Story and Photos by Harry K. Wong
Now available from Bachmann Trains are all-new highly detailed premium replicas of Siemens Amtrak ALC-42 Charger diesel-electric locomotives for N scale. Designed and built by Siemens Mobility of Sacramento, Calif., the ALC-42 Charger is a 4,200hp, four-axle, AC traction diesel-electric passenger locomotive. The ALC-42s are destined to replace Amtrak’s General Electric P42s which entered service in 1996 on many long-distance routes. The latest variant in the Siemens Charger family of locomotives,125 ALC-42s were ordered by Amtrak, with half of the order already delivered as of this writing. Powered by a 16-cylinder Cummins QSK95 prime mover, the ALC-42 meets or exceeds the latest safety and Tier 4 emissions standards currently in effect.
Mirroring the prototype, Bachmann’s new ALC-42 is the latest addition to their family of N scale Siemens Chargers, joining its previous release of the N scale SC-44 Charger and equivalents also offered in HO scale.
Based on the medium-distance SC-44 Charger, the ALC-42 displays a range of new features for cross-country service on America’s most scenic and storied routes, including a unique nose design and cab door configuration. Bachmann’s rendition has been developed in collaboration with Siemens Mobility, using original design documentation and prototype field measurements for maximum realism.
Out of the box, Bachmann’s rendition of the ALC-42 presents itself well with accurate body dimensions and proportions, with lettering and paint crisply applied. The nose cone unique to the ALC-42 corresponds precisely to photographs and videos of the prototype.
Separately applied details include windshield wipers, cab mirrors, metal handrails, grab irons, and air and m.u. hoses. A cab interior is visible behind the windscreen, with seats, control desk/dashboard and rear bulkhead all molded in a light gray. Roof details include a five-chime air horn cluster, radio antennas for Positive Train Control and crew communications, a flush exhaust port, multiple equipment access panels, and two large fan assemblies with simulated fan blades visible.
Bachmann’s ALC-42 shares the same drivetrain as their prior SC-44 Chargers. Within the body shell you will find a heavy die-cast chassis encasing a precision can motor with flywheels. All wheels are driven and provide electrical pickup.
Atop the chassis is a motherboard which hosts a dual-mode WOWSound DC+DCC+Sound decoder furnished by Train Control Systems (TCS). A welcome feature included on this model is a “keep alive” circuit from TCS that provides uninterrupted operation over short segments of dead track by storing a reserve of electricity in its capacitor. LED lighting is provided throughout the unit for headlights, number boards, ditch lights, and red markers. The headlights and ditch lights are bright and emit a warm incandescent-like glow preferred by modelers, but ironically differs from the cold bluish LEDs found on the real units.
As with the Bachmann SC-44s, the TCS WOWSound decoder on this model has the ability to access up to 24 different light and sound functions from using just function keys F0 through F7. This is handy on older throttles that have only ten function buttons F0 through F9. The numerous special effect functions are divided over three pages, each page containing access to eight functions. To access the functions on each page, a quick double-click of function F8 gets you onto the next page of functions. The decoder then responds with a voice pronouncement that you have arrived at the new page or “mode.” Depending upon which “page” of functions you are on, pressing function F4 (for instance) activates either a Doppler sound effect or the number board lights to illuminate, or the brakes to release. All of this is documented in concise form in the supplied Quick Start Guide. The sound is crisp, with excellent reproduction of the K5LA horn and Cummins prime mover sounds. Overall, the lighting and sound effects are quite impressive…
