Len, thank you!

Thomas

Today my Thunder Chief trainset has arrived. While painting, lettering and couplers are well above the usual trainset stuff, I think the plastic wheelsets of the wagons are a let down. True, the wagons run well enough and don`t wobble but I think in the long term metal wheelsets are preferable as in my experience the rails stay cleaner.

So I want metal ones - please could someone tell me whether the 33" wheel sets (item 42904) are the right ones?

As Bachmann put the Nickel Silver track and a high quality sound value F7 into this set, I wonder if it is really necessary to save a few bucks by providing plastic wheelsets instead of the nice wheelsets the silver series fright cars come with. Wouldn`t it be better for the image if all components are to the same high standard? After all there are cheaper trainsets available for the very price sensitive buyers.

I can`t see Bachmann doing the Alco T-6. I think that the T-6 would be more likely come as a limited production run in brass.
But I hope that a NW2 is not an unlikely candidate  for Bachmann to bring woith lots of them used for a long time in an abundance of liveries. And they already did all the prototype research for the N scale one.

OK Bachmann, here is my preorder for 2 Santa Fe NW2 in zebra stripe and a cow and calf in blue/yellow to be delivered before december 24th 

ps: sound value, of course!

Having just read the  Model Railroader review of the Bachmann N scale EMD NW2 I now wish Bachmann could do it in H0 scale, too. It could be used on layouts large and small and there are lots of livery possibilities - so what about it, any chances Bachmann could do it, sound value maybe? My Santa Fe S4s could need some companions....

Thomas

Thanks for this Information, I will not run more than 3 locos at the same time.

Thomas

I am astonished that the Yardmaster did not recommand it so I will do it:
The E-Z Track Planning Guide and Layout Book by Chris Lane and Lee Riley
If I could only buy one book I would choose this one.
This book provides Information about how to start, choosing scale, layout style, location, construction, wiring and other electrical matters, track basics and planning, scenery and landscaping, weathering of rooling stock. There are some very nice layouts explained in the book, the timesaver switching puzzle, a quarry and mining layout, a suggestion to model the Northeast Corridor in modest space....
I would recommand this one as a primer and if the bug really has bitten and you need much more information what about the Model Railroader All Access Pass that gives you all the contents of all issues ever published?

Why should not these locos be reissued? The detail is still up to date and the market Arena not to be flooded by the same locos from another producer. I think it is just that the market is smaller for more costly high end models and they will wait for the demand to grow big enough
that the retailers will risk substantial orders to fill the shelves. The tooling costs must have been high for these models so I could not see a reason not to bring them back again. I sure would buy sind.

Yardmaster % Hunt, thank you for your fast response!

I think this could work for me, or to be more precise to keep my children interested in running trains with dad (me).

Thomas

Please could someone enlighten me on some questions regarding the Blue Lightning - E-Z App™ Train Control as I want to add Santa Fe and Western Pacific FTs to my roster?

1) Are these locos fitted with decoders that only can be controlled using a Bluetooth-supported smart device or are these like the DCC locos that can be run using a DCC command control center or an analogue controller?

2) Is the sound chip and speaker in the loco or is the sound only available on the Bluetooth-supported smart device?

3) "uses new Bluetooth Smart technology that allows you to run trains from up to 100 feet away" - will it work on a layout    with tunnels?

4) "Android version will follow" - does this mean a different loco or a different app? For example if I buy a new smartphone and decide that I want an iphone instead of my android phone will I still be able to run my loco?

Thomas
 

Thank you all for your valuable information.

Now to bring this thread out of the deep water and back to more board related matters:
Have you ever fancied to run one of this nice hot shot intermodal trains but found your layout to small?
In the MBI 1997 Railroad Color History book "Santa Fe Railway" I found some inspiration to order some more rolling stock.
A picture on page 60 shows a train from the early days of the intermodal Super C service, this train has a really layout friendly train lenght: A Santa Fe warbonnet F7A+F7B lashup, a SINGLE flatcar with trailer and a caboose. I intend to run a similar train on my layout and will give it priority over all other trains - that should prevent the local crews from getting lazy!
My version of this train:
1x Santa Fe (Red & Silver) - F7A - DCC Sound Value item 64301
1x Santa Fe (Red & Silver) - F7B - DCC Sound Value item 64401
2x Santa Fe 52ft flat car w/ Navajo Freight Lines 35ft Trailer item 16701 (I like the Navajo trailer!)
1x Santa Fe - 36' Wide-Vision Caboose item 17702

To have some variety I ordered:
Santa Fe - Red Truck Cab & 2 Piggyback Trailers  item 42232
Santa Fe - 52' Flat Car item 17302

Of course this is not for the prototype conscious but for me it will do the job to run a hot freight train if not in fact so in spirit.

Thomas

Quote from: RAM on March 15, 2015, 11:02:23 PM
The depot is about what we have in Okhoma and eastern Kansas.  How ever the far end was baggage and on this end is an open air waiting room.  Most of them are red brick because we had some many brick plants along the lines. The freight house I think is really a REA and not a freight house. 

So I could add a REA wagon to my passenger train.
Just found that Walhters has a new Santa Fe depot that I think is red brick and I am considering this as my 2nd depot - but if it is from a different region will it look right on the layout?
https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-4055

I wanted some buildings that looked "Santa Fe" and searched the web. Found some that I liked and ordered them. Buildings arrived last friday but I will not start building until some trackwork is done.





What do you think - will these look the part on a Santa Fe layout?

Thomas

It is some time since the H16-44 has been available.
What about bringing it back into the range? As a sound value loco?
While I would buy at least two if available in Santa Fe, I like the look of this loco I could even buy one if not in Santa Fe.....
Thomas

Today I got my Santa Fe Warbonnet F7 ready for the road.
I have 3 of them, all sound value: 2 A units and 1 B unit.
For the time being I run it as A-B-A set but my planned layout really is too small for it. When funds permit I will buy another A unit and run two sets, one as A-A and the other one as A-B.

The speed of the 3 units was a perfect match and all three run smooth and silent (when sound is off) - great quality from Bachmann!

Here are the CV values that I choose:
CV2=0
CV3=16
CV4=12
CV5=80
CV6=40
CV25=0
CV29=6 for  A and B and CV29=7 for the 2nd A unit
CV128=60
CV131=110

Now I am looking forward for my trainset to arrive with the sound value F7 in the Santa Fe blue freight scheme. It is a pity that this loco is not available as single loco as I would buy a 2nd one but do not wish to buy a 2nd trainset - Bachmann what about it?

Thomas

Thank you all for your input, much appreciated!
I tried an improved trackplan: