Mount Blue also makes two different sized excursion cars. They make nice kits, easy to assemble if you read and follow instructions. I've built a variety of the company's rolling stock kits, just not the two excursion cars.

I change the couplers. KD's are much better.

You hate the spend the money, but you also hate to have your coaches uncouple when operating too.

Get KD whisker couplers with the same shank.

Drop in replacement.

In converting the 4-6-0 to a 4-4-0 in the photo you posted, did you make any changes to the frame, i.e. shortening the frame?

If you can't get someone to make what you want, make it yourself. I would be interested to know how you made the conversion.

As much as I would love to see either the 4-4-0 or 2-6-0, I doubt it would happen.

These little beasts require too broad a turning radius for On30 and I imagine there is a limit to how much alteration can be done to the design to make a model of one of these take the 18 inch curves required for most On30 pikes.

If it can be done, I'll buy two.

I'd by one and then follow your suggestion and promptly convert it to a 4-4-0.

By chance has anyone seen a pre-production model?

The engineering drawings look very promising.

The Kentwood & Southern will be obtaining several for spring excursions.

There is a link to the 2016 Catalog and there is some new On30 stuff - sort of.

18 foot Murphy roof box car in grey with data.
two new paint schemes for passenger coaches.

lots of Porters - don't recall if these went out of production but they are in the new catalog

18 ft. black flat car data only

Most of the locomotives are still in stock.

Here is a link to video of some of the Rio Turbio 2-10-2s in operation.

I would love to see Bachmann manufacture one of these.  Cool locomotives and a very modern steam operation. Used the Porta modifications.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-8_OdndN-M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXBMQMz_3Bw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6KCutcyvEg


These little giants pulled some incredibly long trains without double heading.

There has been considerable speculation of the past couple of years about the slowing of sales in On30.

I am probably wrong, but I think there are two contributing factors:

a) finite number of modelers who use On30
b) locomotive fleet saturation.

I have:

1 BLI C-16
2 2-6-0
1 OF 4-4-0
1 Heisler
1 2-6-6-2
1 OF 2-8-0
1 0-4-2T Porter

3 diesel kitbashes

The prize of the fleet - 1 brass Backwoods Miniatures NG-16 Garratt 2-6-2+2-6-2

That is a lot of motive power for a medium/small layout.

The only reason I bought a Heisler is because its my favorite geared locomotive type. Promptly bashed it with the Backwoods Miniatures kit. Big improvement IMHO.

I would not be surprised if others have fleets like mine. At some point and time, enough motive power is enough. So, you just stop buying more locomotives.

Somehow Bachmann needs to increase the size of the On30 market - tough when you look at the demographics of the hobby, or focus on rolling stock with fewer locomotive pieces being introduced.

I am curious. Where is the On30 market the largest?

Europe or the United States or another region?

I have one of these - a Backwoods Miniatures import. It is my showcase locomotive! It was featured in the On30 Annual a couple of years ago.

Beautiful machine.

Would gladly get another if Bachmann would just do one.

The PBR G-42, an actual 30 inch gauge Garratt would make another great model.

I have used the longest version, don't recall which part number it is. Works like a charm.

Takes a little effort to install ON the coupler, but once on, just put your coupler back.

No more uncoupling issues.

Much needed part AND best of all it is a prototypical solution to the problem of couplers parting on rough track or with too heavy loads compressing truck springs.

If you visit the Yahoo On30 Conspiracy group there is a document in the files section that lists the known radius requirements of all the Bachmann produced locomotives.

Suggested, practical and extreme radius are listed as well, I think, as possible modifications or limitations to achieve the radius in question.

Worth looking at.

The link below will take you to an online history of the 2 ft. SAR railways.

https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-3-1/joubertina-avontuur

The famous NG-16 Garratts ran there. These were the largest 2 ft. gauge locomotives ever built and had almost the same tractive effort as a Rio Grande K-27.

The next largest/most powerful locomotives used on this line were NG-15's which could hit 40 mph! These were/are 2-8-2s and that were designed to take really tight curves - the lead driver was tied to the pony truck. These were essentially 4-6-2's with the first wheel of the pony truck being powered.

These could be "Americanized" or serve as the source for unlimited bashes into 2-8-2s in On30!

Just a thought. Neat locomotive.

None of my Bachmann locomotives are in original condition. All have been modified in some way.

I would love to see another locomotive like the 2-6-0. It was the easiest to modify, except for the DCC installation.

I would also think more generic locomotives that would fit either a two foot or a three foot prototype might lead to more sales with cross scalers buying to convert.

I know of quite a few modelers whose 2-6-0s are now On3. While cool, many of the locomotives that follow specific 30 inch prototypes don't lend themselves to converting to other gauges.

My 2-6-6-2 wound up looking great, to my way of thinking, after its modifications, but is still a small, but long, locomotive. I doubt there are many 3 ft.versions and while it would make a good sized 2 ft. loco, I doubt many were converted.