Customer Reviews

Bachmann Trains Empire Builder Ready - To - Run N Scale Train Set

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The Bachmann Empire Builder Set is not only a beauty, it's a real workhorse! The big Santa Fe "Northern" 4-8-4 with it's 16-wheel oil tender (the tender alone is 52') easily handles the eight freight cars that are included in the set. In fact, this engine will pull more than 40 freight cars. The set is well constructed and includes telephone poles, railroad and street signs, 44"x24" oval of Bachmann nickel silver E-Z track, power pack, speed controller, and instruction manual is included. There is a lifetime limited warranty on the locomotive.

Nice all in one box train set. If you want a train to set up at Christmas under the tree this set is just right for you. It has all the components you need. Another plus is that the one box should be easy to store when Christmas is over. That being said you should know that this train is tiny. If you have bad eyesight or big hands be prepared to struggle setting it up and getting the cars on the track.

Bachmann Trains Empire Builder Ready - To - Run N Scale Train Set I like bachmann trains because they are a quality product and authentically detailed. They also have a lifetime warranty and an excellent track record for all over performance and product longevity. I highly recomend and will continue to to purchase Bachmann products

This is a fine little train, beautifully detailed and fun to watch. Putting the track together requires a firm, careful touch but is not difficult. The only problem I had was in getting the cars to join together but I soon learned that a firm push, holding both of them on the track, would do the trick. Otherwise it is quite easy to assemble and a joy to own.

Bachmann has been making model trains since 1952 (The company was founded in 1833 but didn't make trains back then). I've owned this particular train set for about 4 months now and by now I can draw a conclusion.

The Bachmann "Empire Builder" train set comes in a windowed cardboard box with a white Styrofoam slotted insert that firmly holds the locomotive, cars, track and power pack. It's just like the ones I got in the late 60's or early 70's when I was a kid. Oh the memories!

However, there are some differences. First, the power pack is now 2 pieces...a small gray plastic box with the throttle knob connected to a "wall wart" (Those humongous black transformers that take up all the other outlets on your powerstrip) which I find really annoying. Second is the "E-Z Track" which has the track and roadbed integrated in one piece. The sections interlock with each other, avoiding the tracks from pulling apart during operation. I was skeptical of the new style track at first, but it really works great! There are a lot less derailments and a lot more fun.

The centerpiece of the set, the Santa Fe 4-8-4 Northern locomotive, has a couple of issues. The detailing is not up today's "model grade" standards...it looks like a 70's train set loco, with all of the piping and valves are just part of the shell, no separately applied detail parts. The electrical pickup is not that good either. If the track and wheels are not kept perfectly clean, it will run erratically. I have Kato, Life-Like and Model Power locos that still run silky smooth on slightly dirty track. There is also a small copper metal contact between the pilot truck (the 4 front small wheels) and the body. If this metal contact comes loose and/or dirty the loco will run very herky-jerky. I actually had to bend the tab on the contact slightly downward to restore performance.

I recently found out that this is not the latest generation Bachmann Northern 4-8-4. The newer ones have added electric pickup via the tender and a few other refinements to make it run smoother. The new Santa Fe's can be identified with the road number "3783" on the tender, while mine is "3780". Unfortunately, it still looks like it was made in the 70's. Will Bachmann start supplying the newer model Northern in this set? Your guess is as good as mine. My recommendation would be to purchase a spare locomotive in case something goes wrong.

The cars are very good quality. Couplers are the knuckle style, which mate well with Atlas, Micro-Train and Kato couplers.

If you want to buy a nice train set for you and/or your child on Christmas and run it once a year around the tree, then this is a very good set for the money. Add another star to my review if Bachmann starts shipping the Empire Builder with the newer locos!

Train set was everything as described. The description was short and concise.Bachman makes great train sets. This was my first n scale after years of HO trains. This set is a great value. It helped that I had done my research beforehand. The order process was easy and the shipping quick. I had been charged for shipping by mistake and Amazon took care of it before I could complain.

I have been a model railroader for years in HO scale. I do not have the space I had in the past so I ordered an N gauge set. The 4-8-4 I ordered is not a smooth running engine. It has to be pushed to start and will not stay running. I find the track to be OK but falls apart easy. You will need to nail it down or it will lift up and cause cars to derail.

I've had my Empire Builder about a week now. It has performed dependably - at top speed, this little train really zooms around the track. I like the N-gauge size - perfect for a tabletop set-up. For the price it's actually a well-designed and built set - China, of course. The locomotive and cars are not as detailed as those expensive N and HO gauge trains, but, hey, for the price it's actually very good. Bachman gives the locomotive a lifetime (of the owner) limited warranty - good. The N-gauge set is small - a plus and a minus, but overall a plus. The set-up is extremely easy with all connections nicely-designed and clearly described. The "Snap Track" works well. I added two turnouts ("switches" to me) with a partial inside loop, which has worked just OK as the turnouts add another complexity to a simple set-up. I'll probably not use them but just keep the train on the original oval. The only problem I've had is the locomotive front four wheel truck, which tends to jump off the track, but it gets right back on when on the re-railer track. It appears loosely connected and not weighted, which could be the problem. So, overall, I'm happy with the set, which I'll use as my "Christmas Train" on a 24" x 48" board which I put on a table with a small Christmas tree in the center of the layout. Again, for the price, hard to beat!

I set this up with care, But the build quality was so poor that we did not even take any other train cars out the set. My Son who should be playing with his new train days before Christmas has to wait! FYI-It's made in CHINA -

Not happy with this purchase!

I purchased a set in December as an exploratory entre to get back into the model railroading hobby. I did a lot of research, but I believe the reviews were not accurate. I was very disappointed with the set. First,it did not run very well. The engine contiunally stalled. I made sure the track was on an absolutely level surface but the problems persisted. Next, the lead truck on the engine fell off after a few days of operation. My experience was so bad, I was about to abandon getting back into the hobby until I came across models from other manufacturers. In comparison, I was not im[pressed with the Bachmann quality. In retrospect, I dont believe I can not even recommend it for purely toy value purposes