The Strangest Ho Locomotive I've Ever Seen - 1980s Bachmann DD40AX W/Sound

[@davidztog9011]

Who knows how long it was in the box, Harrison. I'm sure you will need to change oil and grease. Wheels probably have that patina build up from sitting. Now you're gonna have to change a piece of track so the horn works. A new 9 volt battery and fresh AAAs may make a difference with the sound as you really don't know how much voltage you were providing with the Tyco transformer. I'm sure it made kids' eyes pop back in the day. Thanks for sharing. 👍 👍 👍

[@dennieneff7400]

Ya are a amazin person David. Way to go bud

[@microbusss]

he needs AA batteries instead of AAA

[@modelyh0]

@@microbusss aa And aaa use the same voltage

[@brewcityboatclub8299]

@@modelyh0 it really doesn't matter seeing as AA don't fit in AAA spots, and vice versa. My phone and a 1928 Ford use roughly the same voltage, but that doesn't mean the batteries are interchangeable

[@laaeeh]

69 likes ;)

[@ponies_with_scarves7827]

At first I thought u were saying uve never seen a DDA40X and I was like “what railfanning rock have u been under”

[@C-J-Outdoors]

I have one I bought in the late 70's, it's put away with 400 engines and cars, my father had a huge HO model RR, when he died my brothers and I divided up his collection. Most of what we have are from the 70's, I haven't touched them since he died in 1983. My grandsons will inherit my collection.

[@SMTMainline]

It's nice to hear your grandsons will inherit them someday. I got into the hobby when my dad showed me his collection back in 2006 and I asked for a train set that Christmas which I was able to run his old locomotives on. It's a great hobby that unfortunately not many youngsters get to experience these days.

[@rejectedmind-1173]

I remember seeing something very similar to this at a local toy store when I was a kid and I wanted it so bad. I'm almost certain it was this, so this was a bit of nostalgia for me. I don't collect trains or anything, but I knew I had to click on this.

[@kyoshiphoto4045]

I had a Bachman F7. Ran it until it died. I was blown away by how much better the Athrean Bluebox model was.

[@williamfindspeople4341]

I have two very old Gilbert that don't run with drive shafts... This channel has sparked my interest again.

[@NedPooleD818]

I always wanted this loco...but even more I wanted a layout big enough to run it on!

[@willausterman3104]

The Athearn Blue Box DD40 can handle 18 in curves for all your big diesel needs!

[@SarcasticBroth]

Will Austerman... Will go perfectly alongside my Riverossi Big Boy which also take 18s. Won't look weird at all lol.

[@Thoroughly_Wet]

Man, UP has got the strongest, single frame locomotives for both steam and D.E. under its belt. Crazy to think

[@Panzer-535]

diesels maybe, not steam. there are other roads that claim most powerful rigid frame locomotives. example, the Western Maryland had the heaviest and most powerful Decapods (I-2) and were among the heaviest Consolidations (H8/H9)

[@soontobesopwith_production4705]

Yea but can the wester Maryland say they had a loco as famous as the big boy

[@needlenosekw]

Big boy number 3 in steam power. Not even close to number one.

[@FFred-us9tw]

@@needlenosekw UP never claimed the strongest steam locomotive. They claimed the largest, which they do have.

[@meki___6881]

Also don't forget the big blow/bird burner

[@georgiahex7387]

I believe it was 1984 when I received the Bachmann Centennial train set. It was the first train for my layout, 4x8. I had to go to my library to confirm the DD40x was a real engine. I have never seen a DD40X in person. It is my favorite engine after the F7 and F9. I prefer Bachmann for as a teen, and due to limited hobbies stores in my area, I found that Bachmann served me better than Tyco. My DD40X from childhood is long gone so I assembled a replacement set and, bought another DD40X engine while I was in the hospital, it was a panic buy . I enjoy your videos. Keep going with them

[@indridcold8433]

A Centinnial! I had one growing up. It was the center piece of my train set growing up. For a kid, I had an amazing HO trainset. It was 6 meters by 2 meters. I would still have it today if the basement had not flooded and destroyed my hard work. I got a paper route at 12 to be able to build that set. I think about it a lot.

[@jjs777fzr]

Same here. Live near Boston and a flood took out my set in my parents basement. It was a nice HO layout.

[@therailfanman2078]

Do you have the centennial still?

[@indridcold8433]

@@therailfanman2078 Everything was lost. When the basement flooded, it was just with water. Mud from the yard broke the basement windows and thick mud poured in. The insurance company shoveled out the basement and everything in it, not that anything survived. Even the furnace had to be taken out. I miss that train set a lot.

[@therailfanman2078]

@@indridcold8433 that's sad. Did you ever get a replacement?

[@indridcold8433]

@@therailfanman2078 I have thought of that railroad since it got destroyed, almost every night. I do not have the space for another gorgeous HO scale set. However, I have been given a lot of thought to N scale or Z scale. I still dream with that old set.

[@joallawestervelt6918]

That was so cool. I really enjoyed watching. Thank you for sharing with us all. ♥😺♥

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.

[@biggiefitz6275]

At Kenefick Park in Omaha there's one of these sitting next to a Big Boy. Awesome sight to see

[@SMTMainline]

I want to visit that site someday.

[@dasherq4850]

really liking your videos during lockdown. good entertainment and learning. cheers for sharing

[@haroldalexis4200]

I had purchased the model you have. The DD40X in 1987. However it didn't have the speaker sound , batteries & the controller. I have the updated models as well they're pretty well.. very genius with the substitute when the 9 volt failed to work. I was 100% impressed. Loved the video..☺🚥

[@jlwii2000]

Nice layout!

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you. I know it's the not most realistic but decided to just add what I felt would make it look interesting, instead of what was most realistic.

[@michaelbujaki2462]

The horn is no more complicated than remote control cars of the era, it's just that in this case they applied it to a train. By the way, loved the red green reference.

[@ZakWolf]

Oh yes, the horn on that DD40AX reminds me more of an automobile horn than a locomotive horn!

[@ZakWolf]

Pretty interesting! I'm kind of reminded of how in the 60s Lionel had an HO-scale Santa Fe A-B-A diesel locomotive set that also used a battery-powered horn. Though of course Bachmann could pull it off with the DD40AX due to its' large body, just like how decades later the DD40AX would become Bachmann's first sound-equipped DCC locomotive. (A lot of older Bachmann products from the 70s and 80s are still being made today, in many cases as new and improved versions, like the aforementioned DD40AX.)

[@matthewgebhard4914]

That is so cool, you are very lucky to receive this engine.

[@MMRails]

8 axles. I don’t see those often. She’s a beast. Nice review of an old item. I don’t see those often either. You say Red Green, I saw MacGyver. Must be a generational thing.

[@joshuagargalione378]

Yep 4 axles thus the DD designation.

[@ModMokkaMatti]

At least he didn't McGruber the whole thing. That's a major relief.

[@charlesballard5251]

Well, David and Red Green are Canadian. MacGyver is American. So he invokes ol' Red. "And always remember: If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you HANDY!!!"

[@nathandelay]

That’s awesome Harrison and awesome video and very awesome even more awesome Vary interesting they did back then and very generous of him to give the locomotive to youAnd have an awesome day Harrison

[@CrazySpence]

Always loved the DD40X, I remember this being in every Bachmann Ad in the late 80's early 90's

[@mikeV2848]

I have seen that you have come up with alot of strange locomotives. Keep them coming

[@K-Effect]

This is something you would see in this Sears Christmas catalog in the 80s

[@tjprptchable]

Very cool SMT keep up the great work

[@SPNGMalibu18]

I want the Bachmenn gs4 that was shown in the back of the box. But the thing is, it has horn hook couplers.

[@SMTMainline]

I wouldn't buy one, they're the least reliable locomotives around. The newer models are much better but the old split chassis ones won't be around for much longer.

[@markfrench8892]

@@SMTMainline the old split frame ones are more accurate in their rigid wheel base.

[@SPNGMalibu18]

Mrcat Games maybe later

[@nightisright1873]

That’s why I love Lionel’s operating knuckle couplers

[@OscarHernandez-el3mq]

He is almost at 40k congratulations you earned it

[@mile290productions3]

Nice. A legendary UP loco

[@espeescotty]

Holy cow, it's like Chernobyl in the cab once the headlights kick in!

[@SMTMainline]

Yeah, they're pretty bright.

[@ericzerkle5214]

I blacked out the windows in my locos to prevent that.

[@southwestlimitedproduction9738]

Nice job again SMT

[@ericzerkle5214]

The horn system is like the old Lionel Postwar horn system. Battery in the loco and a special button to activate it.. That tyco controller is good for one thing, rifle target....

[@ZakWolf]

I use one of those TYCO controllers on my current HO-scale layout for powering the track turnouts, mechanical operating accessories and a few nearby lights. But to run my trains I use a Bachmann E-Z Command DCC system. It's kind of funny how back in the 70s and early-to-mid 80s, TYCO was Bachmann's biggest rival.

[@PotatoDrummer208]

DD40AX 6901 sits less than 5 minutes away from my house! To see this loco in person is pretty cool. It's bigger than you'd expect if you've never seen one IRL. Also, 6922 is in North Platte, Nebraska, and 6915 is in Pomona, California

[@francoisguerette]

48k views in 2 weeks! Congrats!

[@thesierrastandard7281]

I've actually been in one of those before! It's at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola CA. Pretty cool!

[@aidanl2025]

How do you not know what a DD40 is? Surprising.

[@genebohannon8820]

This brought me back to the hobby shop at the mall when I was a kid. It when bankrupt in the early 90s. I bought a Riverossi NYC streamlined4-6-4 and a med. Pacific that was from the seventies covered with dust. No one wanted to pay half a months rent for a toy. I still have then over 30 years later. Got them for $45 and $35 dollars.

[@mercuryoak2]

My uncle had one I heard about not sure of brand but it couldnt negotiate the curves he had. I seen it only on a box for my 2-6-2 bachmann. Prairie but because of split chassis axles bachmann dont support them anymore so it sits in box plus plastic on cylinders they don't stay in place sucks. Not sure what to do with it. Any suggestions?

[@SMTMainline]

To be honest, I think the best option would be to just use it as a display on your layout.

[@MosriteCharlie]

The shell is the structural strength on these models. Back in the 80's I did an article in RMC on how to convert an Athearn drive with 2 can motors if you want to upgrade the power.

[@TrainmasterII]

I did it!!! I used a Bachmann Shell with a mechanism of DD40 of Athearn

[@TrainmasterII]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2bNXmaEobCSfJo The engine in video is the result of it

[@716Railfan]

I still think the Union Pacific U50 is weirder. Great video 👍

[@andrewstrainstuff1773]

Yay!! Smt mainline uploads and I get my first heritage unit on the same day of my birthday!

[@whatsitaboutwithphilcraig6661]

This locomotive blew me away on n scale and converted me to run American locomotives on my uk Layout? I’m a newbie to model rail road ,however a beautiful and and detailed locomotive as well a great pulling motor drew me in. Great review and thanks for sharing 👍 I’m surprised it’s running on tight radius fantastic

[@creeperkillere]

UP 6900 (The engine there) Has done some hauls with 4014 and 844, As of 2020 It has been sitting in Omaha NE, It is nice to see UP taking care of older units and doesn't completely scrap them all.

[@MoosesWorkshop]

The first real one of those ever built 6900 is here in Omaha Nebraska. I have a video here on YT of me washing it along with Bigboy 4023!

[@DavidWright-yn9bi]

That's really cool.

[@Burlington_Route]

Z to G must have set those up just for you. That is something special.

[@owendinostudios1200]

What do I do when my big boy’s motor is weak?

[@geraldenders8393]

this was a loco built for the union pacific only. I worked for the Union Pacific Rail Road from 1990 thru 2004 at the engine house at Hinkle Oregon and was able to get on one of these monsters. This was 2 sd 40s on the same frame. I have the 6919 on my n-scale lay out.

[@jgrafing]

Haha good ol Bachman, they always ran like that even when they were new, always looked good though!

[@GaryNumeroUno]

I would suggest that the loco liveries were different on each model because in reality they were repainted after overhauls over time. Thus, perhaps they demonstrate the evolution of the locomotive livery fleet over the time they were in service.

[@robintheslavewr1513]

The horn is iconic like the smoke and choo choo and the air chime whistle in the post war american flyer trains

[@manthony1956]

This was forty years ago. As someone who has been at it for over fifty years, I can't say they were great runners. You can upgrade the pancake motors, but most entry level HO locomotives used some cheap motor. I personally prefer the earlier single motor all wheel drive Bachmann locos. Very noisy drive trains, but they pulled. Many locos of that era still had a single powered truck. And I remember my first flywheel loco. It was an Atlas GP-38, about 1975. With a skew wound five pole motor. This is about the same time Athearn change to flywheels. But my earliest locos had three pole Pittman motors with rubber band drive. It smoothed out the pulses because few locos ran well at low speeds, and whoa be to those who ran pulse dc. We've come a long ways, baby!

[@JamesStropko]

I have that same train and it runs like a beast

[@canadianfreightstudios7496]

The first time when you ran the train and honking the horn was hilarious I replayed it a lot of times

[@jacojasso9901]

Wow very nice locomotive

[@mrdreaded8865]

Like watching the Canadian version of Sam's trains ! Love the Red Green reference !

[@canyonpast]

They were strange however, I still have one in my train room. Not on the layout. Great video

[@richardcraniumdicksinn3959]

Me too.

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

Awesome video liked 🚄🚄👍

[@grandiose00]

I have seen that UP train in Illinois. AND I LOVE TRAIN TRAIN...

[@Trains-With-Shane]

I've got the newer Bachmann Sound DD40AX. I love the thing. it's a great puller. Very cool little piece of vintage gear you have there. I'll bet it runs pretty well once you get the electrical issue rsolved. Probably just some oxidation on the pick up bars. I've got a few old Life-Like engines with those pancake motors and they're silly fast. When I was a kid I may have suffered many "unintentional" derailments due to the speed. ;)

[@georgiasunbelt]

Video crashed when you put on the track while watching....would not restart....must have been an awesome power draw 😊. Anthony

[@warbabyproductions]

Well that’s a first for me a model locomotive with a battery compartment

[@Kingdomslayer-iv2eh]

Nice Union Pacific, I have a Southern pacific Gp40/Gp-38 Diesal Locomotive. Hope you enjoy The Locomotive You Have!

[@jjwaters4037]

Love this !

[@B1ENTERTAINMENT30]

just bought one myself at a local show, the last owner had already upgraded and converted it to DCC, cant wait to run it at my local club! ☺☺

[@mikesworld2019au]

that's really cool i had a dd 35a about the same length as that but unmarked silver and it had twin engines

[@dkendrick1916]

We’re a great big rollin railroad one that everybody knows.we were born of gold and silver spikes 100 years ago. We’re a million miles of history a-shinin in the sun. We’re the Union Pacific and our stories just begun.

[@tinmanstavern]

Sang this to the tune of the Beverly hillbillies theme song

[@domstrains3984]

Eat your cereal

[@Joshua_Starshard]

Dom's Trains what?

[@THE_IRON_HORSE]

Not going to lie the horn sounds like a chicken call good video

[@jn1mrgn]

I had that exact same transformer as a kid. I got some old reel to reel tape motors that I took apart and made a crazy powerful electromagnet.

[@rileyhogan8248]

That's a nice locomotive, SMT, With some real interesting and ahead of its time features. But, you can't say that you made a Red Green solution, because you didn't use the handyman's secret weapon!

[@SMTMainline]

Your absolutely right although he used cigarette lighters for many of his projects.

[@davidztog9011]

Duct Tape, yes!

[@rileyhogan8248]

@@SMTMainline true. Now in the next edition of SMT corner we will cut two f units in half and tape the band together, greeting a dual cab f unit. After you have spent 10 minutes making it, the thing falls apart after running 3 inches, to you walking away with your hands in your pockets, whistling.

[@markkincaid5085]

I can't believe you have 3 now and I have a older bachmann centennial

[@Greatdome99]

They were called Centennials (or 6900s) because the first, UP 6900, was delivered in time for the May 1969 centennial celebration of the golden spike near Ogden Utah. They were geared for 89 mph and I can personally attest that they could do that.

[@carlstclair9920]

Love the Spectrum version of this with dual motors and all axles powered.

[@thomasmoje5926]

A model of one of the most powerful diesel-electric locomotives ever built. Really great looking model although I would think it would require wide-radius curves in your track layout due to it's length.

[@warbabyproductions]

Practically every bachmann locomotive in that style of packaging has a higher chance of it having the pancake motor and the smaller chance is that the owner or the person selling switch boxes opon selling

[@microbusss]

this exact loco #6922 is on display in Cody Park in North Platte, Nebraska!! this also came with a blinking light too

[@SMTMainline]

It's nice knowing the loco still exists.

[@microbusss]

@@SMTMainline I need to find this loco too! its next to the only Challenger loco on display 4-6-6-4 #3977

[@mgr_video_productions]

Neat. Didn't know they had sound before DCC and sound decoders.

[@thesheq5023]

I had one of these in pennsy paint. I strung a wire to make the motor’s share connections and it worked a lot better :)

[@lancomedic]

Nice to see you working on that. I have two of those in the original boxes since I no longer model in HO. I believe I got them in 1980 or so. I bought the extra one to paint in a fantasy scheme. Mine don't have the horn option but they are nice models if you don't look too closely at them.

[@ChrisSmith-nm8gb]

Love the DD40X. Have 1 in O scale, 2 in HO, 3 in N scale.

[@TomzTrainzandAccessories]

I have this locomotive, and it actually has 2 motors in it to give it 2 truck pulling power. Also, the battery holder is designed for 2 “AA” batteries, not “AAA” batteries. If you like oddball Bachmann locomotives, you should look up a 2-10-4 Texas Chugger by Bachmann. I bought this steam locomotive back in 1979, and it has “Electronic Chugging Sounds” that come out of the tender. The tender has a plug you plug into the the rear of the locomotive to receive its power. No push button controller required. Both of my locomotives still run after all of these years, and still provide their electronic sounds.

[@darth_dingus7306]

What brand is that Bnsf dash 9 it looks really nice

[@joemac3118]

UP has videos of that loco in operation and documentary telling all about it. Very interesting and fun to watch

[@patrickmoran8790]

FWIW, there is a retired locomotive on display at the driveway entrance of the UPRR Jenks engine shop in North Little Rock, Arkansas. 6938 is the serial number. I think were retired due to fuel usage per mile and kept out west for long train fast running.

[@planespotter0880]

Is the one from the 80's smaller than the one from he 2000's? You said that the larger one has trouble on the curve.

[@gloriadevos1790]

Most of us that have been in model railroading know this is basically a toy but, it does provide a good start if you want to improve its detail level with aftermarket parts or parts harvested off of out of action units. And since you sound younger, you can do this easily, when you get older, the hands aren't as steady, lol. Same goes with the current Bachmann unit they call a DD40A I think? If you lash a nice Athearn DDA40X with an up-detailed unit shown in this video, it should be a nice looking unit. I run my Athearn DDA40X with a "fast 40" which is one of the many units lashed together for trains. The fast 40 is handy for running my Scaletrains Big Blow as well. Oh, keep an eye on the Athearn DDA40X as it can misbehave and cause the motors to sort of fight each other since there's two individual sound cards and motors inside. This will cause obvious damage and premature damage to the gears. And using proper lubricant is also important, I use silicone grease that you can find at any Autozone for a couple bucks.

[@Happymali10]

"For use with all H0 equipment" Both Märklin and every narrow-ish turn radius disagrees.

[@animalyze7120]

It'll work just can't use less than 22 degree turns or this will grind click and derail. But they didn't lie it'll work, even my SD40-2 diesels required larger radius curves put in as all my 18's would cause it to derail.

[@aardvark173]

@@animalyze7120 you need a 36 inch radius curve to safely run one of these? Wow!

[@trainguy69]

plus marklin is mostly AC :|

[@nrd515]

I lived in Las Vegas from 1975 until 1981 and was lucky enough to ride in a DD40AX twice. First was in 6932, and the second time was in 6922. They were on a lot of trains heading to LA from Vegas and so I saw them a lot at 50-60MPH getting a run at the climb in and out of Vegas.

[@sunnysiderails397]

Cool video, that's wild that it takes a battery to run the rear drive, although I like the fact that it allows for the walkway in the middle to be more realistic!

[@FFred-us9tw]

The battery is for the horn. Nothing else.

[@stevenikitas8170]

I am 70 years old. I remember seeing this locomotive running on the rails of the Union Pacific back in the 1970s.

[@SMTMainline]

It must have been something to see in person.

[@alwayslive7460]

THAT IS A VERY GENEROUS GIFT

[@strobx1]

I had a duel powered Athearn DD35( DD40) with two motors. Power House.

[@piedmontrf81]

For Christmas my dad said he’s getting a KATO Amtrak p42 for me, so I really can’t wait to do an unboxing. Also for some reason I say well folks at the beginning of my videos 🤔

[@mrdezi22]

I have one of these centennials. It works beautifully still, though it is missing all of the hand rails unfortunately.

[@sd70acefanns8]

Smt I realised my dd40x number 6922 and dose not have the horn sound is a different year than your dd40x number 6922

[@josephmurrill8530]

I have 4 of them from athearn genesis numbers. 6915, 6925, 6930 and 6946. I just need the 6936 I'm wondering will athearn genesis do some more 6900 centennials hopefully add some additional weight to them. How about 40 to 45 ounces.

[@UnionCentralSystem]

Nice comparison.

[@thatairplaneguy]

I remember those in all the brochures along with that bridge with the little red light on top.

[@SocialistDistancing]

I bought an athern DD40X in about 1978-79. I got it in black. I was going to custom.paint it. That never happened. It's barely been out of the box. You could get them with one or two motors. I got it with one. I regret not getting it with two. It would be more rare today. I'll have to check mine but I'm pretty sure all the axles are powered. I was never a bachmman fan. At least not their engines.

[@stephenhudson6543]

I have seen an expensive brass model of the dd40 where both trucks were totally sprung and articulated just like the real thing I mean the suspension system work just like on the real one like the side frames move and the journal boxes also

[@lokisgodhi]

You attach the button to your track. The button sends a signal to activate the sound. There was an article in the 70s Model Railroader on how to attach a record turntable to your track and play records of locomotives as a sound system. Tender speaker for noise effects by Cook, Peter A. from Model Railroader January 1971 p. 63

[@Southbound_Buff]

For some reason the video keeps crashing as I’m watching it. Could you maybe look into that? I can’t seem to finish the video without getting an error message at random points. It doesn’t fix itself when I clicked retry

[@SMTMainline]

I've heard the same thing from one other person, are you using an up to date browser?

[@Southbound_Buff]

SMT Mainline I’m not sure I’m going to go check. I’m using the KZbin app so I’m going to check for an update