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Bachmann Christmas Streetcar Set
Bachmann Trains · Mid-range
An On30 streetcar set with electronic auto-reversing E-Z Track, built for point-to-point passenger transit on a model layout.
Bachmann Echo Valley Express HO Scale DCC Sound Train Set
Bachmann · Mid-range
A ready-to-run HO coal train led by a DCC sound-equipped Alco 2-6-0 steam locomotive, with a digital controller and a larger oval of nickel-silver track.
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We have not tested it ourselves: strengths and weaknesses below come from the tests cited.
Why Railfans Carry It
Most first train sets run on plain DC power: one throttle, one train, and silence apart from the motor. This set is the step that makes a model behave more like the real thing. The Alco 2-6-0 carries a DCC decoder with a steam sound package that Bachmann lists as chuff, short and long whistles, bell, air compressor and blower, played in polyphonic 16-bit sound. For a railfan who records steam excursions or stands at the lineside to hear a locomotive work, hearing the whistle and bell under your own control is the closest a tabletop gets to the real experience. The coal consist suits the steam era: a 40-foot gondola, a 40-foot quad hopper with a removable coal load and an offset-cupola caboose.
In the Field
This is an indoor set. Bachmann supplies a 56 by 38 inch oval of snap-fit nickel-silver E-Z Track, made of 12 curved pieces, 3 straight pieces and a plug-in terminal rerailer, so plan a table or floor area a little larger than that. The E-Z Command Plus control centre runs from a wall pack with plug-in wiring, so no soldering is needed to start. Digital command control addresses each locomotive by its decoder rather than powering the whole track, which means a second DCC locomotive added later can run on the same oval under separate control. Speed, direction, the headlight and the sound effects all come from the controller. Body-mounted E-Z Mate couplers link the cars. The power supply is a US 110-volt unit; Bachmann warns that adapters or converters may be needed in other countries. An illustrated instruction manual is in the box.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- DCC decoder with steam sound effects
- Room to add a second DCC locomotive
- Nickel-silver snap-fit track
- Larger 56 by 38 inch oval
- Coal hopper with removable load
Weaknesses
- Needs more space than a first circle of track
- US 110-volt power supply only
- Fixed oval with no siding or turnout included
- Steam-era consist only, with no diesel option in the box
Key Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| UPC | 022899008257 |
| Scale | HO 1:87 |
| Track | 56 x 38 in oval of nickel-silver E-Z Track: 12 curved, 3 straight, 1 terminal rerailer |
| Control | E-Z Command Plus control centre with wall pack |
| Couplers | Body-mounted E-Z Mate |
| Locomotive | Alco 2-6-0 steam with tender, DCC sound, operating headlight |
| Item number | 00825 |
| Power supply | US 110 V |
| Rolling stock | 40 ft gondola, 40 ft quad hopper with removable coal load, offset-cupola caboose |
| Recommended age | 14 and up |
Who It’s For
An adult or teenager who has run a basic train set and wants sound and digital control without building a system from separate parts; Bachmann recommends it for ages 14 and up. It also suits a buyer starting fresh who already knows the hobby will grow beyond one train, since the controller and track carry over to a larger layout. Buyers short of space, or unsure the hobby will stick, should start with a smaller DC set.
Alternatives
Bachmann’s Thunder Chief with Digital Sound is the same DCC sound format behind a diesel. For a simpler first step, the Bachmann Santa Fe Flyer runs an EMD FT diesel on a 36 inch circle with a plain power pack.
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Bachmann Night Before Christmas Large Scale Electric Train Set (90037)
Bachmann Trains · Premium
A ready-to-run Large Scale (G) steam train set with a 4-6-0 locomotive, tender, gondola, bobber caboose and a Santa figure, sold with a 14-piece oval of track and a power pack.
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Bachmann Rail Chief HO Scale Ready-to-Run Electric Train Set
Bachmann · Mid-range
A ready-to-run HO scale freight set built around an EMD GP40 diesel, with a snap-fit E-Z Track oval, a signal bridge and a small crowd of trackside figures.
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