We modelers always seem to be interested in new locomotives that we
would like to see produced rather than new rolling stock.
Understandable of course as the locomotives are the "stars" of the
action so to speak.

Bachmann has done an excellent job of producing a reasonably wide
range of rolling stock in its On30 line and I would imagine they sell
more rolling stock than they do locomotives - I could be wrong.

There are only three pieces of rolling stock that I would love to see
Bachmann introduce to its product line. Everything else I can want or
need is either already in production, available from another
manufacturer, or best of all, can be kitbashed from existing in
production rolling stock.

I really would like to see a 24-25 ft. steel box car brought into
production. I would imagine that the same underframe casting could
then be used to make an all steel flat car, and possibly a tank car by
adding a tank to the flat car sans the deck. Some narrow gauges
modernized in an effort to survive.

I really want to see a closed vestibuled coach similar to those used
on the Rio Grande's San Juan/Shavano run and by the ET&WNC, shortened
to the same length as the current Bachmann coaches.

And last on my list, a parlor car with an observation platform on one
end and a closed vestibule on the other. I would settle for the
kitbashing/splicing an existing Bachmann parlor car with a "closed
vestibule" coach to make one though.

What else in terms of rolling stock would other On30 modelers like to see?

Mr. Bachmann,

Now that the cat appears to be out of the bag so to speak, would you be so kind as to post some photos of the new outside frame 4-4-0?! Unless of course the rumors and photo on the internet are some kind of a cruel April's Fool joke in July!

It would be great, since I am asking, if you could pose it with the inside frame 4-4-0 for one photo as well.  The railbus looks really good too!

Thanks!

I hope this is not someone idea of an April's Fool joke delayed until July.  Below is the link to a hobby shop in Japan that is advertising this beautiful model of a "Bachmann" OF 4-4-0! 

Wonderful locomotive!  Once again, if true, it would appear that the Bach Man has hit yet another home run!

A prototype for this little beauty, or at least a similar prototype, was exported to Brazil by Baldwin and is preserved today on the 30 inch line in San Paolo.

http://www.45mm.jp/page174.html

Mr. Bachmann,

Since you are at a major train show, can we expect a new On30 product announcement?

The 4-4-0s are here, could it be time for a new piece of rolling stock?

Mr. Bachmann,

A steel box car, patterned after the ones of the EBT would be great.   I realize that a full size model would probably be too big for the Bachmann On30 line, but one the same size as the wooden box car currently in the line would be great.

Plus you could use the Vulcan trucks that you already manufacture.

Just a thought, and a request!

Kevin

Mr. Bachmann,

I have a nice new steel cab 4-4-0 on order from by Bachmann supplier.

Could you by chance tell me what alternate details come with the locomotive as standard?

I am planning to send a good sized order for detailing parts to several vendors prior to the locomotives arrival and knowing what comes with the locomotive will help me with making up that detailing part order.

Thanks!

Kevin

San Juan Car Company has announced on their r-t-r page on their web site, it can be found under the our products page, that they will be doing both the 268 and 278 in On30 as well as On3.

They have also announced that they will be doing the frameless Gramps tank cars as well.  No word on whether or not this will be in On30 as well, but I would be surprised if it wasn't.

So for those who wanted a different kind of tank car, it will be a bit pricey compared to a Bachmann offering, but it will be worth the money as it will be super detailed.

I was surfing the net out of shear boredom and in looking under the
section of the Peco web site called Product news saw that a On30
American style armstrong turntable was to be released in February 2008.

Nothing about price but the deck is 305mm. Just how does that
translate into inches?

Nice looking turntable!

Mr. Bachmann,

I have decided I will bite the bullet and obtain one of the new On30 4-4-0s for my little common carrier/logging line.

I am going to obtain the steel cab version and detail it with the upcoming redetailing kit from Backwoods Miniatures, which Pete says will include the much needed cabbage stack casting in resin to give it the Argent Lumber Company look that a good Southern logging line needs to have.

I really like the look of the tender trucks of the early version of the 4-4-0 as opposed to the archbar trucks of the later, steel cabbed version.  Since my little line is struggling into the early 1960s, I have to have the steel cabbed version, but would really like to show the age of the locomotive via the older version of tender trucks.

Will any be available for sale?

Thanks.

Kevin

I am pretty excited about the impending arrival of the 4-4-0 but an still holding out hope for two items - a Heisler and a steel box car.

Does anyone know of the next major train shows where Bachmann might make their next major product announcement?

I know the new policy is to only announce new products when arrival is within a few months.

Thanks!

Mr. Bachmann,

Would it be possible to post a clear photo of the 2-6-0 with the new 4-4-0 to allow modelers to get a feel for the exact size of the upcoming 4-4-0?

Thanks.

Kevin

Mr. Bachmann,

Given the new policy on announcing new products much closer to the actual arrival date for sale, can you give us a reasonable idea on when the 4-4-0s will arrive in the States?

Mainly, will they arrive in time for Christmas delivery to the modelers?

Thanks!

This will be a neat little locomotive to kitbash and detail.

Mr. Bachmann,

Will it be possible to obtain some of the "early" tender trucks that come with the early version of the 4-4-0 to use with the "modern" steel cab version?

Last question - any extra parts coming with this locomotive - a cabbage stack to convert it to a woodburner or an oil tank if it is to be an oil burner?

Cannot decide which it will end up as.

Thanks as always for the neat On30 stuff.

Kevin

Some one was kind enough to post a line drawing of roughly scale size over on the On30 Conspiracy site of the newly announced On30 4-4-0.

I held up my cabbage stack that was supplied with my OF 2-8-0, which is now an oil burner, next to the computer monitor.  Needless to say, the 4-4-0's days as a coal burner will be over the day it arrives in my hot little hands. 

I will obtain the steel cab version and swap with someone for the early version tender trucks.  It will get a steam water siphon on its tender like the Argent Lumber Company locomotives.

A general assortment of jacks, tool boxes, steam and water hoses, etc. will be added as well!

I realize the initial run will be without sound, but I do hope the tender comes drilled for sound.  This will make a great backwoods locomotive - just the thing the foreman ordered to get his loggers into, and out of, the woods quickly each day!

Mr. Bachmann,

I for one am happy to hear about the announced 4-4-0!  I know you are pretty busy at the moment, but when you get a chance, would love for you to take, and post on this site, some photos of the pilot models.

I, for a variety of reasons, would really like to see good, clear photos of the following if you could:

1) a head on shot of the front pilot and coupler.
2) a head on shot of the tender and coupler from a rear view.
3) a underside shot of the tender.
4) a underside shot of the running gear and front pilot.
5) a nice level side view.

One final question.  Do you know if the cabbage stack that came with the 2-8-0 will fit this particular locomotive?

Thanks. 

I plan to start saving my nickels and dimes now!

Kevin

First of all, the initial photos that show the two pre-production
models from above are not very flattering.

When you see a good side view, the locomotives look much better.

The tender trucks on the wood cab version - early version I guess -
are really cool! Many narrow gauge locomotives had these kinds of
trucks, but you never see them on models. Warning: complaint - the
steel cab version does not seem to have these trucks but rather arch
bar type tender trucks.

I hope Bachmann makes these trucks available separately as these would
be the ones I would want with a steel cab version. If not, I'll just
have to swap with someone.

The spacing of the drivers is further apart in actuality when viewed
from the side than they appear to be when viewed from the top. Also,
the locomotive, visually at least, appears to have a wider driver
spacing than the Mt. Gretna 4-4-0.

If someone out there can figure out how to do it, this locomotive
would look really cool as an outside frame locomotive. It is very
similar in profile to the 4-4-0s that made their way to South America.

It also looks like it has an extended smokebox that is plastic which
would allow it to be separated from its boiler to shorten the length
of the boiler.

I can think of lots of things to do to alter this one.  If I had a wood burning version, it will need a footboar pilot, hoses around the steam dome, lots of tool boxes, possibly a fluted sand dome to have mismatched domes, a huge cordwood pile, a water siphon on the tender similar to those used by the Argent Lumber Company.  The ideas of how this tiny 4-4-0 could be converted from a cast-off common carrier passenger locomotive to a woods logging locomotive are just almost too many.

The decision now for me is do I get just one. I would love to see one
mocked up with the Bachmann cabbage stack so I could visualize what it
looked like as a wood burner. Or, will it be an oil burner?

This little locomotive is pretty cool all in all. It's different
that's for sure. I guess people wanted an 18-8-C or nothing at all.

I just need to be able to raise the couplers to On3 coupler height in
order to justify purchasing at least one. If anyone has been able to
touch one physically, I would love to know if this coupler conversion
is possible!

As far as the naysayers - I am not sure why they feel the need to post
their decision not to purchase a 4-4-0. I did not buy a Shay or
Climax or any of the Porters or other locomotives as I did not like
them, too small, etc. I do have two 2-6-0s, a 2-8-0 and a Porter for
my 9 year old daughter who likes trains and thought it was CUTE! Note,
it really is her's, I don't run it. I did not post my complaints or
decisions not to purchase - didn't want to rain on someone else's day
so to speak. I know lots of guys were really excited about ALL of the
locomotives I did not purchase.

I guess most people have forgotten the old adage "if you have nothing
nice to say, say nothing at all."

Final comment: I have reserved and paid a substantial part of the
price for my dream narrow gauge super power, one of the upcoming
MMI/PSC Sumpter Valley 2-6-6-2s in On30. I can't wait to pose this
giant next to this tiny 4-4-0! It would make a really cool photograph!

Imagine this as well, pose the 4-4-0, then a MMI K-36, then an O
standard gauge 2-8-4 or something like that, in a photo where you can
see the size difference, tiny narrow gauge dwarfed by giant narrow
gauge power, dwarfed by standard gauge power. It would make a cool photo!






   
Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:46 pm

Has anyone tried raising the coupler height on one of the Bachmann
On30 2-4-4s?

I mount all my couplers at On3 coupler height. I have no desire to
have a Maine 2 ft. locomotive, but Forneys like this one did find
their way into the south on sugar lines (OK - not this big and they
were usually 0-4-4 Porters, etc.) but if you install a cabbage stack
on this rascal, you have a really cool looking woods locomotive that
could also travel on the main fast enough to beat the local schedule,
allowing the logger to obtain trackage rights.

Anyone who has one of these, can you comment or make suggestions. I
usually use KD 803 On3 couplers, but would be willing to use overset,
or is it underset couplers to get up to the required height.

I just don't want to invest the price needed on one of these little
locomotives if the conversion is not possible.

Help!




   

Mr. Bachmann,

Will you be attending the 2008 National Narrow Gauge Convention by any chance?

Mr. Bachmann,

Is there any chance that future production runs of any of the On30 Porters might come with factory equipped DCC installed?

I realize sound would be pushing it for these little locomotives, but it would be nice to be able to get one with DCC factory installed.

Thanks!

I almost hate to post this message here, but given the pestering of the poor BachMAN on this site about the desire for a 4-4-0 in On30, I can post the news so we will leave him alone on this matter.

MMI, the die-cast division of PSC, has announced a 4-4-0 to be released in both On3 and On30.  You can go to the web site for Southwest Narrow Gauge to see the exact details.

MMI will also be bringing in the Uintah/Sumpter Valley 2-6-6-2s in both On3 and On30.

With the arrival of these two locomotives, the Kentwood & Southern will only be lacking a Heisler, hint, hint, and its steam roster will be complete!