Just my question ending note:  Installed the Bull Frog Snot in the slot where the TT was.  Had to thin it some with water as out of the bottle was to thick.  Ended up installing three coats and curing each one for a day to fill the TT gap.  Berkshire runs great now and a good puller.  I was aware of this product but had never needed to look into it's effectiveness and hadn't given it a thought.  I am a believer now for sure and thanks Mark for the suggestion.  Doug

Good Morning James and sorry for the delayed answer.  It is the holidays.  As mentioned in my post I had just taken the Berkshire out of the box and put it on the track and was running it around the layout on adr. 03.  Noticed the traction tire flapping a bit and stopped and inspected the driver.  Part of the TT was missing and the rest loose on the driver on the Engineers side.  My thought is a manufacturing defect and yes I am aware of being careful of TT's.  Bachmann is out of them and I can't come up with any elsewhere so I have some Bullfrog Snot on it's way and will carefully install some of that product on the driver and keep searching for another traction tire.  I have many steamers and have never had this happen to any of my Loco's.  Been in the hobby in N Scale for over thirty years.  I really appreciate all of the feed back and thank you.  RG

OK John, I'll check it out and thanks.  RG

The driver Diameter, as close as I can measure with my calipers is.420 and that is not in the TT groove, just overall dia.  RG

Thanks to both of you.  I'll try the Bull Frog Snot first and just ordered some.  I am rural and no shop to go to worth a darn.  I had heard of the Snot but had not given it a thought and was not aware on how to use it so will give it a try.  I assume I should alcohol the driver first and then install the Snot and dry for a long time.  I own many steamers and never had this issue before.  RG

I read the Spooks message concerning using paint to keep traction tires on the drivers.  My problem is I have a brand new Berkshire that has a completely broken traction tire and Bachmann has no more.  I can only work on the layout in the winter and I had purchased this one last May 2016, but kept it boxed until a few days ago.  Ran it around the layout a few times testing it's new ness and noticed a broken traction tire and a chunk of it missing.  It is probably somewhere in a tunnel cause I can't find it.  So is there any other way to replace this traction tire or something else that will work?  Appreciate any suggestions.  RG   

I was going to ask for some heavy mountains also but did not want to push my luck.  Five years or so between runs does not help me either as I am not getting any younger.  Anyway Kewatin, I just thought I'd ask the question here and see what happens.   Doug

Hey Bachmann;  Any chance of a new run of 2-8-0 Consolidations with sound coming.  I have been going back to steam in a big way and have purchased five new Bachmann locomotives so far and I need some 2-8-0's for sure.  I know there are some out there without DCC installed  from the last run a few years ago but real busy with other layout building and don't want to mess right now with decoder installs.  So how about a new run of 2-8-0's please.  Just a note that the new ones I have purchased are are top notch in both operation and detail.   Doug