Will the Bachmann HO 2-8-0 fit on an Atlas turntable?  My measurements suggest no, but I don't have the turntable to measure here.  Thanks - Nevin

I visited a hobby shop today to look at some On30 equipment.  I am seriously considering converting my HO railroad to On30 due to a love of NG equipment and worsening eyes.  Will sit down with Cadrail and start designing soon.  It will be a Nevada mining railroad.  Will 3 inch track centers for parallel yard track be adequate?  Do people use HO cork or S scale roadbed?  What is the length of the ties for the Micro Engineering On30 track and turnouts.  Anything unusual about Micro Engineering #5 turnouts geometry?  Is there a Cadrail file for these turnouts available anywhere?  Will the Bachmann 2-8-0 and the new 4-6-0 take a 22 inch radius?  How difficult would they be to convert to On3 if I go that route.  Will they both fit on a 12 inch turntable?  - Thanks, Nevin

Well are there any rumors out there about what Bachmann is planning to announce?  I know they are pretty tight-lipped, but any wild unsubstantiated rumors about what is going to be produced next in HO would be interesting and entertaining.  -  Nevin

I acquired a Spectrum 4-6-0 with the Tsunami sound decoder and ran it last night.  WOW!   The sound is excellent but what is more important is the slow speed performance.  It crawls.  Much better than my TCS decoder equipped 4-6-0s.  Does Bachmann offer any of the tenders with the Soundtraxx decoder installed for sale separately?  I'd take a couple of the small Baldwin tenders with sound. -  Nevin

I've acquired a new Ma & Pa lettered 4-6-0 #27.  Unfortunately none of the Nevada mining railroads, T&T, T&G, LV&T or BGRR ever had a #27 so I need to remove the numbers from the engine.  Any suggestions about the quickest and safest way to remove the lettering from a Bachmann Spectrum engine with damaging the paint? 

I tried to remove the lettering from an old Rivarossi passenger car a few weeks ago and I was able to remove the paint completely but somehow the lettering remained!  So I am a little cautious about this next project.  -  Nevin

I may have missed it, but when will Bachmann announce the next round of new HO models, particularly HO steam?  Any rumors or speculation about what it might be?  -  Nevin

I have installed the decoders in these Spectrum 4-6-0 engines and have started running them.  They are both are pretty tight and rough runners compared to the Spectrum 2-8-0.  They require considerably more voltage to get moving.  I have fiddled with the CV's and that has improved things somewhat.  My question is to those that have these engines:  How much will things improve with the break-in period?  Is there anything I can adjust or alter mechanically that will help smooth them out? 

My spectrum 2-8-0 has spoiled me, it such a good runner. 

-  Nevin

With every DCC conversion of the 2-8-0 I had to cut a capacitor to get it to run correctly.  When I put the decoder in my 4-6-0 I don't remember seeing a capacitor on the circuit board.  It runs OK but not great.  Before I open the tender up again to look (and figure out how to pack the decoder back in correctly) are there any capacitors on the 4-6-0 board that need snipping?  -  Nevin

I haven't opened it up to look at the circuit board yet but which decoder would everyone recommend for the Baldwin Small Stock Tender (1910-1950) for the 4-6-0?  Is there a sound decoder that will fit? Assuming some minor surgery?  Thanks -  Nevin

Any hints or rumors as to when the next announcement for a Spectrum steam locomotive is going to be?  I keep hoping for a small slide valve 2-8-0 myself.  -  Nevin

I have a number of Spectrum 4-6-0s that I would like to mate with the Bachmann small Vanderbilt tenders.  I have already noticed an issue with the plugs.  Has anyone successfully put these together?  I would also like to put DCC and sound in these tenders.  Has anyone fitted a Loksound or Tsunami sound into one of these tenders?  I have not opened one up yet so I don't know how much room I have in there.  Thanks -  Nevin

There is a 60 foot Sellers turntable on the market that would be perfect for my new layout.  My engines are in storage. 

Can someone measure the Spectrum 4-6-0 and tell me the total length and if it will fit?   I know the 2-8-0 is too long.   If someone can measure a Roundhouse Old-timer 2-8-0 that would be very helpful too.  thanks -  Nevin

Now that we know that there is to a be 4-4-0 and it will be very similar to the Mt. Gretna Narrow Gauge locomotive we need a photo of said locomotive.  Anyone have a NG&SL Gazette and a scanner handy?  I can't find it in my Gazettes but they are unfortunately incomplete.  Post a photo of the engine or plans if you can.  -  Nevin

I have a garage and a pretty big desert area outside for a potential layout.  I was planning on building a HO or On3 shelf layout on the garage but I took my wide to the hobby shop and she discovered garden railroads.  She wants me to build one.  I am thinking about a a Nevada desert railroad outside either E&P (4-4-0!) or C&C (SPNG) and a shelf switching layout in the garage for the winters,  Indoors, I have about 45 feet x 2.5 feet in the garage. 

I have a number of questions:

1. Is an 8 foot diameter (4 ft R) minimum curve adequate?
2.  What is the minimum track center distance  for 1:20.3?
3.  Is a shelf layout doable in 1:20.3?  Are there an examples on the web you can refer me to?  I am thinking a mining layout using the Bachmann Porters and geared locomotives. 
4.  What track is readily available but can be made to look reasonable realistic?  I assume that handlaying is possible, are there turnout kits? 
5.  It looks like most LGB turnouts are less than a #4 turnout.  Are there commercially available narrow gauge larger switches?  Are they too big to be practical indoors? 
6.  Who makes craftsman kits for structures, especially mine structures, engine houses etc? 
7.  What would be the best way of laying track in the high desert- Reno, Nevada?

Thanks - Nevin

Bachmann has become THE source for small HO steam.  The 4-4-0 is truely state of the art.  I haven't heared anything about future arrivals recently.  I know the Bach-man will say be patient, but I was wondering if there are any rumors of future small steam engines.  Personnally I would like to see another 2-8-0 only smaller and with slide valves.  -  Nevin

In the past, On30 had some clear advantages in cost and the use of HO track.  But with all of the On3 items announced including prefab turnouts from San Juan and the improved convertability of Bachmann On30 models to On3, are there still advantages to modeling On30 over true On3? 

As an aside, what is the minimum distance between tracks for On30 vs. On3?  Is 24" radius reasonable for non-critter locomotives such as the 2-8-0 and the San Juan c-16?

-  Nevin 

I am in the process of designing a Tonopah and Tidewater railroad in HO.  The Tecopa RR, literally a 1 engine mining road interchanged with the T&T so it would be neat to add it to my design.  It had a 7% grade in one area.  It was really a minimal road. 

The Bachmann Spectrum 0-6-0T bears a passing resemblance to the Tecopa RR's engine.  How well does it run?  Easy to add DCC?  How does it behave on very tight curves - 15" ?  Could it be modified into a 2-6-2T?  I have not seen one of these up close, how does the detail  compare to the 4-6-0 and 2-8-0?  Thanks -  Nevin

Sorry to be asking this question but I have packed all of the engines in storage and have torn down my old layout, so I can't measure them.   

I am designing my new layout on Cadrail while I get ready to leave for my new job.  For turntables and run-around tracks I need to know the total length of the HO Spectrum 4-6-0 and 2-8-0?  Thanks -  Nevin

I am trying to hunt down a couple of high boiler undcecorated 4-6-0s and I am finding out that they are getting scarce.  I thought Tony's Train Exchange had them but I just got an email saying that they are sold out and they are not expecting them until September.  Any thoughts and recommendations?  -  Nevin 

Last night I tried to remove the lettering from a Bachmann medium vanderbilt tender.  Tried eraser- no effect.  Tried Solvaset - no effect.  Tried acetone - very slight effect.  This stuff is impervious.  They ought to coat the underside of the space shuttle with whatever is used to letter these tenders.  Any other suggestions?  -  Nevin