The Strangest Ho Locomotive I've Ever Seen - 1980s Bachmann DD40AX W/Sound
2020 ж. 22 Нау.
287 202 Рет қаралды
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.
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. 👍 👍 👍
Ya are a amazin person David. Way to go bud
he needs AA batteries instead of AAA
@@microbusss aa And aaa use the same voltage
@@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
69 likes ;)
At first I thought u were saying uve never seen a DDA40X and I was like “what railfanning rock have u been under”
Man, UP has got the strongest, single frame locomotives for both steam and D.E. under its belt. Crazy to think
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)
Yea but can the wester Maryland say they had a loco as famous as the big boy
Big boy number 3 in steam power. Not even close to number one.
@@needlenosekw UP never claimed the strongest steam locomotive. They claimed the largest, which they do have.
Also don't forget the big blow/bird burner
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.
At Kenefick Park in Omaha there's one of these sitting next to a Big Boy. Awesome sight to see
I want to visit that site someday.
I had a Bachman F7. Ran it until it died. I was blown away by how much better the Athrean Bluebox model was.
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.
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.
I always wanted this loco...but even more I wanted a layout big enough to run it on!
The Athearn Blue Box DD40 can handle 18 in curves for all your big diesel needs!
Will Austerman... Will go perfectly alongside my Riverossi Big Boy which also take 18s. Won't look weird at all lol.
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.
Same here. Live near Boston and a flood took out my set in my parents basement. It was a nice HO layout.
Do you have the centennial still?
@@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.
@@indridcold8433 that's sad. Did you ever get a replacement?
@@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.
Nice layout!
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.
This is something you would see in this Sears Christmas catalog in the 80s
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.
Oh yes, the horn on that DD40AX reminds me more of an automobile horn than a locomotive horn!
Nice. A legendary UP loco
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.)
I have two very old Gilbert that don't run with drive shafts... This channel has sparked my interest again.
Always loved the DD40X, I remember this being in every Bachmann Ad in the late 80's early 90's
That was so cool. I really enjoyed watching. Thank you for sharing with us all. ♥😺♥
Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.
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.
Yep 4 axles thus the DD designation.
At least he didn't McGruber the whole thing. That's a major relief.
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!!!"
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..☺🚥
I've actually been in one of those before! It's at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola CA. Pretty cool!
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.
I did it!!! I used a Bachmann Shell with a mechanism of DD40 of Athearn
kzhead.info/sun/lJmjXZeGo32VeXA/bejne.html The engine in video is the result of it
Wow very nice locomotive
really liking your videos during lockdown. good entertainment and learning. cheers for sharing
That is so cool, you are very lucky to receive this engine.
Love this !
Very cool SMT keep up the great work
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....
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.
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
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.
Both trucks are powered, but not all axles.
I might try that although I don't want to add too much since I'm not sure how much that motor can handle.
@@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.
I still think the Union Pacific U50 is weirder. Great video 👍
I want the Bachmenn gs4 that was shown in the back of the box. But the thing is, it has horn hook couplers.
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.
@@SMTMainline the old split frame ones are more accurate in their rigid wheel base.
Mrcat Games maybe later
That’s why I love Lionel’s operating knuckle couplers
Nice job again SMT
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
Z to G must have set those up just for you. That is something special.
I bought 1 of these last year at a train show in N scale.
I had one in N scale. It was just as crap as the HO version...
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.
Interesting loco
"For use with all H0 equipment" Both Märklin and every narrow-ish turn radius disagrees.
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.
@@animalyze7120 you need a 36 inch radius curve to safely run one of these? Wow!
plus marklin is mostly AC :|
The first time when you ran the train and honking the horn was hilarious I replayed it a lot of times
Holy cow, it's like Chernobyl in the cab once the headlights kick in!
Yeah, they're pretty bright.
I blacked out the windows in my locos to prevent that.
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!
That's really cool.
Video crashed when you put on the track while watching....would not restart....must have been an awesome power draw 😊. Anthony
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!
Your absolutely right although he used cigarette lighters for many of his projects.
Duct Tape, yes!
@@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.
Awesome video liked 🚄🚄👍
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.
Haha good ol Bachman, they always ran like that even when they were new, always looked good though!
man last time i saw prongs like that they were on my old TV antenna.
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
They were strange however, I still have one in my train room. Not on the layout. Great video
Me too.
Nice to see you working on that. I have two of those in the original boxes since I no longer model in HO. I believe I got them in 1980 or so. I bought the extra one to paint in a fantasy scheme. Mine don't have the horn option but they are nice models if you don't look too closely at them.
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...
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!
that's really cool i had a dd 35a about the same length as that but unmarked silver and it had twin engines
My uncle had one I heard about not sure of brand but it couldnt negotiate the curves he had. I seen it only on a box for my 2-6-2 bachmann. Prairie but because of split chassis axles bachmann dont support them anymore so it sits in box plus plastic on cylinders they don't stay in place sucks. Not sure what to do with it. Any suggestions?
To be honest, I think the best option would be to just use it as a display on your layout.
Well that’s a first for me a model locomotive with a battery compartment
Yay!! Smt mainline uploads and I get my first heritage unit on the same day of my birthday!
That is cool that it even has the instructions with it
The horn is iconic like the smoke and choo choo and the air chime whistle in the post war american flyer trains
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.
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.
Sang this to the tune of the Beverly hillbillies theme song
Eat your cereal
Dom's Trains what?
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.
What do I do when my big boy’s motor is weak?
Like watching the Canadian version of Sam's trains ! Love the Red Green reference !
I can't believe you have 3 now and I have a older bachmann centennial
Nice comparison.
I have 4 of them from athearn genesis numbers. 6915, 6925, 6930 and 6946. I just need the 6936 I'm wondering will athearn genesis do some more 6900 centennials hopefully add some additional weight to them. How about 40 to 45 ounces.
Love the Spectrum version of this with dual motors and all axles powered.
I want a centennial sooooo bad
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
I have one of these centennials. It works beautifully still, though it is missing all of the hand rails unfortunately.
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.
Mabey you should connect 6922 and the other one together for more power! So you can Move More Carts!
He is almost at 40k congratulations you earned it
I have seen that you have come up with alot of strange locomotives. Keep them coming
Nice Union Pacific, I have a Southern pacific Gp40/Gp-38 Diesal Locomotive. Hope you enjoy The Locomotive You Have!
I always wanted this. But it would only run on 22" radius track and all I had was 18. Also, my first set was from Bachman and came with the red/silver Sante Fe Uboat on the back of the box!
I have seen that UP train in Illinois. AND I LOVE TRAIN TRAIN...
Who knew that DD40s had squeaky dog toys for horns
Most bachmann engines from the time did. Remember the Amtrak F40?
The Dill Pickle You're right. I'll go a step further It sounds like the current MCI BUS HORNS! 😄😃
I've wanted one for years .
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.
Bachmann had some in the 70's & 80's that the lights wouldnt work unless they were full throttle ...defective bulb......my Baltimore and ohio F7 was like that when I was 10 or 11....or younger...made me mad...couldn't get a hold of the companies like u can now....magazine's or friend is how we got ahold of a company....lol I had Tyco slot cars do that also....
hard to tell if you’re talking about the model itself being strange or the real locomotive....
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.
I really want one of these!
Put AA batteries in the loco to make horn work!
I used to want one of those growing up in the 80s. Glad I didn't get one because that thing is massive!
I have one of this engine!! but due lack of power for traction, I modified it , adding a Athearn DD40 2-motor chasis!!
There must be so much stress on the truck when it goes over a turn
i just got one of these in o scale as an early birthday present
Wow, this must be a giant loco in O scale
Cool video, that's wild that it takes a battery to run the rear drive, although I like the fact that it allows for the walkway in the middle to be more realistic!
The battery is for the horn. Nothing else.
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
A model of one of the most powerful diesel-electric locomotives ever built. Really great looking model although I would think it would require wide-radius curves in your track layout due to it's length.
i wanted this soo bad when i was a kid.
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. ;)
They were called Centennials (or 6900s) because the first, UP 6900, was delivered in time for the May 1969 centennial celebration of the golden spike near Ogden Utah. They were geared for 89 mph and I can personally attest that they could do that.
I lived in Las Vegas from 1975 until 1981 and was lucky enough to ride in a DD40AX twice. First was in 6932, and the second time was in 6922. They were on a lot of trains heading to LA from Vegas and so I saw them a lot at 50-60MPH getting a run at the climb in and out of Vegas.
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 🤔
Almost bought one of these on craigslist for really cheap awhile back, was hoping it was a newer version but like you noted and I seen in the pic of it there was nothing between the two units like the new locos have. Would have been good for static display but the drive alone wasnt worth it.
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! ☺☺