I am 37.
I have both the Walthers and the Con-cor superliner cars.
The Walthers cars have body mounted couples, which make the navigation of the tighter turns difficult, or in some cases, impossible.

The Con-Cor cars have truck mounted couplers, so the couplers turn with the wheels, and stay on the tighter turns easier.

I also have (at last count) 12 AMD-103's by Athearn. Same issue. The body mounted couplers tend to force derailments on the smaller turns.

Most of my equipment is on the 33 and 35 inch radius made by Bachmann EZ track, and they work real nice there.

I hope this is helpful.

Jonathan

I finally got a holf of Bridget.
I still have another 6 to 8 weeks to wait.
Oh well.
Such as life.
Thank you all for the input.
Jonathan

My name is JOnathan Murphy, currently residing in Bucksport, ME.

What used to be a Maine Central Branch line, now owned by guilford rail corp, runs through to the mill at least twice a day, and sometimes a couple of nights a week.

My Dad got me started in model RR when I was 6, and sadly, my first great layout was lost to a house fire when I was 19. After college, marriage, and three childre (one whom is out on his own now) I've built a 20'x20' "shed" in the back yard that will, ultimately hold my HO layout. I have many trains that I have collected over the eyars, but so far, have only been shelf models. My wife tells me if I stop spending money on trains, and start spending money on the shed, I may actually get the layout going, but you know ... something comes along ... once in a lifetime opportunity .... at last count I had 56 powered locomotives, probably a third of them Bachmann.

I am almost 40 now, I expect the layout will be done sometime close to retirement. 

Okay, maybe the question to ask now should be,  "Can I purchase the power units individually, or do I stillhave to buy them as a set with the dummy?"

I am almost afraid to ask after the Service question went wild, but hwere goes.

Is it possible to buy powered chasis of the Acela engine so I can make both ends of the set powered?

I have two complete equipment sets with loco's, and just for fun, I pyut the two powered ones together, and man !!!  what a performance enhancment!!!  It didn't looses any speed on the grades or stutter thru turns or anything!!!  I just don't want to buy two more engine sets, and then have 4 dummy's sitting around collecting  dust.

Later,

Jonathan

Put a resistor in series with the light bulb in the car. 1 K ohm usually works out well.

I got a set of Flying Yankee Decales from Highball Graphice (www.mgdecales.com)  and I am planning on making a "Looks almost like" the Flying Yankee with a Con-Cor pioneer zephyr set.

I did not realize there was a difference in the body styles, but I already ordered the set, and I cannot affoard the add-on car to just discard the other one. I guess we all live and learn.

Jonathan

Thank you all for the input. I too have had haphazzard replies to emails and such, but of the 19 Bachmann powered locomotives I own, this was the only problem I have had, so I have have never had to deal with their service department. I was just wondering how long it would take. If there are people out there still waiting for something they sent in December,, then I know mine will be behind there's. Maybe they'll hire some more tech's.
Jonathan

I vote fpr the different road numbers, and I think on some items, they are doing this. I have 2 complete 5 unit Acela trains, and there are different road numbers all the way down the line.  Of course, to make the prototypically correct, I need another coach on each one, so a couple more would be nice, but they are out there.

How long does it usually take the Bachmann Shop to do a waranty repair? I sent my Class J #603 to them, and according to tracking info, they've had it since Jan 29th.  I was just wondering if I should expect it back this year or next?\Thanx
Jonathan