos. I think they do a great job with them. I plan on purchasing this model in the NKP road name. Thanks for the review.

[@JustYourPariah]

I want this so bad and it’s on Amazon and it has good reviews. A lot of people that send bad reviews say stuff like “It has too many wheels and it keeps derailing”. I think it’s so stupid that they blame the locomotive for being too long. They act like all trains run on the same type of track.

[@RodimusPrime]

Just a suggestion in the future could we maybe skip the part about warranty cards and catalog offers. Too many on youtube spend way too much time going over it, lets be honest, nobody watches that part. It's about the packaging and the train itself and actual instructions.

[@sps-7005]

I'm STOKED to see the new layout! and that's one nice 2-8-4

[@railroadpics]

Go Andrew! It's people like him that expand our hobby! Great Review James!

[@ap70621]

I got the Nickel Plate Road one and I have to say I am very impressed with it.

[@rayatlast]

Very well documented, thanks for sharing.

[@MariaSalgado-lu2bh]

I love the pere marquette!

[@BigDieselMan100]

Great Review, I bought all three so I can convert them to Southern Railway, you are spot on great price, for sound engine. I would also point out that not having traction tires is good by me, it makes maintenance and cleaning wheels easier......Hooah! Dave

[@TheDuke6100]

Hi James great review I like Bachmann and like you said they have good good items, can't wait too see how your new layout gets started when you start working on it keep up the good work!!!

[@KflanntheRailfan]

Former military as well, Iraqand bosnia Vet... thank you for your service. I am glad I caiught this review, I want to get the 1225, already have a proto 2000 Life Like heritage Per Marquette Berkshire and it runs great, I was on the 1225's 3rd ride after her rebuild and coming back to the tracks last year on the Polar Express. Great looking engine. have video of her on my page. Thank you again for the review. Kflannigan98

[@brianginn6354]

One comment I would like to add is that the 1225 is the basis for the Berkshire in the Polar Express movie. May not mean much to some, but for those of us with Kids, it's a pretty neat fact. Great review and nice to see these budget steamers with sound. As I get back into HO, I will have a mix and not everything has to be perfect to the prototype.

[@jeremynelson7201]

If only it said "polar express" on the tender, ah memories of that movie!

[@hexxoid9263]

I looked everywhere, and I can still not find the bell for this model. I have this model, but it's just missing the bell.

[@nztphotography5758]

Maybe email Bachmann?

[@josiahondohasianlihardomar1120]

Hey its the bachmann POLAR EXPRESS!

[@jamesdmehl]

I would have to say, yes to the model, for the price, thank-you!

[@drewwilliams1342]

I Love this locomotive. The one thing that upsets me the most is that I bought this loco in 2013 with only dcc, no sound, for $165.99. Now i have seen the one you reviewed online for $194.99, or something very close to that. My point is, to convert my current P.M. 1225 to dcc AND sound will cost me $150 or so. that is around 3/4 of the price of this loco, just to add sound to my already $166 investment. So mad, but what a great locomotive.

[@MachRacer4]

After watching this review, i went and watched videos of the real size 1225 and the real size Nickel Plate 765 and the default whistle sounds more the 765's whistle to me. Still a great looking model train.

[@joshbrooks5557]

Hey, I was wondering are you going to film the construction of your new layout?

[@johnmarston1697]

Getting this at my train show next week .I'm hyped!

[@DaBobsNScaleMancave]

The model to me, looks just like the pictures I have seen of the prototype. I am starting to like this new Bachmann product line they are putting out. I heard that their N Scale is getting better as well.

[@CaliBup]

Bachmann is defiantly getting better. They are releasing an N scale Berkshire next year and I cant wait! Also, grettings from nscale.net. :)

[@whatsitaboutwithphilcraig6661]

I just love this locomotive in what ever scale 👍

[@joenewstead4848]

I a big fan of the 1225. Just out of coursity does the whistle the real sound 1225 make? And doe,s bachmann make a tender for her sdtunt from the polar express movie when theory used her?

[@cwhuffman01]

The only 3 or 4 versions Bachmann makes is the NKP version, both with a mars light and with out, the C&O version and the PM version. But it would be fairly easy to have an extra tender shell painted and decaled to "Polar Express"

[@BNforever2009]

good review, wish Bachmann come out with more steamers thats as good as that and with a reasonable price. Hmmmm IC steamers.

[@Dillon_Goble]

James I know it has a tsunami sound decoder but what type of decoder is it like is it TSU-1100 or so on the reason I am asking I want to know if I'm able to change the CVs on it so I can make it have different whistles and bells because I just saw 765 for the first time and want the model I get to be as prototypical as I can get it. And thanks for being the best model railroad review person

[@HARPO1ME]

It is not a Tsumani sound decoder .Soundtraxx made them with a few features and a few sounds for Bachmann.They are pretty good ,but do not have the power in the volume that Tsumani does ,but you get 3 different horns to chose from ,but only 1 bell and no brake sounds EQ or reverb and no auto load function with the chuff.

[@1BlubeTube]

Always liked Steam-Engines there is so much detail to them, and Old-American-History.

[@PereMarquette1223]

Can you do a review of the Athearn GP7/GP9? I am looking at buying a pair of rare Texas and Pacific models

[@billsims5153]

Much better review James. You are improving. Consider looking at articles that will give you the proper names for details you try to describe. Suggest Kalmbach as a source for drawings with mechanical IDs. Keep working at it.

[@jointheresistence123]

Thank you for your service, and thank you for this great review!

[@bigsamdog1]

Great video. I sent a Spectrum 2-10-0(sound) in under new warranty, Bachmann called me today and said it could not be fixed. This one is not available now they will send me a Spectrum 4-4-0(sound) or Berkshire 2-8-4(sound), I chose the Berkshire, already have three 4-4-0's. Bachmann customer service is awesome.

[@TheRealZuikaku2]

Do you own all the stuff you review or is some of it borrowed from a dealer?

[@LukeLovesTrains-Mr.RailYard]

Can locomotive handle 18 radius curve

[@16thaveproductions]

Another awesome review James thanks for sharing

[@emanz805]

I hope i get one too because the locomotive was used as the polar express my favorite Christmas movie

[@stationmaster12]

What is the MSRP on this one? And how much did you get it for?

[@nztphotography5758]

Im really worried about mine, I bought the DCC Sound value one and it just arrived and im worried that it will be like one of the bad ones where it stalls and wont work on bends.

[@Train2589]

Nice, but i have a non sound 1225 and i don't really like it. One, it has no traction tires (Don't know about the sound one) and it's light as heck so it can't pull much. If i was to get another Berkshire, it'd be a MTH one (Would love to see you do a comparison between an MTH and Bachmann Berkshire BTW).

[@Train2589]

Mine has more of a problem with switches. Every time it goes over one, it jumps off the rails. Sometime's it'll re-rail instantly but it's started to just derail completely. As for binding on tight curves, i don't know as mine are all over 24 inch radius curves.

[@brianginn6354]

A highly recommend Bullfrog Snot for non traction equipped locos. I had many a loco which struggled up 1% grades pulling 12-16 car trains up 3% like nothing was there after applying the Bullfrog Snot.

[@brianginn6354]

P Mason We are talking about two different products. This is the product I am speaking of: www.modeltrainstuff.com/Bullfrog-Snot-Traction-Tires-1oz-Jar-p/bfs-bfs.htm You would never use this as a wax of any sort.

[@doughall6196]

Train2589 have sound one ,same problems.

[@HARPO1ME]

Train2589 Traction tires are not what good modern model have.If they do most manufacturers give you an option to put a standard metal driver .They are bad for the gear and drive and especially the rail spreading that rubber along the rail.Keep your track and wheels clean of lube and the slight slip you get is actually good.She can wear in to the rail or vise versa like the real deal.Have fun!

[@b323ss2]

The wire on tender to the loco broke on mine is there anyway I can fix it?

[@AlexWaldLP]

Hello Sir, Just wanted to ask if the webside you linked in the description is shipping to germany too because when i tried to order the Berkshire 1225 it failed. Hope you are able to respond, nice Video btw!

[@irf1630trains]

I'm getting the Bachmann 765 on a scale of 1 to 10 how good is it?

[@randygelp1864]

Thank you James , I truley am honered .

[@ethancass7946]

i wouldn't mind seeing that engine on your layout when it's done

[@trains1018]

jlwii2000 your ho train videos are the best. you should do a review of the bachmann gp 40 sound value locomotive when there finaly out.

[@NorfolkWestern484]

How is the pulling power?

[@BanditFlashpoint]

Wow!! They sounds pretty nice!! i think I might get me one soon.

[@NickelPlateDave]

Does it work for The bachman ez app

[@OneTeamOneMission]

I'm new and planning to make a model layout and I am planning on buying this thing but can tthis one run wth a regular transformator aswell or do then the sounds not work? if they not work what kind of electrical would you recommend

[@RailTime1786]

Is the boiler made of metal or plastic?

[@Breadfan00]

Does this and do other US DCC models work on German DCC systems like Trix or Roco?

[@XDHwilks]

Does this model run on DC as well as DCC?

[@SlaterDozierRailroadMedia]

I have a Bachmann berk and it is one of my favorite engines. It is the NKP 765 but it doesn't have DCC sound (yet). My engine has had one glaring problem since the day I got it, and that is it almost always derails on certain switches. For example, say I have a right-handed switch and it is set to go straight ahead. When the engine goes over that switch, the front wheel will jump the track and go to the right instead of going forward and that will cause the engine to derail because the rest of the engine wants to go forward. Do you know of a way to fix this problem?

[@b323ss2]

trim the inter rim of the switch if you have a dremal tool or trim the coupler magnet

[@SlaterDozierRailroadMedia]

+Brian Gradwell It worked. Thank you very much!

[@b323ss2]

+Slater Dozier welcome

[@b323ss2]

Try tightening the pilot truck screw a little till the pony truck wheels are not wiggling up and down

[@b323ss2]

And if you have a dremal tool you can round out the end of the inter rail to help a little more but be careful to not round out to much

[@josephadair6493]

How many speed steps does this engine have.

[@jimmacpherson3188]

Pere Marquette didn't have name on chimney stack apart from that the most gorgeous train ever built I come from the land of the flying Scotsman go big boys 7000bhp whoe

[@nwrailfan2465]

6600 bhp i think

[@DRRP]

will it work with dc track power

[@1964catt]

9 years later these things are $455 now on Bachmann's site

[@silasanderson5343]

you should do the C&O L-1 locomotive

[@zacharyperkey6791]

what do you mean by prototype? Do you mean the models prototype, or the actual locomotives and their blue prints.

[@trainfansgamingchannel2778]

+zachary perkey the actual locomotives and their blue prints

[@iLoVeSD70Ace35]

Fantastic video!

[@cnwtrains]

how many passenger cars can it pull?

[@wolfen216]

I'm going to disagree with your notation of the model having 4 chuffs per revolution. The chuffs should be at 12-3-6-9 (and vise versa) or very close. Here I noticed it wants to travel, which is where the chuffs are not in the same place every revolution. I would expect at the price they would at least sync the chuffs or have a cam installed.

[@PrimemanStudios]

i have the same one but mine has no sound

[@RailroadStreet]

Cool Video!

[@jerrypollard1615]

james, I wish comment more the rising cost of the hobby, I would like to buy more but money only go so far

[@fernandbarredaquintanar3460]

Porque a qui en colombia no hay tirendas de estos productos siendo que habemos aficionados al ferromodelismo.y la unica tienda que conozco el costo es deshorbitante.

[@GrizzlyBearBob1]

Great review, thank you!

[@robertj.karczewski6775]

You do an excellent product review! You just need a little more light on the subject when you are filming, especially when you are reviewing and filming a steam locomotive.

[@iplayoldgames_]

2:20 I know that feeling

[@uravggamer4620]

I Play Old Games yep, part of the hobby🤣

[@BoG9110]

I have the Digital Commander Train Set w /E-Z Command Control System by Bachmann

[@BearCreekWoodworking]

Great Review! The real Pere Marquette 1225 runs out of Owosso, MI. It's operated by the Steam Railroading Institute. Here's a link for those who are interested in learning more about this cool engine. michigansteamtrain.com/ You may even want to take a ride. The whistle is so cool on the real life engine, just like this model.

[@TerminalSports45]

Can you rip the model makers apart for making their Southern 4501 model USRA standard light mikados? (she was built before then and her new upgrades will most likely not appear on the model, BLI has already done it and bachmann plans to do the same thing in the future) lol All joking aside would you mind doing a review on the Intermountain F3As when they come out in November? I want to get get myself an NC&StL one for Christmas.

[@cwhuffman01]

its not about making an accurate model for manufactures, its about taking tooling they already have and applying it for various other roads and road names. Take me for example, I took a BLI Light mikado, completely rebuilt it with all the modern features 4501 has and I found a brass tender that complements the model well, and it turned out well. now is it perfectly scale, no, but as long as you like what you have and your happy with it, why bother making everything "scale"

[@TerminalSports45]

you do realize I was joking right? why do you think I left the "lol" at the end and the very next thing started with "all joking aside"?

[@cwhuffman01]

Well, its not that but i would love for a manufacture to make something scale that isnt brass and or cost a fortune. And i wasnt trying to be rude with this comment, just stating my opinion and such. Sorry

[@jasonmulye5902]

Christopher Huffman

[@epiccsx]

can this engine put out steam?

[@riondoesthings1988]

No sadly but the one that I got the MTH Pere Marquette does smoke

[@epiccsx]

@@riondoesthings1988 nice

[@NNVALE905]

What's scale ?

[@indianamodelrailroader6207]

I paid 65 dollar for my c&o 2-8-4

[@pokeyrailfanning]

I’m looking at the same exact one but it’s C&O not Pere Marquette

[@goodrichfarms8795]

Same thing, C&O bought out Pere Marquette and relettered/renumbered (were sometimes) and was put to work in the coal mountains down South. Only handful had been saved, but the only Pere Marquette engines left are 1225 (operating) and 1223 (none operating).

[@ianmason4682]

It would be cool if the whistle was the whistle from the polar express

[@jonathanher1280]

Ian Mason ya

[@mikealger3169]

Did you know that the 1225 is actually the Polar Express. Just one thing it's pronounced (pear market)

[@jonathanher1280]

Mike Alger pear market MARKET LOL

[@StellaCharlie]

Is there a DC version

[@hexxoid9263]

+StellaCharlie Gaming! No, as far as I know, they only make a DCC version, and a DCC Sound Value version which he reviewed in the video.

[@colivera427]

The DCC Sound version runs on DC with sound. Many people fail to mention this for some reason.

[@HARPO1ME]

The sound does not sync well in dc and there are automatic functions like the bell and horn ,but they must be turned on using a dcc system to work in dc.

[@colivera427]

Yeah, forgot to point that out. Thanks!

[@iron1349]

colivera427 I Know mine runs DC. I just hope the gears don't fail

[@meeperfive]

The polar express!!!!

[@jimbowers625]

Very nice I have 765

[@largesatsuma]

Great video. Are you still in the armed forces? USAF I think?

[@jlwii2000]

Yep.

[@k4kfh]

***** Thank you for your service

[@markcompeau528]

my whistle does not sound like that

[@Ryanw21]

How hard would it be to install a smoke unit

[@prakritimohanvashist3823]

I was expecting atleast a demo of working model..

[@pm1225cp]

There are many details that are incorrect with this model. For example, 1225 does not have whitewalls on any of its wheels, does not have handrails around the edge of the tender, has jacketting covering the lower half of the firebox, has two dynos, etc. That being said, I still own this model (I'll buy any model of 1225 in any scale, love the engine) and run it often. It pulls well too. I also own the MTH version, which is a little more accurate.

[@pm1225cp]

TheBrantfordRailfan No, in fact I am not deaf but thanks for asking. I was simply venting my frustration with the producer of this model and all of its inaccuracies as a model of 1225 in the state of appearance it has been in for the past 20+ years. Don't be so rude, railroading is a fun hobby :)

[@nztphotography5758]

1225 Did have Whitewalls (at one point)

[@brockmorgan75]

Does come with track

[@nztphotography5758]

No

[@galath1209]

does it include smoke?

[@TalkingSandvich]

I think the Lionel model has smoke but not the Bachman

[@brockmorgan75]

Does This smoke??

[@nztphotography5758]

No it does not come with cigarettes

[@jonathanher1280]

pere marqutte is the real polar express

[@undergaming5331]

That is not the right whistle or bell. The linel o gauge has accruate whistle and bell

[@riondoesthings1988]

@Under Gaming yep I know that’s why I got the MTH Pere Marquette which is 100 times better than this one

[@jonathanher1280]

It's like you re modeled tje engine and tender to look like the Pere Marqutte

[@jonathanher1280]

with the American flyer polar express

[@SebastianMammoth]

The Pere Marquette is also known as the real Polar Express.

[@PereMarquette1223]

Can you do a review of the Athearn GP7/GP9? I am looking at buying a pair of rare Texas and Pacific models

[@HARPO1ME]

James nice review. They hauled IRON ORE CARS back in the day. A little Michigan history. Heavy Hauler.I believe they did not have white walls when they did this. 1225 Bachmann's Christmas train movie.I think this is a re-release of a older model that they did in the 90's

[@nsrailfan0677]

I can't wait to get 1225 so I can run a more realistic real life polar express!

[@coltonthiessen4417]

How does the bell and whistle sound activate? How does all the other sounds activate?

[@TobyPasman]

I have this model. Mine has standard DC, though. I got my model because I got to see the real Pere Marquette 1225.

[@NickelPlateDave]

How do i get dcc to work on the Bachman Ez Ho Controlled