Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I bought the set for my 5 year old boy. He is having a ton of fun with it for the last few days. A word of caution. HO models are fragile. Period. If you have a boy in crashing/smashing phase, this is not the right toy to buy -- wait till he is a bit older (recommended minimum age is 8 years -- it's printed right there on the box). You'd definitely want to play with and supervise your youngster while playing with this train set at least at first. If you are giving this set to a very young boy (or girl), explain first that this type of toy is fragile and that some amount of patience and care will be needed while playing with it.
At first, I was worried about the price. Then realized that this set isn't that expensive after all, compared with what else is out there. Or compared with Thomas wooden railroad (few pieces of plain solid painted wood on wheels for $$$). Considering that HO scale locomotives I saw in few local shops are running around $60-80 for cheap ones, and up to few hundred for more fancy stuff, this set is actually rather good deal (MSRP is $260, Amazon sells it for around $150). Bachmann has two more sets that come with all you need for DCC operation (both DCC controller and DCC locomotive in the set) that cost about the same with diesel engines. However, my son wanted steam engine, so that's the one we got. Bachmann makes few more other sets that include DCC equipped locomotives, but not DCC controller.
The packaging could have been a bit better. I'd recommend an adult taking the locomotive and cars out of the packaging. Just don't force anything and you'll be all right. I've got the cars out relatively easy, however the locomotive needed a bit of work till it finally came out. The locomotive and the cars are running smooth for their price range. Depending on the age of your kid, she or he might need a bit of help putting the train on the track (it's an HO scale after all, requiring a bit of precision that very young hands might not yet have).
You should definitely read at least the manual for DCC controller. It would be nice if Quick Start guide was included. I can easily see people connecting everything, not reading the manual and not being able to figure out how to start locomotive. In short, locomotive is pre-programmed at position 3. So, after you connect everything, hit number 3 to select position 3, turn the knob and off you go. To turn on the light on the locomotive, press function key to go into the function mode (while position 3 is still selected) then button 10. While still in function mode, you can press button 1 to dim or un-dim the light. To exit function mode, press function button once more. Use stop button to suspend all activity on the railroad, and press second time to resume.
The system comes with DCC locomotive and very simple and very basic DCC controller. Oh joy. I wish those existed when I was a kid! The turnout is manually operated. It would be nice if set included DCC controlled turnout, for complete experience. A magnet that can be placed under the track for uncoupling action is included in the set too. However, don't expect young kids to master it. It could be just the couplers that are included with the set, but I also have problem uncoupling cars using the under-track magnet from time to time. The E-Z Mate couplers are easy to couple on straight track, they simply snap together. They might need a bit of help connecting on curved track.
The 0-6-0 locomotive included in the set is silver colored Union Pacific. Checking Bachmann web site, they also have the same 0-6-0 locomotive with Great Northern color scheme which I liked a bit more, but not as part of a set. The only real complaint about the locomotive is that the front coupler is not E-Z Mate and doesn't seem to be compatible with the E-Z Mate couplers on the cars. Actually, it looks like it was more of decoration then functioning coupler. The rear coupler (which is located on the tender) is the same E-Z Mate as the ones on the cars, and connects nicely. The connection between locomotive and tender doesn't use coupler (it's a simple pin system). The light on the locomotive can be turned on and off and brightness adjusted to full or half remotely from the controller.
The wheels on the cars use relatively simple mounting. The instructions say they may come out in case of rough handling (or during the transport). However, they are easy to snap back on. If you have a car that seems to be de-railing all the time, making too much noise, or simply doesn't seem to be going smoothly, check if all the wheels are properly seated (and re-seat them if needed).
The E-Z track system is simply standard HO tracks with standard connectors (exactly the same as those I had 30 years ago), simply glued to plastic roadbed. The plastic guides on the roadbed make it a bit easier to line up connectors, and the whole thing is a bit simpler to assemble on carpet then the plain tracks without roadbed. Few of the (metal) connectors needed to be worked-in a bit the first time we were connecting the tracks. On the plus side, tracks with roadbed definitely do look much much nicer. On the minus side, these are specific to Bachmann, so you are kind of locking yourself in. You can buy miles of plain tracks (without roadbed) dirt cheap on local train shows. They should be no trouble connecting to these tracks, however it may be a bit flimsy to connect them (due to different elevation and having to go over plastic connector).
Looking at [...] website, they have DCC operated E-Z track turnouts and switches, but only as separate items, not as part of an expansion set. It would be nice if they were to start selling DCC version of their standard expansion set.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Bachmann Trains Steam Digital Commander Ready-to-Run DCC-Equipped HO Train Set
Old-time railroading gets a modern twist with the Steam Digital Commander set. Now, beginning railroaders can enjoy a steam-era locomotive equipped with 21st Century digital command control (DCC). Bachmann?s exclusive E-Z Command DCC system lets you control the speed, direction, and lighting of the 0-6-0 steam locomotive, and a 56 inch x 38 inch oval with turnout and siding will quickly have you performing switching operations like a pro.
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