I doubt they will change the design, but the design needs a facelift, and a way to accurately index/quarter steam loco drivers.

The power pickup needs some help, but a simple change in the assembly process would do.

You want grease? Being sealed, they should virtually never need greasing. If you want to grease them, drill a hole and put in a rubber plug.

Greg

Which version of the 70 Tonner do you have? They made a 2 motor & a 1 motor version over the years.

Rob

On the topic of Sir Topham Hatt's car, what are everyone's thoughts of Bachmann doing more road vehicles? I'm very much looking forward to Bulgy, and I hope they'll continue doing more non-rail characters.
Personally I'd really like to see:

-Jack (the Bandai version is a nice substitute, but I prefer his CGI design).

-Alfie

-Oliver the Excavator

-Max and Monty (two uses out of one new tooling).

-Butch

-Kevin (absolutely necessary for when Bachmann get around to doing Victor).

Also, speaking of more than one use for a new tooling, hopefully Bachmann won't shy away from giving us a yellow version of Victor if/when they decide to do him (that would be THREE yellow engines in the NG line).

Speed matching!  Doesn't it take the fun out of railroading?  Now if you talking about having two engines on the same track and you want these two to stay spaced apart as they move around the track, that's one thing.   But if you are using them in a consist configuration, that's where all the fun is.  You can take either the first and/or the second engine and manually control their speed as a part of the fun to keep them at an equal stance with one another.  The real fun comes in descending or ascending a grade where one will engine may need assistance to support the other.  To me that's a lot of fun keeping pace with the movement of the entire train, and it's an artist that can control both engines, keeping them from jerking along, but produce smooth movement. 

Quote....The use of 18" radius curves in an S curve without a straight of at least 6 inches is a well-known source of derailments, yet it is a mistake most beginners seem to be attracted to like moths to a candle.

The reason for that mistake, is that the most used and most available EZ track curve is the 18- inch radius.   For added information, another mistake beginners make (and no one informs them of this) is using that second curved track as a siding for staging cars.  What they don't recognize is that it's hard to couple and uncouple a car in the curve.  The advice is not to use either curve track as a staging for cars.  Should be used mainly for leapfrogging or engine personnel changeouts, or as a second mainline.

When did Bachmann introduce the Fn3 Spectrum Climax? I heard this might have been released in 2000 but I cannot open up a 2000 Bachmann catalog...... is there an available download?

Marklin is totally incompatable with US track and rolling stock. We use a system where wheels and rails are electrically isolated from each other. Marklin wheels and rails are not isolated from each other. Trying to use Marklin on our track will cause a short circuit.

I cannot run engines without sound.  It's like pushing a corpse around the layout.

I like the idea they'd make a medium size steamer. Either the mikado or the consolidation (e-27) would be great choices. Mostly, it would mean spare gearboxes and wheels for the mikado, mallet and consoidation.  There is the hope for a minor upgrade in the gearbox design too, making it easier to grease the gears and replace worn axles. That's what I will be needing in the not too far future (spare axles).

Ahh... I checked my Aristo history page, yes, mentioned in 2010
the SW-1500 was in the 1996 catalog.

Well, I'm happy Kader/Bachmann is using the old Aristo molds to make more stuff. I agree, they need to make more, the RS-3 might be a good choice, but I'm thinking they are going more modern.

They are also probably learning their lesson about making big locos that don't fit on every layout. The Mikado would not be a bad loco to bring back either, although it's fidelity to prototype is poor.

greg