It appears it would be worth it to go to UPS, USPS & use their package tracking system. I've used it to try to be home when expecting a package to arrive. The online section will tell you if the item gets shipped to Memphis or wherever on it's way to Nashville. At least you'd get an idea of the 4 business days of transit time. I've seen the site updated in seconds when I'm home to sign for the package. UPS has some neat technology.

Looking at the UPS website, they do offer free POD notification if you can track the package online. They also offer a Delivery Confirmation letter for $1.25. Depending on the value of the item, it may be smart for consumers to take advantage of these services!

I'm an Nscaler. I tend to buy & run all of my locos in pairs. I like to run them with odd/even numbers, with odds East & evens West. THen I can give all my trains numbers in the timetable.

I'd like to see Bachmann follow a practice of offering 2-6 numbers in a roadname every year, then produce new numbers in 2-3 years. They could also produce some cars in a variety of paint schemes. Some proto cars get new slogans or paint schemes as they are rebuilt.

HowDEE Yall!

I'm a transplanted Chicago Bears fan now living in Nashville, TN.
Home of the Grand Ole Opry & the Music City Star.
THe MCS is our new commuter passenger train that goes east from Nashville to Lebanon & back on weekdays. It uses the tracks of the old Tennessee Central. Everything else is CSX, from L&N days.

I work for Cat Financial. We help the dealers sell Cat equipment. Helps to keep a roof over my N scale equipment. My first set was an Aurora Postage Stamp Trains set.

The closed pilot may be used on passenger trains. Try to get pictures of K4's pulling the premier passenger trains of the line. The slatted ones may go to branchlines or freight runs. I doubt if there are many pictures of K4's doing some switching moves?

The screens should all be measured corner to corner. For a computer monitor, it may be a waste to go widescreen. Leave that for the TV screen.

IMHO my home computer is being used more & more for home office/business use. Games are going on my Nintendo DS or Wii. Video & other stuff goes on the TV. Even there, I may be getting a widescreen that comes close to the vertical of my old 27" set.

Tracks Ahead is produced by Milwaukee Public Station. Your station would have to "buy" it in order to run it. NPT in Nashville runs it Saturdays at 10AM. It is in it's 6th season. DVD copies are available from HistoricRail.

The Saturday schedule is full of cooking shows.  Mostly i've seen reruns from the past 5 seasons. Some of the video is repeated in the DreamPlanBuild series.

I'm not sure if Mehano is still in business or not. They uses to be a supplier for most MP diesels. With the demise of Minitrix & Mehano, MP may have been forced to find a new factory to do their models.

Another 6 wheeler to look for is the LifeLike Little Joe 0-6-0T switcher. I don't know if it uses the ame motor or not? LL sells a lot of Little Joe's in $50 sets with a few freight cars. It seems like that loco has been around forever.

The 6 wheel drive will give it all wheel drive. AFAIK there s/b a set of truck gears to get power out. Due to the short wheelbase, you may want to run & wire 2 units together to get better 12 wheel contact.

Perhaps the Decapod can be ready for release in the 4th quarter of the year? Take your time to do it right.

Would it be possible to do Standard Line cars with a simplified paint scheme, then use Plus or Spectrum lines for fancier paint schemes?
I'd like to see Bachmann have a line of TrainMan inexpensive cars that could be sold at the LHS for bottom prices. They could be painted in basic colors like black or BCR. 

Perhaps Mr B could set up some links to the best LHS that actually carry Bachmann product. That may be one way to avoid looking for TASWCMH.

I'm sure Philly would be reluctant to have links to outside auctions.

I'd start with the trucks & axles to be sure they are mounted correctly. You may have one or more wheelset installed backwards. If this is true, I've seen some guys mark the insides of the wheels with a green/red dot.

The MTL 1133 is a T shank coupler. Included is an adapter chip that goes into the coupler box.
Bachmann's new couplers may replace the Caboose Hobbies Unimates. They were a good nonoperating T shank coupler. For some applications, you could simply twist them into place & reuse the old coupler spring. I'd have to see how high/ low the new couplers are. I hope we don't have to shim them. Most MTL trucks come with a plastic washer that go in between the truck & the car bolster to rase it up just a bit.
As with any new product, some of the Bachmann's new coupler may need a bit of trimming to get them to work. Depends on how much flash must be cut from the molds. 
Wow this new forum has plenty of new features to play with!