Train World Online is expecting them in 2 weeks and those 2 weeks will go by fast!!!

In all honesty, Bachmann should upgrade the smoke units to those like Piko smoke units which are small 5 volts with a voltage regulator and put out a GREAT quantity, or like the Aristocraft Fan driven smoke units.  These smoke units use A LOT of voltage, and make a mess, causing the wires to oxidize and become brittle.  It is time for better smoke units.

I've upgraded all of my Spectrum 4-4-0s, 2-6-0s, shays, Climaxes, Heislers, and 2-8-0s to Piko 5 volts with the Piko voltage regulator.

Ironically the coaches to the Moguls were announced a year later, and they are out before the Moguls themselves, and are being sold at online stores.   I already have 2 coaches on order and can't wait to receive them.  I sure hope the Moguls become available soon.

Any updates on when we should expect the new Moguls?

I know how to fix the draw bar problem.

Unfortunately in the manufacturing process, they were all put in "Backwards"  If you want, you can remove the middle truck by unscrewing the 2 retaining screws that hold the truck onto the bolster.   With that, you can remove the middle truck and access the screw that holds the draw bar in place.  Unscrew the large screw that holds the draw bar and retaining spring and just flip the draw bar around.  With the draw bar flipped around, you'll have 2 holes.  With the draw bar flipped around, just reinstall the retaining spring and screw, slide the middle truck back on, and you're in business.

As for the wire harness, just put hot glue or brush on liquid electrical tape on the wire connector end where the wires enter the connector.  Let it dry for a few hours, then that should take care of the problem.

Now I am even more excited about my purchase of the D&RGW 15, it looks GORGEOUS!!!!!!  WOW!!!!!!  Well done Bachmann!!!

Hello, I was trying to install a Phoenix sound system on a Spectrum Forney, and I ended up shorting out the main circuit board.

Is there a way I can get a replacement, a Phoenix has no instructions on how to do it, so I need help with the installation on what goes where.  I just used power and ground for the motor on powering up the sound board, and the chuff is where things went wrong.

How can I get ahold of a replacement circuit board?  Thank you

It would be nice if the 4-4-0s and Spectrum 2-6-0s would receive replacement smoke box ring doors like all the other engines have, because the smoke box doors always break from the constant opening and closing.   Hopefully they will be produced in the future.

They should hopefully be out by Christmas according to Trainworld Online.

Try replacing it with a Piko 5 Volt smoke unit with voltage regulator, and hook the smoke unit directly to the motor, and connect the on/off switch of the shay directly to the wires of the piko smoke unit if it's a 38 ton shay.  If it's a 36 ton old generation shay, then just take out the old smoke unit, hook up the wires from the old smoke unit to the Piko voltage regulator, and then hook up the 5 volt smoke unit.  Bachmann Smoke units are not very good, so I tend to go for other smoke units.  Pro-Line Pulsed fan driven smoke units are amazing and work very well in shays, but it has to be the Version 2.0 that requires minimum voltage.  The Version 4.0s require a lot of voltage in order to work like that of Bachmann smoke units.

That is a problem with Bachmann wires, brittle wire insulation which makes them vunerable to breaking.   

Hopefully Bachmann comes out with wire recalls in the future to fix this problem once and for all.

And I just pre-ordered my Denver & Rio Grande model from Train World Online, and am very excited about recieving it.   

I see some of the large scale spectrum cars are becoming harder to get ahold of with the production ending?

Is there a possibility for re-runs of the flat cars, gondolas, and hoppers?

Also the addition of refers, stock cars, and higher side gondolas would be nice.  I'm well aware that AMS also makes stock cars, refers, and high side gondolas, but I feel that Bachmann Spectrum's would be better, since they already surpass AMS with the murphy roof, normal box cars, hoppers, and flat cars.  More detail goes into stuff with Bachmann Spectrum than AMS on quite a few things.

Thanks Bill. 

I am still hopeful with new mogul parts given that the parts, regardless of generation, will still pretty much be essentially interchangeable.

I know I can replace the board and wiring no problem, and that is what I will do for sure.  But I have also decided that the engine has WAY too much sentimental value to me to be retired, so she will be ran less, but a new Olive Green engine will be bought if and only IF the cosmetic parts cannot be obtained.

I was part of a model railroad club that went all over the San Francisco Bay Area, and we'd run our trains like no tomorrow.  They would run hard, fast, over sharp curves up steep grades, and my Olive Green 4-4-0 was a club favorite because A she was beautiful, B she was reliable and saved us several times when other engines broke down even going as far as to pull 9 heavy Spectrum Freight cars and a caboose by herself without a problem, and C she wasn't at as cantankerous as many other model locomotives.   Because of this, the Olive Green 4-4-0, along with my old Spectrum Oregon Lumber Company Heisler have aged, and have been pushed passed their limits from which Bachmann designed for.

Motors, gear boxes, circuit boards, are replaceable, but cosmetic parts are sadly not because cosmetic wear and tear doesn't come into account until it actually happens.   Also repainting the wheels, cab, domes, and boiler would be impossible given how delicate, exquisite, and meticulous the tiny pin-striping is. 

I am not too worried about the Mogul parts since new generation Moguls are coming out this Christmas, so new parts are bound to be available for them, allowing older moguls to be repaired like how the old shays & climaxes can be repaired thanks to the newer Shay and Climax parts being readily available.