I didn't pay but $179.99 for the Cavalier set a year or so ago. A couple of the online hobby stores have prices near that, $150.00 is certainly a good price, I'm almost tempted to buy another set, but then the passenger car numbers would have to be changed. I'm more likely to go with the ConCor items.
Clyde

Striker, I'm in the same searching mode/situation that you are. I found these a while back and would like to order some to "flesh out" my Cavalier set.
http://www.con-cor.com/HO72page1.html#Norfolk & Western
Price looks good, don't know how well the paint will match.
Clyde

Quote from: Jhanecker2 on November 21, 2012, 04:04:22 PM
If you are having binding issues you are trying to run the train on radii  to small for the loco & tender . The smallest  radius would be  22" or greater.   Are you  positive  your track is perfect , and have you made sure that your couplers are heighted correctly and not dragging on the tracks ?   The only set that contains a 4-8-4 is the Overland Express  , there are other 4-8-4 in the Bachmann  Line but if your track is the problem they won't run any better.  Also note one can not run large steam locos at warpspeed  through  changes of direction .

The Spectrum Cavalier set has a N&W J611 4-8-4 (I know because I have one). And indeed your recommendation of 22" radius or greater is spot on.
Clyde

Quote from: sd24b on October 28, 2012, 04:43:31 AM
if this is a steam engine, you might also check your drawbar.  sometimes it lifts the front truck just enough that the wheels are not on the rails.  does this car derail going the opposite direction?      Phil

OP mentioned Spectrum Cavalier (I'm assuming the train set) which would be a N&W J611 4-8-4. Many great tips offered in this thread, there can be so many little things that could cause issues and ech one needs to be checked. I have the same engine/tender and no issues at this point in time and I appreciate all of the suggestions and think I'll make a check list for future problems.
Clyde 

Quote from: JRG1951 on May 22, 2012, 03:39:11 PM

What about starting with the Bachmann Aux water tender and adding a coal bunker. I think there was a article In Model Railroader a while back.
Regards
John
*****************************************************************************************
The best measure of a man's honesty isn't his income tax return. It's the zero adjust on his bathroom scale. >>
Arthur C. Clarke

That looks like it might be a good starting point, great suggestion.
Clyde

Quote from: Jerrys HO on May 20, 2012, 01:43:18 PM
J & D

The Sound Commander comes with everything. For 370.00 I think it is better than purchasing the Dynamis which comes in the Sound Commander then buying the Frontiersman set which is DCC no sound, adding a good soundtraxx decoder at least 100.00 plus installation if you don't know how. You still get the Spectrum 2-8-0 loco but with everything there for you. You do the math...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=bachmann+sound+commander&_sacat=19128&_odkw=&_osacat=19128

Jerry

also the Cavalier set does not have sound.

It all depends on what loco/train you are really interested in. While you pointed out what may be a better buy and/or easier , I wanted the N&W J611, so the Cavalier set was a better purchase for my wants/needs IMHO. I can then option it out the way I want to. Savings is only one aspect, ease of use yet another, but in the end those make no difference if it is not what you really wanted.
Clyde

Quote from: ftherrmann on May 09, 2012, 01:59:27 PM
When the customer service rep made the statement she made no distinction between scale.  Based on this I assume it applies to all scales.

Which still leaves the question unanswered, is your loco HO scale or N scale? If it's N scale, why would you be asking in the HO forum??
Clyde

Slightly off topic, I did find the N&W aux. tender I was looking for in the railfan colors to match my J611, it's on the way and should be here this week.
Clyde

Quote from: richg on May 01, 2012, 10:30:41 PM
I just remembered another option which I do a lot. Search the Internet with bachmann and the tender part number. That can bring up on line companies that might have the item you want. I have found many items over the years like that. Most on line shops will advertise an item with the manufactures part number like Walther's does.
I like the thrill of the chase.

Rich

In my own quest to find a N&W aux. tender, I have found that many of the listings that come up in searches are either so far out of date that they no longer have it or are actually for an item which was not the number I did in the search. Very frustrating at times, but a real joy when you do find something you are looking for.
Clyde

Quote from: vern1959 on April 30, 2012, 11:47:18 AM
Hi JandD!
For $300 I bought the Dynamis starter set ($120) and the Spectrum Cavalier DCC starter set ($180) from modeltrainstuff.com. The Dynamis wireless control has some line-of-sight issues but generally works very well and the Cavalier set is really beautiful (N&W 4-8-4) and the coaches are lit.
Have since added several DCC and sound locos and the Dynamis has handled them all. I am primarily an "O" scale person but the combo I listed above has been a wonderful intro to the world of HO wireless control!
   Have fun,
      Vern

The Dynamis starter set sounds like a good option for my needs, I had already picked up a Cavalier set to start over after being away from model railroading for a few years. I too purchased from modeltrainstuff.com as they seem to have excellent prices and their shipping was super fast.
Clyde

Thanks for posting that link, I did see that one earlier tonight. I think that one was from an earlier "Collectors Edition", I'm looking for the later Spectrum version that went out of production a year or two ago. Since I posted earlier I have found a slightly used Spectrum version that is part of a package sale, aux. tender, caboose and two B unit diesels, all from different railroads. I may buy a used one but I was wondering if Bachmann was going to do another new one since some forums mention that the aux. tender seems to go in and out of production often.
Clyde

I recently purchased a Spectrum N&W J-611, now I'm looking for an auxilary tender to go with it (in the Railfan colors). Bachmann's Spectrum version went out of production a couple of years ago, will there be a re-release in the near future? If not then I guess I'll have to buy a black one and paint it to what I want. Have searched far and wide on the internet, can find dozens of them in N scale, but none in HO
Clyde

Quote from: napa15 on March 14, 2012, 12:07:07 PM
BTW - up next is my Bachmann HO N&W Class J #611 - Will be using the same Tsunami decoder, but the Southern Steam version for that one. That engine is at the Bachmann Service Dept right now.. so, whenever it makes its way back home... 

And yes, the kids get to blow the horn and ring the bell. My wife, she just rolls here eyes at me. 

BTW Terry, where are you in FL? I'm in Jacksonville.

I'll be doing a similar install as my HO N&W J611 just arrived a few days ago. This will be my first "adventure" in the DCC world.
Clyde