This is a great train that my boys and I have been running for the last several months.  Everything about it is good, except the GP40 has a grinding noise.  It was fine for the first month and then it started a loud whine/grind.  I took it apart to inspect it.  I found that the rear drive was somehow binding.  I loosened the screw holding the rear drive wheels a 1/4 of a turn.  This mostly solved the issue.  It is still louder than the FT Diesel engine and not nearly as smooth as the FT.  Doing research it seems the noisiness is common on the Bachmann GP40's.  Other than the issues with the GP40 engine and the coal car derailing more than the other cars it is a great set.  The DCC controller works great, although lacking is some features it has worked well.  Bachmann has stepped up their quality over the past few years and it shows in this set.

Update:  3-4-13

I decided to send in the GP40 to Bachmann Customer repairs.  I sent in late July 2012 and still as of today March 4th, 2013 haven't received the engine back.  I have contacted them several times and have been promised that I would receive a new engine in less than a week, but nothing ever comes.  I cannot recommend any Bachmann products at this time.  This engine had issues out of the box and I should have just sent to whole thing back to Amazon, but I felt from reading that it wouldn't be a huge issue to try have Bachmann take care of it.  Never again will I be so stupid.  Also reducing stars to 2, I would put a 1 star review however, the rest of the set is still working.  (A Miracle?) I now wish I would have just purchased a better DCC unit and individual engines from better quality makers.  Lesson learned.

Update:  11-12-14

Never got my engine back from Bachmann.  They acknowledged that they received it and I even got a post card with my work order number.  Called at least 10 times to get it sent back, they eventually said that they didn't have the same brand which was Santa Fe.  They asked if they could send another and I said sure that would be fine.  Never sent it.  I stopped bothering to contact them because I just got an constant run around.  I was nice and polite and so were they, but their promises were empty.  I have bought several engines and cars since and I refuse to buy Bachmann.  They basically stole a $60 engine from me.
This is a great train that my boys and I have been running for the last several months. Everything about it is good, except the GP40 has a grinding noise. It was fine for the first month and then it started a loud whine/grind. I took it apart to inspect it. I found that the rear drive was somehow binding. I loosened the screw holding the rear drive wheels a 1/4 of a turn. This mostly solved the issue. It is still louder than the FT Diesel engine and not nearly as smooth as the FT. Doing research it seems the noisiness is common on the Bachmann GP40's. Other than the issues with the GP40 engine and the coal car derailing more than the other cars it is a great set. The DCC controller works great, although lacking is some features it has worked well. Bachmann has stepped up their quality over the past few years and it shows in this set. Update:  3-4-13

I decided to send in the GP40 to Bachmann Customer repairs. I sent in late July 2012 and still as of today March 4th, 2013 haven't received the engine back. I have contacted them several times and have been promised that I would receive a new engine in less than a week, but nothing ever comes. I cannot recommend any Bachmann products at this time. This engine had issues out of the box and I should have just sent to whole thing back to Amazon, but I felt from reading that it wouldn't be a huge issue to try have Bachmann take care of it. Never again will I be so stupid. Also reducing stars to 2, I would put a 1 star review however, the rest of the set is still working. (A Miracle? ) I now wish I would have just purchased a better DCC unit and individual engines from better quality makers. Lesson learned. Update:  11-12-14

Never got my engine back from Bachmann. They acknowledged that they received it and I even got a post card with my work order number. Called at least 10 times to get it sent back, they eventually said that they didn't have the same brand which was Santa Fe. They asked if they could send another and I said sure that would be fine. Never sent it. I stopped bothering to contact them because I just got an constant run around. I was nice and polite and so were they, but their promises were empty. I have bought several engines and cars since and I refuse to buy Bachmann. They basically stole a $60 engine from me.