11-15-2012, 08:06 PM
I decided to have a look at the not-so-new Bachmann RS-3, since you can find it at a very good price on the web.
It's a good layout model, a cut above the old Athearn bluebox, as various people have pointed out. There are lots of differences between the WM prototype and the Bachmann version of the model, but since the locos are black, it's harder to spot them at a layout viewing distance. Also, since the WM also had RS-2s, it's hard to tell the RS-2s (with a lot of details like the hood louvers closer to the Bachmann RS-3s) from the late RS-3s the WM had. With all of them black, it's also hard to spot. I misspent enough of my youth in Maryland that I've got a fair amount of WM stuff on my layout.
With the dummy plug in place, the loco runs a little faster than the Bachmann GP9 for some reason, but it's pretty much compatible with Atlas and Walthers Proto.
It's a good layout model, a cut above the old Athearn bluebox, as various people have pointed out. There are lots of differences between the WM prototype and the Bachmann version of the model, but since the locos are black, it's harder to spot them at a layout viewing distance. Also, since the WM also had RS-2s, it's hard to tell the RS-2s (with a lot of details like the hood louvers closer to the Bachmann RS-3s) from the late RS-3s the WM had. With all of them black, it's also hard to spot. I misspent enough of my youth in Maryland that I've got a fair amount of WM stuff on my layout.
With the dummy plug in place, the loco runs a little faster than the Bachmann GP9 for some reason, but it's pretty much compatible with Atlas and Walthers Proto.