Bachmann 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Locomotive & Tender -- DCC Sound Value Equipped PERE MARQUETTE #1225 - HO Scale

This Bachmann engine really surprised me. I'm a fan of Kato engines running ESU decoders but Kato HO can be pricey and ESU decoders are a pain to program natively in JMRI. Anyway, I had low expectations for this loco. Bachmann did a good job with this one. The design is nice, the loco has some weight to it, and the sound from this decoder is great. Adjusting the configuration was extremely simple in JMRI. This decoder doesn't offer start up sounds or braking sounds but when you power the track, the engine will have a steam sound and then as you drive the chuffing sound progressively speeds up or slows down to correspond with the speed you're using. I'm a big fan of running my dcc engines at ultra low speeds and this engine can run smooth and slow at ~4, which is extremely slow. I'm sure with a bit more tinkering in JMRI I can fine tune things a bit more but again, don't expect the same level of granularity that you can achieve with an ESU decoder, but again, this pleasantly surprised me. The front and rear lights are a nice touch. The only other adjustment I might see if I can do in JMRI is to slow the chuffing frequency a bit, as I believe this is set just a tad fast. Very loud too, but I know some folks like that. I personally lower all my volume settings. Hope this is helpful, I would definitely recommend and after buying this, I would consider more Bachmann engines in the future. Also, I'm using DCC++ via a Raspberry Pi and Arduino motor driver.

This train is awesome!! Runs great and sounds great!!

Initially I loved the look of this loco; and the history of the proto. However, it soon came to be known that it would rarely stay on track for 2 complete revolutions on my 4 x 8' layout. No issues with any other loco I own. Right off the bat I thought the wiring between the loco and tender was a little stiff, and a little short. It looked like it put a funny strain on the geometry of the combo. The front wheels seemed very light and was usually the cause of the derail. Not my job to fix the shortcomings on this loco. Even the back wheels had issues. Overall not happy at all with this purchase. Amazon's return policy and procedures are top notch. Replaced the loco with a Rivarossi. Happiness has returned to my train town.

Runs good! Recommended for use on 22 curves but runs fine on my 18's. Great sound effects with the DCC System!

Searching for a well-crafted steam loco model, I purchased this Berkshire 1225 and I’m glad I did. The original 1225 is still in service today, operating from the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, MI as the “North Pole Express.” This Bachmann model captures every detail of that terrific steamer. Authentic, easy to control lights, bell and whistle (short and long blast) make this a great addition to my layout. I recommend this 2-8-4 Berkshire to any model railroad enthusiast looking to add a steam loco to their collection.

Train sounds great. The train has issues staying on the track my other trains do not I can't figure out the issue I use bachman tracks

This is a fantastic steam. The detail, sound and function are great.

recieved on time and in good condition