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

I've worked on many different locomotives over the years however I have never come across something as unusual as this 1980's DD40AX "Centennial" locomotive from Bachmann. This loco includes features such as directional lighting as well as a blinking yard light however the feature that makes it unusual is a built in horn sound system as well as a controller which wires into your DC power pack and a built-in battery pack inside the loco to power the speaker. I really enjoyed figuring out how everything went together.

[@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”

[@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

[@CJfishing2024]

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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@kyoshiphoto4045]

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

[@K-Effect]

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

[@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.

[@QuadMochaMatti]

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!!!"

[@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.

[@williamfindspeople4341]

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

[@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.

[@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..☺🚥

[@mile290productions3]

Nice. A legendary UP loco

[@joallawestervelt6918]

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

[@716Railfan]

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

[@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 :|

[@alcopower5710]

Interesting loco

[@tjprptchable]

Very cool SMT keep up the great work

[@fattywithafirearm]

I bought 1 of these last year at a train show in N scale.

[@ericzerkle5214]

I had one in N scale. It was just as crap as the HO version...

[@matthewgebhard4914]

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

[@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.)

[@CrazySpence]

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

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

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

[@Burlington_Route]

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

[@thesierrastandard7281]

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

[@jacojasso9901]

Wow very nice locomotive

[@dasherq4850]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@jjwaters4037]

Love this !

[@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

[@UnionCentralSystem]

Nice comparison.

[@jgrafing]

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

[@warbabyproductions]

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

[@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.

[@robintheslavewr1513]

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

[@canyonpast]

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

[@richardcraniumdicksinn3959]

Me too.

[@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.

[@Brianrockrailfan]

Awesome video liked 🚄🚄👍

[@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?

[@canadianfreightstudios7496]

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

[@georgiasunbelt]

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

[@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.

[@piedmontrailfan81]

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 🤔

[@SPNGLovato18]

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.

[@SPNGLovato18]

Mrcat Games maybe later

[@nightisright1873]

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

[@fuzzyworld3]

I'll just throw this challenge out there, somebody get one of these, install a DCC decoder, and hook up one of the functions to the horn...

[@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.

[@markkincaid5085]

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

[@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! ☺☺

[@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.

[@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.

[@KOSMOS1701A]

man last time i saw prongs like that they were on my old TV antenna.

[@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!

[@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

[@mikesworld2019au]

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

[@52SuperC]

I want a centennial sooooo bad

[@Kingdomslayer-iv2eh]

Mabey you should connect 6922 and the other one together for more power! So you can Move More Carts!

[@eXtremeFX2010]

In the 1980s as a kid this was my Dream locomotive and could never afford it to add to my 4x8 layout. The hobbyshop at the mall had one in their display in a diorama. Thought it was Awesome.

[@southwestlimitedproduction9738]

Nice job again SMT

[@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.

[@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

[@grandiose00]

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

[@Kingdomslayer-iv2eh]

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

[@OscarHernandez-el3mq]

He is almost at 40k congratulations you earned it

[@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

[@MrOwwl]

Thumbs up if you get the Red Green. Good time's !

[@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.

[@andrewstrainstuff1773]

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

[@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.

[@thatconservativetrainguy3864]

i just got one of these in o scale as an early birthday present

[@SMTMainline]

Wow, this must be a giant loco in O scale

[@trainstorm1225]

This is when Bachmann was good. (At least better than they are now)

[@SMTMainline]

They were certainly more interesting but they were not well built.

[@MFXdump]

I just recently bought 3 of Bachmanns new N Scale GP40’s. Really smooth quiet runners. The experience with the new Bachman models have so far been equivalent to some Kato units I own. I’m using analog dc controls and they run MU’d really well with Kato units.

[@saraschieve7648]

Bachmann got worse ?

[@ericzerkle5214]

They were NOT good back then. Pancake motors, horrible detailing, poor overall quality... I git started in the early 80s and it didn't take me long to upgrade to Athearn and Atlas...

[@ericzerkle5214]

@Lucien Thompson-Parmenter I had a 484 bachmann ATSF steamer and it was so light it couldn't pull for shit!!!!

[@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.

[@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 :)

[@carlstclair9920]

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

[@mikeV2848]

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

[@mgr_video_productions]

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

[@harrisonlamore3438]

That is cool that it even has the instructions with it

[@mrdreaded8865]

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

[@JamesStropko]

I have that same train and it runs like a beast

[@erikhobby6542]

I really want one of these!

[@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. ;)

[@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.

[@TBoy205]

hard to tell if you’re talking about the model itself being strange or the real locomotive....

[@Petemonster62]

SMT - Maybe you should experiment with adding weight over the non-powered truck? Adding weight may help the locomotive track better & make the headlight flicker less.

[@whiteknightcat]

Both trucks are powered, but not all axles.

[@SMTMainline]

I might try that although I don't want to add too much since I'm not sure how much that motor can handle.

[@Petemonster62]

@@SMTMainline Yes, that is something you have to look out for! I am thinking that the engine have electrical pick-up from the non-motored truck.

[@ChrisSmith-nm8gb]

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

[@billhudson7537]

A bit late to the video, that's me. . . In 1971 (I think) I was transferred from California to Florida. Had a buddy that was going in the same direction to share driving. We had stopped in Cheyenne (Wyo) to look at the Big Boy that was behind a fence there. While we were walking around gawking, a westbound freight changed crews. Two DD-40s (DD-35A?? wide cabs) never stopped, they rolled at a walking pace as each relief crewman went aboard and the offgoing crewman stepped off. When the crews finished chamging, the four diesels wound up and went on their way. We watched the whole operation. I have seen this video several times in the past. I just happened to be thinking about the transfer and stopping in Cheyenne when I saw the listing. Bi11 Hudson

[@thatoneguy611]

There must be so much stress on the truck when it goes over a turn

[@alwayslive7460]

THAT IS A VERY GENEROUS GIFT

[@caseycharlieandadam]

I don’t have a balcmann centennial but I’m saving my money for a balcmann gs4

[@vex8836]

One of the locos on my list id love to own.

[@chanteller2011]

I've wanted one for years .

[@Wolfiecolada]

i wanted this soo bad when i was a kid.

[@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

[@garysprandel1817]

Red Green this: insert Captain America I understood that reference meme here.

[@davidztog9011]

Loved watching Red Green on PBS.👍

[@mrdezi22]

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

[@PatGilliland]

That looks like an old Leisure World price sticker - Where I worked in the 80's. Very cool

[@shawntl]

ive been trying to find a affordable one of these lol nice engine

[@jamesburton7298]

Shawn, try Trainworld, I got one there 6 months ago for $99 with sound and dcc.