Hey Bob. Thanks for your info but what are you doing up at this time of the night? The shop price from this particular store over here is $NZ 269.00 or about $US340.00 so it looks like a pretty good deal and I think I'll grab it.
  I do live in NZ not Aussie and we don't have VAT as they do in the UK but we have something very similar called GST, known as Grab Snatch and Take.
  Once again, thanks for your help.  Cheers from this side of the Pacific.  Rob.

HI from Kiwiland. Can someone please shed some light on a Bachmann trainset that I have just seen. I have just returned from a hobby show, lots of trains, and one of the retailers there had a Bachmann  diesel set that had two DCC locos and the digital controller included with it in the box. Along with them came four pieces of rolling stock and quite a bit of EZ track. I can't find this set listed anywhere, and as I want to change to DCC it seems like the best way to go, but before buying I want to check the US price first. Cheers Rob.  

 Hi from NZ. The 4-6-2 loco you have posted here is the "Kingston Flyer" based in the south island of NZ as a tourist ride/attraction. All of the NZ railways were and are still 3'6". I'm not an On30 modeler but it is gaining on me. I do have some fine pix of some historical locos,including a lovely 2-4-4-2 artic and more all in 3'6".If they would be of  intrest to some of you I'll put them up for you when I get home in a couple of weeks. Cheers KiwiRob.   

Re your enquiry about the Bachmann 2-6-6-2. I would just like to add my two cents worth. Although I don't have sound (yet) the loco is great. It pulls well and I have had no trouble with tracking through points (switches) both Atlas and Peco. I did have a drive train problem when I first got it, but I fixed that and it's now a hard working member on my roster. Rob,NZ.   

Hi, I just had a look at your pics,great layout and I hope you post more as you progress. Cheers Rob in NZ.

Hi, I don't know if this will help you at all but I recieved a 2-6-2 two days ago which I won in an auction here in NZ. It was made by Mantua, I think a fair while ago, and seems to be reasonably detailed (apart from the tender being 15 feet from the loco,I've shortened the draw bar already)and a reasonable runner.Maybe it's another option. Cheers Rob.

A very merry Christmas to you all and a happy new year. Have a great  holiday time and God bless. Rob, NZ.

From this side of  the world I just have to say I loved it, thanks a lot. Now Santa I wanna Big boy anna ...... Kiwi Rob.

Hi there. Just going to put in my two cents worth as I feel this is an interesting subject. When I was seven my parents went away for a short time and left me with what I wanted more than anything, an electric train set. After much searching and looking they chose Marklin and although I now model with other brands that train set did stirling service for many many years. It was well made, reliable and almost indestructable but you must also realise that it was something that I had wanted and even at that age I looked after it and it lasted many many years. Maybe its another brand you could look at. Cheers rob.

Hi there from Kiwiland and seasons greetings to all.(not forgetting the reason for the season) but now to business. I have just purchased a couple of elderly Riverossi locos off "Trade me" here in NZ, which is an on line public auction a bit like E-bay. The locos are a cab forward and a 2-8-4 both of which have been in storage for about ten to twelve years or so since they were last used, and I'd say that they have had a fair bit of use. Afte a tear down,a fair bit of corrective surgery and a lube they now perform probably as good as when new and this is the problem.
They both have the motor in the cab, ugly, they are also noisy at slow speed. Has there ever been a conversion kit to change these to a can motor or has anyone out there done anything like this. I can't see it being too hard but if someone has walked this path before it could be a great help.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year from this side of the globe,Robman. 

Gene.
  I had a similar situation on a previous layout and I agree with Sheldon in making it two longer pieces where you can join it at a more suitable place. I messed around trying to put in a 2" or so piece and it drove me mad so I went with the aforementioned option. Best of luck.  KiwiRob.

Just wondering if you have thought about running some of the smaller artics as I do. They work great on the smaller radius curves and as you are hauling frieght cars they should fit right in. The Bachmann 2-6-6-2 and the Mantua loggers could be a starting point. Cheers KiwiRob.

 Interesting topic. Having just got back into RRing I am having a bit of a worry over a suitable road name. My loco roster so far is;
1x 2-6-6-2  Bachmann artic
1x 2-6-6-2  Mantua artic with tender
1x  4-8-4     Bachmann Niagra
2x  small   0-6-0  swithers of unknown origin
About sixty pieces of rolling stock, 1930's to mid 50's,(Roundhouse & Athearn) with a good number of coal hoppers,box cars, flats etc. The road name that I have arrived at is "Pacific Southern" and I hope this will put me in the right geographical location for a coal and timber RR. If I'm completely off the tracks here, give me some pointers.  Cheers KiwiRob. 

 Hey guys, Sorry i didn't see these messages sooner but I've been away working (got to pay for the trains somehow). Rick, I hope you got your 2-6-6-2 fixed, it seems that you may have the same problem that I had, check that knuckle drive on the other end of the worm drive shaft. my one appeared to be tight but with just a little pressure was in fact loose. I presume that you got your loco apart but if not this is how I proceeded.
1st the screw under the dome then the cab. The next step after taking off the boiler was to make a diagram of the PC board connections (I did this inside the box lid ready for next time so I won't loose it) then I carefully pulled the wires off the board and slid them through the cast weight. Undo the two screws and lift of the weight and presto, there you are.Upon first inspection chesk that the saddle clamp is seatted properly  and not broken as mine was. Hope this helps, stay on the rails Kiwirob.

Hi guys. I have seen advertised recently a great small loco called a Hiesler and as I need to increase my small loco roster it looks like a great addition. What I want to know is what were they mostly used for,timber,logging, coal or just general use? You are probably aware that the loco I'm talking about is made by Rivarossi, any comments regarding running, pulling power etc? Thanks in advance for any advice. Rob.