Dear Bach Man

The New York toy fair is coming up in about 3 weeks time. I know that Bachman's major announcements (such as new locomotives) are, at least for On30,  generally made at the NMRA convention in summer, however will anything, such as new versions of existing items, be announced for On30 at New York?

I know you will give no hint as to what any announcement might be.

Hamish

Dear Bach Man

Are there likely to be any announcements of new On30 items at iHobby? I am not asking you to reveal what they might be, I simply want to know if I should be anticipating.

I realise that these days the main time for On30 product announcements is the NMRA convention and I would not expect a brand new locomotive or other major item, given the NMRA announcements of the 2-6-6-2 and Sandy River caboose, however will anything at all, such as new versions of existing items, be announced?

Hamish

Dear Bach Man

Can you tell me the length of the new Sandy River type caboose?

Many thanks

Hamish K

The Walthers site is showing the undecorated 0-4-2 Porter as arriving on the 14 September 2009.  As the 2009 Bachmann catalogue shows no On30 Porters at all (0-4-0 or 0-4-2) what is the story? Did Walthers find a cache of these locos somewhere? or has Bachmann decided to do another run after all?

I am aware that there quite a few shops with stocks of old Porters, but the Walthers site suggests that these locos are not currently in stock but arriving shortly.

Hamish

In a thread below there was an off topic discussion of tank locomotives that understandably annoyed the thread originator. However as it is an interesting topic I have started this thread. In the earlier posts suggested that there were no standard gauge main of branch line tank locos in the USA apart from switchers. Although tank locomotives were much less common in North America compared to the UK, Europe or even Australia there were some. A common use world wide for tank locomotives was for suburban passenger (commuter) services. The CNJ  had 2-6-2t and 4-6-4t locomotives for this. The Boston and Albany used  4-6-6t s in suburban service. In Canada both the Candian Pacific and Canadian National had 4-6-4t locos.

Forneys are a type of tank locomotive. They were used on standard gauge elevated lines before these were electrified. They were also sometimes used on other duties, e.g. the Illinois Central had 2-4-4t locomotives in suburban service.

Mason bogies are also tank locomotives. While most commonly associated with narrow gauge there were standard gauge examples.

I have no doubt that there were other USA and Canadian standard gauge tank locomotives used in roles other than switching or industrial use.

Hamish

The Ingenio Angelina 2-6-6-2 has long been a favourite of mine. For information on the prototype see

http://loggingmallets.railfan.net/export/ingenio9.htm


and for a photo
http://narrowmind.railfan.net/2662_Ingenio_9.JPG

It's great to see Bachmann making another genuine 30 inch gauge loco, congratulations!!!

Hamish

The new HO excursion cars just announced (see home page) are exactly what I have been hoping for in ON30. Surley we won't have to wait at least another 12 months for them in ON30?

Hamish

Dear Bach Man

Are you going to post a list of new items announced at the Toy Fair and/or included in the new catalogue?  Various, not always consistent, lists are appearing on various dealers sites etc. While their appears to be little brand new, apart from the LS Thomas, there are some re-issues (e.g. the HO 0-6-0t) and some new liveries etc. An official list from Bachmann would be appreciated.

Thanks

Hamish

In the past Bachmann announced new models at a major show in the fall (the show varied a bit between years) and also at the New York Toy Fair, with the fall show having most brand new items. Then Bachmann changed its policy to make announcements nearer the actual release dates (a good idea!) and stated that announcements would be made several times a year, and could be at any time.  In the last couple of years most announcements have been at the NMRA convention in summer, with a few at the Toy Fair and some at other times - and a couple of items arrived without being announced. On the On30 board the Bach Man has stated that the next On30 items will be announced at the NMRA convention. So what is the current policy (for all scales)?  Most announcements at the NMRA convention and a few at the Toy Fair? - or may we expect announcements at other times as well?

Also will you be posting a list of items announced at the Toy Fair? - I know there were some HO and the Large Scale Thomas - anything else?

Hamish

I see on the Large Scale board a request for a class A Climax. One would be nice in ON30 as well, although I would not expect it to appear until after a Heisler (a Heisler has already been made in Large Scale). Still one can hope for both.

Hamish

I know I am not the only one intrigued by Bachmann's decison to release the OF 4-4-0. As it arrived less than a year after the inside frame 4-4-0 it was clearly planned before that release. While it is quite a different loco it appears to share quite a few parts. This is in fact prototypical - Baldwin made standard designs that had a lot of common parts, and you could have mix and match variations. Is Bachmann planning to take this further - e.g. use the boiler and superstructure of the OF 4-4-0 to make different wheel arrangements, perhaps an OF  2-6-2? This could be close to the Maine 2 foot locos and some 30 inch gauge 2-6-2s that went to Mexico and other countries. Of course with a tender OF 2-6-2 a tank version, along the lines of one of the Hawaiian 2-6-2t or 0-6-2t OF locos might be possible. Or  even the Australian  "Puffing Billy" 2-6-2t (a standard Baldwin design).  Other locos, with different wheel arrangements, would also be possible using at least some common parts.

Hamish

Dear Bach Man

Perhaps you can clarify a point that is confusing me. In a post on this board on 26 July DTO reported that you told him the OF 4-4-0 was based on the last 4-4-0 produced by Baldwin in 1945. I have seen that claim on other boards as well. The last 4-4-0 made by Baldwin was in 1945 for the United Railroads of Yucatan, Mexico. That railroad is 36 inch gauge. I have not seen a photo or drawing of that loco.

It is assumed by many that the prototype is the preserved 30 inch gauge Brazilian loco EFOM #22, a loco made in 1912. Drawings of that loco do seem to match the Bachmann model very closely.

So which is it? I am aware that Baldwin made standard designs, and that these could be sold to different railroads over a perod of years.

Hamish

I note from the calendar on this site that iHobby is on this week. Will Bachmann be making any announcements there?

Hamish

Dear Bach Man

Has Bachmann announced anything new for ON30 at the convention? Given the recent motive power announcements I suspect this is unlikley, but you never know. Almost certainly no motive power (despite those hoping for a Heisler, first requested long before the 4-6-0 was suggested), but perhaps some rolling stock?

Hamish

Bachmann in the UK have released Ernie 1, a track inspection vehicle, as part of their "Underground Ernie" range of trains for those too young for Thomas! However Bachmann UK comments that Ernie 1 is also ideal as an inexpensive powered unit for O16.5 or Oe, the european equivelents of On30 and that it is well suited for modifying. Ernie 1 runs on HO track. Seehttp://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6003&st=0&p=59859&#entry59859 for more information.

Hamish

Dear Bach Man

Have you had any chance to obtain the measurements of the new ON30 items? In particular I am interested in the length of the railbus, both the railbus by itself and the combined length with its trailer, and the OF 4-4-0.
Also has there been any progress in obtaining a comparison photo of the OF and IF 4-4-0?

Many thanks

Hamish

Dear Bach Man

There has been some suggestion, including by myself, that the new HO/N excursion cars be made in ON30. Now that more information on these is available I would like to suggestion that some alterations be made in the event of ON30 excursion cars appearing. With the HO/N cars the seats face forwards and are fixed in position. This makes it difficult to use them in situations where the locomotive runs around the cars at the terminus and hauls them back in the other direction. That would be the situation for excursions services on my line, and occurs often enough in real life. Therefore I ask that if ON30 excursion cars are made thay either have longitudinal seating (my preference) or, if they have cross seating, the backs of the seats flip so that they can face in either direction. Alternatively the seats could be in bays, facing each other.

Hamish

Dear Bachmann

I may seem churlish to complain about what has not been announced in the light of the recently announced motive power goodies (even though the 4-6-0 leaves me cold), but no expansion to rolling stock, (apart from the railbus trailer) means that this year will be the first for quite a few years that there has been no new rolling stock item. Perhaps there are more announcements to come? maybe at the narrow gauge convention?

I note the release of the excursion cars in HO and N. Given that they are based on Jackson and Sharpe cars an ON30 version would seem very feasible. Should I start anticipating?

On another note spare a thought for the Heisler fans - they have been waiting patiently for many years now, still with no joy. Perhaps if they had been ruder? (Personally I am not in the market for a Heisler as none came to Australia, but I feel sorry for those who have been waiting so long.)

Hamish



Hamish

Dear Bachmann

Could you please clarify whether this loco is the same size as the inside frame 4-4-0 or rather larger as some people are claiming? A comparative photo of the two would be most welcome and a list of the differences if possible.

Many thanks for this loco and the railbus.

Hamish

Dear Bachmann

Now that it is official I have a question concerning the railbus - photos have shown an electrical plug in connection between the railbus and the trailer, with the two couplesd by an ordinary knuckle coupler. What funtions are served by the plug in connection? Are there any issues with running the railbus without the trailer, or for that matter the trailer separately (hauled by another loco)?

My suggestion - Bachmann consider making a 4 wheeled open gondola or work car that was suitable as a freight trailer for the railbus. This was quite common in many parts of the world. Of course such a car could have many other uses (eg. work cars for mines etc.) apart from as a trailer for the railbus.

Hamish