Story and Photos by Harry K. Wong
The Siemens Venture is the latest generation of medium-distance passenger railcars for North America. Constructed by Siemens Mobility in California, the Venture cars currently see use on state-supported Amtrak services in the Midwest and California, while VIA Rail Canada has introduced the series on corridor services in Eastern Canada and Brightline in Florida. Since 2014, more than 900 Venture cars have been built or are on order for delivery over the next 20 years to multiple operators across North America.
Now available from Bachmann USA are Siemens-built Venture Passenger Coaches for N scale. Bachmann’s Venture Cars have been developed in collaboration with Siemens Mobility, using original design documentation and field research.
Each of these N scale models arrive securely packaged in a hard plastic jewel case familiar to most N scalers. It was easy to remove the cover and release the model carefully from its clamshell packaging. A set of instructions for operating the lighting is also packaged within.
Out of the box, the models present themselves well with accurate body contours and crisply reproduced details from all angles. Features include fully furnished and lighted interiors, separately applied metal grab irons, and beautifully rendered AC fan grilles atop the roof. At the corners, details include stirrup steps, coupler lift bar detail and a bank of HEP receptacle covers painted in color to either side of the fixed unsprung diaphragms. The window glass is clear, enabling modelers to view the interior seating inside, even when the car is not illuminated.
Each car features track-powered LED interior lighting of a cool intensity. While the lighting is subject to flickering over dirty track, each coach also provides manually controllable illuminated end marker lights that work in both analog DC and DCC environments. Per the instructions, remove the beveled cover on the underbody labeled “Marker Light Switches Here” by gently applying a little horizontal pressure to the cover to lift the cover off from one end. Inside are a pair of on-off slide switches that control the markers. A sharp fingernail is enough to flick each switch to the position needed to illuminate the red markers at the desired end.
On the scales, each Venture car weighs 1.215 oz. each. Though this is about a quarter-ounce shy of NMRA’s recommended weight for an 85 ft. long car such as this, the Ventures performed smoothly on their machined metal wheelsets without incident on our test track. The cars are very free rolling. Bachmann’s MTL-compatible E-Z Mate knuckle couplers are mounted in self-centering draft gear assemblies that swing independently of truck movement. For best results, the recommended minimum radius for these cars is 12 inches.
These crisply detailed and smooth running Siemens Venture Coaches from Bachmann Trains are a fine addition for those who seek to add 21st century passenger operations to their N scale layouts.
