[BodsRailRoad]

My new Bachmann CSX Dash-9 arrived today so I figured I would share some pics of the un boxing and the new engine.

A few observations,
The packaging is way better than Aristos, it comes double boxed with the loco box surrounded in foam.

The Loco is securely held in the styrofoam inner container, and extra care appeared to have been taken to ensure no damaging of the handrails and and ditch lights, the loco had no wiggle room in the styrofoam.

The hand rails come already installed.

The manual is very detailed and it comes with complete exploded parts diagrams including part numbers for all the parts that make up the loco, hopefully those parts will all be available.

It comes with smoke fluid and an extra PCB board that appears to plug into plug and play socket to allow for hard wiring to a DCC board with screw terminals without having to pull out the PNP board.

Here are a bunch of pics, I made them thumbnails to reduce load times lol.

 

[BodsRailRoad]

Here are the pics of the manual and parts diagrams.

 

[BodsRailRoad]

Here are the smoke fluid, accessories, and the PNP adapter board.

 

[BodsRailRoad]

One last observation that I think makes a big difference is that the Locomotive sits in the styrofoam container upright on its wheels as opposed to laying on its side like the Aristo Craft version did.

It's much easier to get in and out and your much much less likely to damage it when doing so, perhaps that's why it comes with the handrails installed.

 

[BodsRailRoad]

Here are a couple of videos of new engine unboxing and running.

 

[Cato12]

One last observation that I think makes a big difference is that the Locomotive sits in the styrofoam container upright on its wheels as opposed to laying on its side like the Aristo Craft version did.

It's much easier to get in and out and your much much less likely to damage it when doing so, perhaps that's why it comes with the handrails installed.

Yea I noticed that. Makes so much sense.

 

[Cato12]

Here are a couple of videos of new engine unboxing and running.

Where did you order yours?

 

[BodsRailRoad]

Where did you order yours?

From Robbie at RLD Hobbies, +1 618-446-2970

 

[Cato12]

From Robbie at RLD Hobbies, +1 618-446-2970

Ok great ordered mine from there too. Bnsf

 

[BodsRailRoad]

Here are some pics of the new Bachmann main board.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Can you tell if it has the new sintered iron wheels (they will not be plated like original aristo) there may be what looks like black paint on the treads, clean off with wire brush in dremel with wheels rotating.

Also can you tell if they have the D-cut wheels? (meaning taking the screw off reveals a "D" shaped axle end, not tapered?

The last production run had this, and for the first time you can adjust the gauge/back to back.

Greg

 

[BodsRailRoad]

Not positive but they appear to be plated just like the last run Dash-9s I have.

I'll have to let you know on the D cut thing.

Here are some close up pics of the wheels.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Last run Dash 9 and SD45 have sintered steel "D cut" wheels..

The more important thing is the D cut or tapered axles...

 

[BodsRailRoad]

Last run Dash 9 and SD45 have sintered steel "D cut" wheels..

Was talking about the last run I have.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Just clarifying the history, Aristo finally solved a problem they had for their entire "life" on non-adjustable gauge... and then they went away.

In any case, if you remove one wheel that would be very helpful, but I have a friend that will be doing this too in case you don't want to.

In any case, can you measure the back to back and the flange thickness?

Greg

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Also, what is the weight situation? Were there any in the fuel tank? pictures? weight?

 

[BodsRailRoad]

Also, what is the weight situation? Were there any in the fuel tank? pictures? weight?

I haven't weighed it yet but it's not bad.
I did compare it to one of my other dash-9s that has 3 of the Aristo lead weights, by holding one in each hand real quick, and it's noticably lighter than that one which weighs about 14.5 lbs, I'm guessing in the 10lb range.

The parts diagram shows the metal plate style weights in the fuel tank.

 

[BodsRailRoad]

Just clarifying the history, Aristo finally solved a problem they had for their entire "life" on non-adjustable gauge... and then they went away.

In any case, if you remove one wheel that would be very helpful, but I have a friend that will be doing this too in case you don't want to.

In any case, can you measure the back to back and the flange thickness?

Greg

I'll take a look when I get home from trip.

 

[BodsRailRoad]

Hey Greg,quick question, can you use Aristo qsi magnum decoder in the Bachmann socket?

 

[StanleyAmes]

It depends on which QSI Magnum decoder you are talking about. They built two different versions.. QSI was a key partner in the development of the sandard for the socket and they sold a version where all the pins were connected per the standard they helped develop. QSI was also at the time very involved with Lewis Polk at Aristocraft and tested out a large number of their locomotives. QSI found that several Aristocraft locomotives had unpredicted connections to socket pin #s J1:5, J1:7, J2:4, J2:5, J2:6, J2:7, J2:8, and J2:9, Even Louis did not know that this was the case and indicated that no locomotive in the future would have these strage connections.

To protect their decoder designed for Aristocraft Locomotives, QSI built a special decoder for Aristocraft locomotives where the smoke, chuff input and functions outputs were not connected.

You can use these decoders in the Dash-9 and neither the locomotive or the decoder will be damaged. However you will not be able to control these extra functions without extra work.

Hope this helps.

Stan