How well they will run depends on what brand they are.  My early 60's vintage PFM/United's still have thier original Pittman open frame motors and run almost as quiet as a modern day can motor.  I run straight DC and never will change to DCC, so that point is moot.   Brass can be weighted and tuned to run better than any plastic engine on the market today.   Dont believe me, ask some of the top modelers out there that run lots of steam.   Most all run beautifull brass engines.   New brass is still more detailed than anything else, but has the price to go with that.   New brass is more museum/display case trains for those with very deep pockets.  Older PFM/United/Tenshodo, Westside, Hallmark, Akane brass normaly run well with only a proper tune up consisting of a good cleaning to remove the ancient lubrication that is usualy stiff and dried/turned to varnish, then a relube.   I also hardwire the tender trucks to the frame instead of relying on the bolster screw/spring for power transmission.   My Shay has 8 wheel pickup.   I have a PFM/United NKP Berkshire, PFM/United USRA Light Mikado, PFM/United 3 truck 150 ton shay and 2 PFM/United Southern RR PS4 Pacifics.    Cheers   Mike

In this day and age, you would think for the few extra dollers spread out over the hundreds of models produced, Bachmann could put decent and proper lighting in thier engines.  I am talking about nice bright LED headlights, no dim yellow ones.  Proper flashing Mars lights in the NKP Berkshire and GS4 Daylight engines.  Come on Bachmann, get with the 21st century.  I can buy a Richmond controls circuit that works on plain old DC power, but why should I?  I and most any other modeler would be glad to pay a couple extra dollers for a proper lighting set up that doesnt need aftermarket modification to look and operate properly.  Take the NKP Berk for example, you didnt ever seperate the two light LEDs to allow those putting sound/DCC upgrades that have a Mars light function to operate unless the modeler modifies the light board.   Are your product engineeers that out of touch with the modeling community?   It cant be that hard for your chinese factorys to produce a simple electronic circuit to make the mars light function and include it on every model that should have one.  That would be every dual headlight F unit, the NKP Berkshire that has the Mars light and the GS4 Daylight, along with any other upcoming model that might use it.   Your compitition did this on thier first runs of thier E units (Proto 2K), granted it was a poor effect, but they made the effort.   The engine looks great, lets take the next step with proper lighting from the factory, it cant be that hard.   For now I spend my $$ with other compaies to upgrade the lighting to what it should be from Bachmann

How about a deluxe version of the NKP Berkshire with a diffrerent number, like 779, but this time included a nice sound decoder and make the Mars light flash like it should.  That would make an excellent model for the the 2010 xmas season.  I plan to upgrade my NKP Berkshire I just ordered tonight to make the Mars light work correctly, but no sound for now.  Putting an old Ibenlite circuit in the engine. 

I would like to see Bachmann make some logging camp cars, log cars that are not just flat cars and a logging caboose similar to what they are doing in On30.  Espicaly the camp cars, they would be really nice for the HO logging folks.    Mike

Considering the bidding wars i see over the AHM Casey Jones on ebay in recent months, and one cannot run it on anything other than code 100.  This is one of those times, where I think if you build it, they will come.   Pre 1900 is excellent small layout material, with its small engines and cars.  But many modelers want it ready to run, up till now its been mostly a craftsman kit and scratchbuilding scale.   Dont get me wrong, I love the beautifull huge steam engines we have been seeing in the last few years.  But its time to do or redo some of the smaller power.  And that doesnt mean more 0-6-0s or yard engines! 

I to want to see some nice pre 1900 steam engines.  Lets see a new Casey Jones ten wheeler, that is one classic looking Rodgers built machine, you can do both the 384 and 382, 384 was Casey's assigned engine, and 382 was engineer Sam Tate's machine that Casey wrecked.  A redo of the Jupiter and 119 is way way over due.  They need to have the drive motor in the engine and not, repeat, not in the tender.  A nice freight 2-8-0 would also be nice, all need to have spectrum detailing and drive trains.  Caseys 638 2-8-0 that was featured at the worlds fair and then based out of water valley on the IC would be a nice size consolidation to produce.  I would put my name down for 1 of everything tonight!   The detail on the old AHM/Rivarossi was fine, just needs RP25 flanges and a better motor/gear ratio.    Mike

I want to see the civil war era 4-4-0s redone with a proper in locomotive drive train, I know it can be done, we have Z scale and beautifull N scale engines, so I know the motor technology is there.  A good running pre 1900 locomotive is despiratly needed.  Espicaly one that is detailed like the post 1900 Richmond 4-4-0 you do now.   A new model of the Casey Jones Rodgers ten wheeler would be another excellent model to see out again.  The old one is beautifull, but with huge flanges and warp drive speed range, it takes quite an effort to make it run on a nice turn of the century layout with proper code rail.  While Athearn/Roundhouse has a couple of models out, they are almost crude compared to even the old AHM/Rivarossi Casey Jones engine.  Take the Richmond 4-4-0's detail and apply it to a proper pre 1900 model.   That whole era of modeling is neglected and wide open to selling product if it was made.  Smaller rolling stock, light weight rail, often just laid on the dirt, wood burning engines or small coal burning.  No automobiles or roads like a more modern layout.  There are loads of kits still on the market for that era, but lacking a good engine to pull it.  Not looking for arguments, but discussion of what could be done with pre 1900 modeling if the models were there to buy.   

As I read more and more of these problems with gears and drive train issues on the climax in both HO and On30, and the shays, Bachmans rush to put the K27 out in Large Scale with issues.  I am seeing a trend of quality control going either out the door or in serious need of some attention by Mr. Riley personaly.  While I love the looks of the On30 Climax with its trucks adhearing to the actual design and operation, I also dont want a shelf queen and an engine that in the future I cant get parts to fix issues that should have been caught in the R&D process.  It makes the older brass engines, while not as finely detailed, solid wheels instead of spoked and motors that are a tad noisy, look like better purchases in the long haul if I plan to operate my layout into the future.   I fear Bachmann is slipping back into the horrible quality range they once were considered by many modelers that got beyond the starter set phase.  Recent years saw a reverse of that trend, I hope this trend of great engines that wont run and parts are lacking stops.   I also hope he posts the gist of that direct email for others here that have or are considering purchasing a Climax engine.   Being upfront with the problem and what will be done to address it, stops many rumors from starting.   Direct emails, while great for the gentlemen with the orignal problem, could also be seen as a way to hide information from others here seeking it.  Keep at em Mr Bachmann, dont let them sweep the problems under the rug so to speak.  This is a real problem that can only grow worse as the models out there age.  If a full set of gears are needed, molded or cast from a different material, then this is what needs to be done.  If Bachmann wont, in time NWSL will probably pick up the ball.   I hope Bachmann makes this right in both scales, HO and On30.   

How about some proper looking narrow gauge track from Bachmann.  Using the HO track was great to get the program off the ground, now that it seems to be flying strong and steady, its time to do some track.  Either set track style or without the roadbed, which in my opinion as most narrow gauge lines, espicaly logging didnt have any ballest.   About the only game is town is expensive Peco from the UK, I think PSC might offer it.  Some affordabe track with proper cross tie length and spacing is despriatly needed in On30 now that we have an awsome selection of locomotives and rolling stock.  Cheers   Mike