Mr Bach-man -

Firstly, it was great meeting you in Sacramento.

Here are a couple rollingstock ideas -

Four wheel caboose

Short combine

MoW cars

Westcoast beer reefers 

-John

Check out Backwoods Miniatures.  They have a vertical boiler loco kit.

Here's a link to a picture from their site.

http://www.backwoodsminiatures.com/xvbt02.jpg

The early Davenports have a circuit board which is DCC ready.  However, they don't have a socket.  They have solder tabs at the edge of the board.

-John

I have a couple comments for you.

On item #1 - Aestetics are 'beauty in the eye of the beholder'.   Some feel things look fine below 18" and some don't.  The Climax, Shay and Porter can operate on 18" (and somewhat lower radii) with cars attached.  The Forney (with cars) in my experience needs 22" or higher.

On item #2 - If you can hold off until Nov, Bachmann will begin shipping the Shays with sound (See recent announcements).

On item #3 - 70, 83, and 100 are the choices.  Which to pick depends on the products you plan to use and what looks right to your eye.  Peco is code 100.  MicroEngineering offers code 70, 83 and 100.

On item #4 - This also depends a bit on product selection.  Peco's line of O-16.5/On30 has exactly 3 choices LH, RH and Wye.  MicroEngineering's line of On30 track has 2 choices LH & RH (#5's).  If you build 'em yourself, you have more flexibility. 

-John

Try looking at the banner page for the Texas Outlaws on Yahoo.  They have a pic of the show samples next to the 2-8-0.

To my eyes, it is not like the Mt Gretna nor the Brazilian.

-John

Bach-Man -

Will these two new versions use the same sound as in the Forney?

-John

1) Northern California - at home, and with modules. 

2) Mostly kits.

3) 1900 - 1940

4) Mostly light weight modules.  Just retired semi-permanent 1x4 framed home layout.  Home was (and will be) about 10x10.  Away from home and combined with others, layout is about 24 x36.

-John