I've been thinking about this one for awhile now...Glad someone is doing it before me. I'm also thinking about taking a light pacific and detailing it into a E2a. Good Luck!

-Brad

I don't see consist information but it looks like a good place to look around.

http://www.amtrak.com/sunset-limited-train

Happy hunting,

Brad

QuoteI have yet to meet a die hard steam locomotive aficianado like myself in my generation unless the Thomas line spewed out a few, but I wouldn't rely on those numbers alone.

22 years old and my fleet is 99% steam. I own one brass loco (2trk shay) and am currently saving for a N&W 4-8-0. The problem is I'm trying to pay off college, move out of my parents house, and I drive a 1994 GMC Sierra that is ready to die. So locomotives and modeling in general have really taken the back burner.

Thomas did play a big role in it for me.

Kids these days do think modern...but they do get excited and beg for the throttle when my N&W y6b 2-8-8-2 comes around the corner hauling 60 hoppers.


-Brad

QuoteSP, B&O, N&W were notorious for not cleaning their engines

In the mid to late 50's this might be true of the N&W, but earlier than that the were know for keeping them pretty clean.

-Brad

Jerry,

I do own the EZ command, not the companion. I understood his question to mean that one could operate a locomotive via the campanion while is unplugged, (As is common with some other systems) which is not the case. Guess I should have read the question more carefully...My mistake!

-Brad

QuoteAll they would have to do is add sound like they did for the Mogul

In Bachmann's defense, they did more then "just add sound". Take a photo of there old 2-6-0 next to the new and you'll see it's different.

I would like to see more small+ mid sized steam models as well.

-Brad

QuoteCan the walk around companions for the EZ Command be unplugged and have the trains run on memory while moving from one panel to another?

No!

-Brad

Absolutely. Though I would prefer the modified tender already included.

Still waiting on Bachmann to do a two truck shay.

-Brad

Ah, forgive for misinterpreting your question. You should post a picture of the two side by side. I thought you ment the tender conected to the J and the aux.

QuoteJust received the black aux. water tender.  I was surprised at the small size.  I was expecting the same size as the original aux. water tender produced to match the "J".  That tender was about the same size as the "J's" coal tender.  The black tender is considerably smaller.  Are both of these tenders accurate as far as scale is concerned.?

The quick and dirty answer is yes. Its called an auxiliary tender for a reason...It only hauled extra water, not coal and water like a regular tender. The Bachmann model is based on the N&W prototype but Bachmann lettered it for multiple roads. I don't know what you were expecting, but it's correct. Hope this helps!

-Brad

opps! I forgot the 0-6-0 has DCC now, but it doesn't have sound.

I think of these 4 options you should sacrifice on the smoke...You'll be happier in the long run.

-Brad

Quotewouldn't look for it any time soon. Forneys are a special interest loco, even to the slim gaugers and geared loco enthusiasts. Bachmann is a corporation in the hobby to make money. There is no way they could pay the huge development costs for a new loco, especially one which wouldn't be easy to adapt to an existing chassis, and sell it at a cost that the relatively few potential buyers could afford while allowing the company to make a profit.

This is one business model and I agree that Bachmann tends to follow it. However there are other business models were rarer locomotives do turn a profit. There are other companies that make trains this way and are still in business. All this to say: Bachmann may not make it…that doesn’t mean it won’t be made.

-Brad

QuoteDoes Bachmann make a DCC Steam Locomotive that has smoke, sound, and lights already on board?

Yes with everything except the smoke...

-Brad

Rich,

Thank you for posting this! I have a part time job as an Audio Tech and this stuff is great. I have saved it so I can read the whole thing at a later date. Sound systems for locomotives have come a long way but I feel they have a long way yet to go.

Thanks again,
Brad

QuoteYou've gotten some good advice here so far.  You are smart in taking the time to think about this a bit before diving in.  There is a tendency in this hobby for newcomers to buy everything in sight with no rhyme or reason. By the time they find what they really like, they have a lot of money tied up in stuff that really doesn't help them achieve their goal

I will second this! It's best to decide on (at the very least) a railroad to model. That way you will only buy equipment for your road. That will help cut cost. Also, decide on a time period. That way you will really focus your attention. Some people will disagree with this philosophy and say do what you want it's your railroad. They are right about that! It's your railroad, bend the rules, make your own rules, rewrite history if you wish...its part of the fun! It's just a suggestion that has helped me out.

By my own admission...I do sometimes break my own rule for that pretty locomotive at the store.

Welcome and happy railroading!

-Brad