10-09-2014, 07:25 PM
Matt;
Can't speak for the Atlas model, but I do have one of the inexpensive Bachmann ALCo S-4 models and am very pleased with both its performance and especially the sound. Having worked on the real thing (both S-2 and S-4) I have to say they captured the sound right on the money. Especially like the turbo charger whistling sound. Of course the Bachmann model has limited detail, but easy enough to add grab irons and other details if you wish, as Bachmann simply omitted them rather than mold them on the body shell.
The decoder does has limited functions, directional headlights with off/on, three different horns, adjustable bell rate, etc. Right out of the box mine ran really smooth and didn't have to do any adjustments to the decoder. Little rascal will creep along and never stalls in my "dead frog" turnouts. The S-2 should be the exact same model with only a change from the AAR truck frames to the Blount frames.
Can't speak for the Atlas model, but I do have one of the inexpensive Bachmann ALCo S-4 models and am very pleased with both its performance and especially the sound. Having worked on the real thing (both S-2 and S-4) I have to say they captured the sound right on the money. Especially like the turbo charger whistling sound. Of course the Bachmann model has limited detail, but easy enough to add grab irons and other details if you wish, as Bachmann simply omitted them rather than mold them on the body shell.
The decoder does has limited functions, directional headlights with off/on, three different horns, adjustable bell rate, etc. Right out of the box mine ran really smooth and didn't have to do any adjustments to the decoder. Little rascal will creep along and never stalls in my "dead frog" turnouts. The S-2 should be the exact same model with only a change from the AAR truck frames to the Blount frames.
Ed
"Friends don't let friends build Timesavers"
"Friends don't let friends build Timesavers"