Hi everyone,
Last year The Bachmann, along with the friendly folks at Athearn, Atlas, BLMA, and Micro-Trains assisted with a project I have been working on for well over a year. The project was to catalog all freight car trucks currently available in N scale. While I was hoping to publish this in a magazine, the project took on a life of its own, and I decided to seek the assistance of Mark "Spookshow" Peterson, who is responsible for the N Scale Loco Encyclopedia.

Mark took my info, added a TON of his own and posted it to his website.
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/trucks/trucks.php

We are still adding info, and the layout of the directory may change, but we now have a comprehensive list of all trucks made in N scale.

Check it out. If you have any suggestions, ideas or any info you would like to include, please e-mail me at daniel_leavitt2004@yahoo.com. I would like to thank everyone who assisted with this project.

I have been looking at the first high resolution photos of the GP7 and Canadian grain car and I am really impressed. I will be looking at picking a few up items at the Springfield show and these will be on my list.

Should we expect to see other cars and engines recently anounced in HO as N scale models in the next year (GP9, RS3 etc.)

I am rebuilding a standard like USRA 0-6-0 into one used by the Maine Central. I purchased a Spectrum short USRA tender to improve thectrical pick-up over the standard tender. I was a little disapointed the drwbars are not compatable. It would be great if Bachmann offered a drawbar to adapt the Spectrum tenders to fit with the standard line locos.

Bachmann,
I tried getting ahold of you via e-mail, but didn't get a reply. Any word on when the truck samples should be here?
Thanks,
Dan

I am curious, the Business Class Car (part #89973)  has been unavailable for some time. There is one included with the set, but the prototype has several. The End Business Class and End First Class are still available. I would like to add a new train, but have not been able to find this car.

Dear Bach-mann
I would still like to shoot some of your trucks/couplers for my article in N-Scale Magazine. Would you be able to bring some samples to the Springfield show (especially the flats with the automatic coupler) at the end of January?

Thanks,
Dan
daniel_leavitt2004@yahoo.com

I am trying to write an article for N-Scale about trucks and couplers available in N scale. Does anyone know if the recent log cars and new flat cars with loads feature new trucks rather then the ancient ones used on everything else?

Each manufactuer has their niche. Atlas makes the best diesels out there. Con-Cor has made some really neat streamlined trains. Kato seems to be focusing on modern power and named passenger trains. Bachmann has some great stuff that I would like to see more of...

Steam!
Bachmann and Model Power both focus on steam engines rather then diesels. Bachmann wins hands down. Their 2-8-0 may very well be the best plastic steamer ever. With a little tweaking they can run circles around Kato's Mike for half the price.

The re-made N&W J shows that Bachmann is clearly the best at die-cast engines in N-scale. Few have tried and those that did make products with metal shells were poor looking and performing. My J is one of the very best runners I have ever seen. Better then a Kato SD45, better then an Atlas B23-7.

I hope to see more steam in teh future. I think some PRR specific engines are called for. We have the Broadway, we have a GG!... now its time to fill in teh gaps! I woulden't mind a Spectrum USRA 0-6-0 for my BM/MEC switchiing layout.

Bachmann has been the only manufactuer to dive into Amtrak with any serious effort. I have two HHP8s which are a lot of fun to run around the layout. The new Amfleet cars are great, but I would love to see some Amfleet !! cars or even better some Horizon/Comet II cars that can be used with commuter railroads as well.

I know that others would love to see some Bachmann heavyweight cars. While Micro Trains has anounced 4 heavyweight bodystyles, there is a lot more not yet done. Bachmann has proved they can make an incredible passenger car... just look at the Acela or the Jackson Sharp open coach.

How does the current generation of Bachmann C40-8Ws compare to the Atlas model? The one I am looking to get is the newer DCC on board version with the see-through screens.

I would also like to know how its speed control is and how many functions the decoder has.

Dear Bach-mann,

Will you be at the show in Springfield again this year? Any N scale anoucments in store?

BTW did you get my e-mail last week?

Dan