Review: Bachmann's streamline Observation car, Norfolk and Western

 I've mentioned in past journals covering Bachmann that I'm a big fan of them bringing in more smooth, streamline cars for railroads such as NYC, PA, and Norfolk and Western. 

Don't get me wrong guys, I'm a fan of the heavyweight passenger cars as well, but the streamline cars just have something to them that draws me to them. Their smooth, slick, and got style to them. Well, at a train show I went to recently I was able to pick up one of Bachmann's streamline cars, with it being an observation car from the Norfolk and Western. 

The Powhatan Arrow passenger cars are a favorite of mine. I do like the heavyweight cars that I have with the Norfolk and Western that are from their Spectrum line, I wanted to slowly but surly collect the Powhatan Arrow cars, and just in general add more passenger cars to my fleet. So, how good is this car? 

Anther thing I've mentioned in the past is that these cars don't look as nice as MTH/Fox Valley, with the cars being a lighter shade of brown then those cars. Still, I don't want to completely trash the passenger cars, and not just because I have a soft spot for Bachmann. 

There's still a decent amount of detail on the observation car. Inside the train are seats that I imagine with some modification can be filled with passenger cars. On the side of the train is the Powhatan Arrow label. 

The lantern that could be seen on the side of the observation car isn't really there, replaced by some sort of bump on the side. 

I don't mind too dearly, but I can understand those who are really going all in on realism being a bit annoyed. 

While there is a bit of a light glowing through the car thing going on, it's in the very back where one of the trains symbols are, and I honestly don't mind it. It makes it look like the glow the observation car would have. 

Other then that, I don't have any issues with the train. It runs well on the track and gets along fine with it's heavyweight brothers as it runs around my layout, which now has 22 radius curves so I can run it and my Norfolk and Western train (alongside other big trains I may have in my collection.) 

Final thoughts: 

If the budget just isn't there for the Fox Valley cars I'd recommend getting Bachmann's Norfolk and Western Observation car. Is it perfect? No. But the flaws it has can be fixed via some good old fashion modification (which is something I'm sure many model railroaders do with their trains) and it's a pretty great runner. 

Keep up the good work with the passenger cars Bachmann. If you have to cut some detail out to make them affordable so be it, but the base your working with is promising at the very least...