That is simply AMAZING!

I was thinking, for my layout, I kinda want to do the old west thing, but in winter... (growing up in a desert, snow is something I've always loved the idea of)

I also don't know if I want switches... just a bare simple layout, but that attitude might change. At first I thought about a tunnel, to hide the train during it's journey, but then I remembered, back in the 80s, I didn't want to do a tunnel, so much as rock formations (using old ceiling tiles) for my hidden spots, and the ideas are just rolling in from there.

I know whatever I do, it'll never be finished... I mean... I'm not kidding myself here.

A flatmate asked me "if you do old west, then what will you do if you ever buy a modern diesel?" and my response was "who's to say it isn't a theme park?" We have plenty of rail museums around here that look old west, but has an active line crossing close by. Hell, the train in my profile picture is ten feet away from the Trolley line, and that's a whole 19th century railway station (for a line they are STILL attempting to finish... 150 years later)

So I just got these off eBay today, and the ONE engine has EZ Mates couplers, but the other engine, and the cars all have the horn hooks... so my question is (if anyone is familiar with these) is what EZ Mate Couples should I get to replace on the rolling stock, and the Jupiter?

(Unfortunately, the board won't let me put the photos up, it says my "upload folder" is full, whatever that is... but it is a Bachmann "Jupiter", and a Bachmann "Union Pacific #119", and some "old west" rolling stock, also Bachmann, like what was in the Civil War sets... I can e-mail the images, I guess?)

That's kinda what I've been looking for... used, and preassembled, and have found a FEW on eBay that I wanted (one auction even had stage coaches!) but was unfortunately outbid.

It seems, I keep getting, or being given by friends, unassembled sets. (a friend recently gave me a train station by Model power, that is unassembled... and it looks a bit like a task to build. I don't even have any supplies for building it yet)

Mine sit on a bookshelf mostly, but only because I haven't a layout yet... but every so often, I'll set up some track, and let them go! (I love the fact that with EZ Track, I can just set up a loop, or so on a bed, or anywhere in just a few minutes)

I'm getting ready to build my layout, and I want it to all be Old West. 1870s-'80s. I just got a Plasticville Saloon/US Marshal's office, and I'm a bit intimidated about building it when it comes (it's being delivered tomorrow) I would LOVE to see more HO old West stuff that's pre-built.

Fun fact... Though Bachmann has been around since 1833, it wouldn't be until 1947 that they got into model railroading, when they first manufactured a white plastic miniature fence as a Christmas decoration.

That line of decorations was of course called "Plasticville", and thus, an era was born!

Without Plasticville, we wouldn't have Bachmann trains. That's where it all started. (come on Bachmann... it's 2017... 70th anniversary of Plasticville, and thus, Bachmann Trains! Perfect opportunity to bring out some new Plasticville to celebrate!)

(yes... I am a font of useless trivia)

Yeah, mine are the same draw-bars you would find on the Lafayette, or the Pegasus. I have seen the John Bulls in eBay auctions with the horn hooks, but it seems it really depends on what year it came out. (I remember the horn hooks on it in the 80s... mine is from 2013... or at least there's an advert for the 2013 Bachmann catalogue with the paperwork, at any rate)

I remember way back, in the 80s, I was told not to buy trains like the John Bull, due to quality (which, didn't concern me, as I wouldn't be running that often, and it was prettier than the Pewter ones the Franklin Mint was selling at the time) but the quality on these ancient engines they are putting out today? WOW! This 2013 John Bull is on par, quality wise, with some of the Spectrums I've seen and drooled over.

I was a model railroader years back in the 80s, but left the hobby for a while (long story) but back then, I had a fondness for the "unique" that only Bachmann produced (like the John Bull) Back then, however, every shop I would go into, would warn me not to buy it... they would claim it was poorly made, or whatever... children's toys, and what have you.

I recently got back into the hobby (I still have some of my old trains from back in the 80s, but haven't located them yet... one is a Gandy Dancer from '88) and I started with buying the John Bull.

The way Bachmann has improved things is simply ASTOUNDING! I am so used to companies that have a product, and that's good enough for them... I'm not used to a company that has a product, and the says "how can we make it better?"

The more I look at what they offer, the more I love this company. Trains I loved as a kid, like the Silverton (I will never forget my ride on that train as a child) and classics like the Lafayette, of the Dewitt Clinton... nobody else is making these trains. I got all of my classics I wanted since I was younger, and now I've recently got my first Spectrum, and regardless of the series, I keep seeing better and better quality from Bachmann!

So yeah, I hear where you're coming from. Being able to share this hobby with the next generation is a WHOLE LOT easier when you can get basic sets that are going to last!

(Oh, and there is no such thing as a free train... I learned that one the hard way... because when it comes to model railroading... there's always more to add. We say we just need that ONE thing, but we all know it's never just ONE thing. Still, I gave up drinking for this hobby, and quite frankly... this is a FAR better addiction! MUCH more rewarding!)

Well that kinda changes everything! Man, the new stuff since I collected in the 80s! I'm loving it!

Feeling less guilty now, however!

   Awesome! Normally I'd say it's a bit disappointing about the price, but then, I'm still happy (and again, after looking at them on eBay that are selling, I still feel lucky. It's not like I would ever sell ANY of my engines)

So... Newbie here (well, I was collecting back in the 80s, but ex wife sold, or destroyed all of my trains early on, but I'm getting back into the hobby once again)

But that's not what I'm here to ask. I just recently acquired a Bachmann Spectrum HO 4-4-0 Southern Green Loco 83406.

It says it is DCC equipped, and to be honest, I haven't a clue what any of that means. Do I need a special controller? Does that mean really cool sound effects and the like? WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!! <panic>

Anyway... so, I did like any normal person, and after the impulse buy, I decided to look up this beauty (it's "old/new" stock... still sealed) and to my surprise, I cannot seem to find any information at all about this engine 9discontinued, I should think, but when?)

Anyhoo... if anyone has any information they would like to share, about what the DCC entails, or any technical information on this engine, I would be much obliged.

Oh, and for those curious... I paid $100, and free shipping from a comic shop, and I ALMOST feel a bit guilty over that after looking them up on eBay.

Ooh! I never even considered N scale.

I think my biggest issue, is how to attach it all. My John Bull, sad to say, didn't come with horn hooks (I could work with that, if it had)

That's a FANTASTIC idea with the Dewitt Clinton. I just got mine a couple of days ago, and though it was new stock (factory sealed, and all that) it didn't have the engineer. I'm assuming that because the box was still factory sealed, that it was either forgotten when it was made, or, because it IS from 2004, maybe they didn't have a driver that year? Either way, I've been trying to contact the service department to see about a replacement (even if I have to pay for it.... I mean, how much could it possibly be?) but unfortunately, this site seems to hate me, and it won't let me register. (I had the same issues here for the forum, but fortunately, the Facebook rep for Bachmann was able to help me out... nice person... a real mensch. Very helpful!)

Hello, I'm new here, and one of my train passions is the older styles of engines, like the John Bull, or the Lafayette, or Dewitt Clinton... so I have managed to track down, and purchase all of them (even the Pegasus, and the Prussia)

My only issue, is how much of a pain in the tuchus it is connecting cars. Now, I realize modern couplers would be a bit dumb on something like a Dewitt Clinton, but the rest of them... is it possible to replace the hooks with EZ couplers, and if so, how would I do it? What would I need? I figured I'd ask here, because I can't be the first with this idea... mayhap I can learn from others?