Bachmann Trains 14 PC. E-Z TRACK GRADUATED PIER SET - HO Scale

We just added the 14 pc pier set to our Bachmann EZ Track set and LOVE it!!! We are set up on thick carpet, and had no problem at all integrating the piers - our 8 and 5 year old helped assemble them, and the 8 year old helped put them under the track. The trick is to spread the piers out evenly through the elevations. This way the train has a gentle incline. The engine had no problem pulling four cars up and down the hill. If you are having trouble, make sure you haven't inclined too quickly while neglecting to support a connection between two track pieces - this will create a gap or jump in the track and will derail yor train. I was surprised how long a bridge we could make as well...it is possible to have over one whole piece of track without piers under it suspended between two that do - the track will dip a little as the train runs over it, but is steady and strong enough to take it. This is our first train set ever and this mom is very pleased - we made the figure 8 with the track running back under the bridge...and now we want to buy more piers because it made the track about 10 times more exciting for the kids! Thanks, Bachmann!

Worked perfectly

Package arrived in a box nicely shrink wrapped. A little time consuming but turned out great. I see others having trouble assembling, read the instructions and take your time. The swilvel piece that goes on top is a very hard press fit by hand only, don't hammer it. Slide the bottom plate onto the vertical until it clicks. layout the verticals at each track connection point. Each vertical must straddle where the track connects to the next track. Bachmann engine will pull three cars comfortably, but struggles with a fourth car. Engine needs full power for at least 6 sections of track to climb with four cars but will slowly make it.

What you get: The graduated pier set is designed to allow you to elevate a portion of your track. It is advertised toward the creation of an over-under figure eight which works, but with some creativity and planning, you can also use the elevation for other over/under pass designs as well. This particular set comes with 7 pairs of piers for an even incline/decline (total 14 piers), all but the lowest piers has a swivel top attachment (total 12 swivel tops). There is also a base that each pier can be attached to for increased stability on carpet and uneven surfaces (total 14 bases), or you can nail the piers in place permanently on your setup if you choose to do so (there are holes in the piers exactly for that). Finally, there is a brief instruction page that shows assembly of the piers and how to set them up. What it does: You gain exactly what the product says you gain. If you set up the piers going from lowest to tallest (you don't have to go all the way to the tallest, but you do need to reach at least the 5th or 6th pier for an HO train to be able to pass underneath the elevated track) then tallest to lowest you get a decent gradual ascent and descent that should allow your train to pull or push its load up and down the hill while being able to run beneath it elsewhere on your setup. Criticisms: The slope of the incline/decline is a little steeper than I'd like making the engine work harder on the way up and making it really zip on the way down, but it is manageable as long as you pay attention to your speed control. This set only promises a basic figure eight, but as mentioned above, it can be used in other ways, just realize that you must build in enough room for the piers so that you don't end up getting them situated in the same spot as the lower track is supposed to run. Lastly, be sure that you place the piers at the track junctions or else the weight of the train will stress the joints and possibly separate the track. As long as the junctions are supported, I've had no problems with track separating or worse. Bottom line: I like the set, it adds interest to the layout and allows you to do more with your available space by giving you two levels of operation. Multiple sets would be nice if you have the room as you can reduce the steepness of the slope and extend the upper level further, but at over $20 per set, that can get pricey in a hurry. With just this one set, I have been able to make an elevated circle with 2 underpasses (out and back). I have the Bachmann Santa Fe Flyer and Rail Chief engines, both are capable of pulling/pushing at least 7 cars up the incline. My reasons for 4 stars instead of 5 include the price (it sure seems like a lot for what this is) and the slope (more gradual would be easier on the engines, but this does work). My furry friend in the picture agrees with me and would recommend this product as it allows you to accomplish what it claims it will (make sure you have enough track as this does NOT come with any).

Bought this as a gift and they were thrilled with it.

very good

RECOMENDADISIMO,. GRACIAS TODO SUPER GENIAL, UN ABRAZO AL EQUIPO DE AMAZON, EXCELENTE

There is good and bad with this kit. I appreciate that the folks with the 5 star reviews are happy and it seemed to work for them, so that is cool. But really to install these property and also get an appropriate grade for your train (around 3%, as some commentors have noted), you really need two sets of this kit. One whole one for your incline grade, and one for you descent. Bachmann should make it clear that if you install it as shown on the box, or just as their instructions say to do it, which is a pier at each track connection, you are going to end up with grade of a little over 5% if you are using standard 9" EZ track sections.. that's one pier for each connection over 7 sections of 9" track. for the 3 1/4 inch rise you gain with the tallest pier the math is 3.25 inches of rise divided by 63 inches of run = 5.16% grade (I learned that online from smarter model train people than me :)). that is too steep for most any train, and really not realistic at all. my train could only get up the hill alone or with one, maybe two cars attached before I started getting wheel spin. I ended up going to my hobby store and buying a second set and doubled the number of piers for my incline, shimming every other one under the pier with about a 1/4" piece of balsa wood to fill the gap that would be created by the incline. this gave me a grade just under 3% (2.77% by my math I learned above), and my train handles it very well. I like to run my train with around 7 cars or so, and the only feasable grade is 3% or less, which after I researched a bit is the consensus among experts as the steepest you want to go. Do note that with doing that with this kit, it takes 13 sections of either 9" straight and/or 18" radius turn EZ track to make the incline to the top (I know there are 14 pieces in the set and I said only 13 sections of track, but you don't have to count the tallest one that is left over as part of your incline, hence 13 sections... you see what I did there :))... that is a long hill though, 117 inches or so, and if you do not have a lot of EZ track on hand, you will spend all of it going up just to come right back down. so plan accordingly. All that said, I like my EZ track, because I do not use a permanent layout and like to pack my set up after a while and put it all away. So being able to break down my kits and put it all back in boxes and fit it all in a closet is nice, and these piers lend themselves very well to that type of model railroading. I also like to make various layouts and have the tracks overlap, which is relatively easy to make work with these kits. I bought a couple kits of Bachmann Trains 8 PC. E-Z TRACK Tall Pier Set so I could have an elevated loop that my train climbs to that overlaps a lower line. the piers did also go together and connect to the track very well, and make it easy to make changes, put together, and take apart quickly. If you are building a permanant layout however.. the better bet will likely be something like the Woodland Scenics WS 1415 Foam 3 Percent Incline Starter 6 Package . thanks for reading.. happy model railroading!

Funciona muy bien. La base lo sujeta y no deja que se ladee la vía. No sé descarrila el tren.satisfecho

As described. Good

Fits in well with my setup

The bridge and curves made running the train so much better. The E_Z track is so much better for beginners to use and enjoy with the train set.

Bien producto para Salvar desniveles del díseño de la maqueta. Los he utilizado muy bien. Son estables y facilitan que los trenes circulen sin inconvenientes.