Bachmann locos?

[RobertInOntario]

There are about three different versions of Bachmann you can buy:
Standard- This is the "budget" models. Standard models actually vary in quality, from not bad (recent E60CP offerings), to just terrible (current GP40). Many more recent Bachmann Standard models are "alright", but many more are just reruns of old tooling on newer frames.
Standard w/ DCC- All the same things with bachmann's in house cheap decoder. I haven't had run into any issues with their decoders. Several of these bachmann GP30s run around at my club with no issues, and are not bad in quality (though if you want a good GP30, you may want to look for p2k).
Spectrum- Spectrum is the top of the line as far as bachmann goes. Again, large variety in quality, with detail and accuracy varying from model to model, though all generally better than most other offerings. Won't compete with Atlas or Athearn Genesis, but at a higher level than Athearn RTR, or basic Walthers locomotives.
All in all, if you like the way it looks (and don't mind the weird headlight), you should be fine if you go for it.

Thanks for all of this feedback folks -- very helpful. I was almost ready to consider getting one of these again until I read the comment above... There is a good chance that these locos are GP40 models as they were either GP30s or GP40s (can't quite remember). I don't run DCC so I'm not too concerned there.

Next time I make it back to this railway museum, if I see that they are GP40 models, I'll completely avoid them but might reconsider if they're GP30s, etc.

Thanks again,
Rob