I don't think Bachmann does any custom work like this, so it's up to each person, who has either the skill and equipment to do the bashing, or the cash to pay someone who has the skill and equipment.

Now, the Bach-Man, he certainly has skills and equipment, but I think he's too busy building display layouts and keeping this board civilized to spend much time bashing locos.  But I could be wrong.

Walthers is showing the MSRP, the suggested retail price.  Caboose is showing the street price.  You might even find lower prices at other outlets, eventually.

Go to the source...  Walthers New Product Announcements

http://www.walthers.com/exec/newproducts/cr/200707/Locomotive

I've read comments from a few folks who have seen the real Bachmann loco, and they agree that it's nicely proportioned.  And small.  I think they indicated that the modern version looks more like this, with the drivers a little closer together.



Hopefully some photos will leak out of Detroit soon, and we'll find out for sure.  That's the advantage of having announcements closer to the release date -- By the time the announcement is made, there's a pilot model to answer all of these questions.

What we really need are some shots from the Train Show of the On30 version.    I've heard that it's a gem, a nicely composed model.  Anyone going to Detroit?

Personally, I'm hyped.  Once again, Bachmann has simplified my wife's Christmas shopping.  Now that I think about it, a few years ago, right after the Bachmann announcements for the upcoming year were made, I realized that since a 4-4-0 wasn't in that round of announcements, there wouldn't be one made for at least 2 years.  So, when I saw a good price on the Large Scale 4-4-0, I bought one, and it remains my only Large Scale purchase.  Looks great in the office.

Looking forward to the photos.

I did some quick math, and the difference between a 1:48 and a 1:50 car of this size is about 12/100".  My On30 track is already 3/32" out of whack, compared to On3 track, so I can live with the difference.  To me, the only problem is that we are going to see is that these same vehicles will show up on everyone's layout, until we start bashing them.  Some of Keith Wiseman's metal kits would certainly break up the monotony.

http://www.locopainter.com/store/

If the Bach-Man needs to delete this, no problem, but here is the link to the new Athearn vehicles:
http://www.athearn.com/Newsletter/071707/50_Model_A_071707.jpg

Blast it!  Just when the anticipation was wearing off, they pull me back in.

You might want to look for info from John Teal in the UK, who has an outdoor On30 layout, as well as an indoor layout for the winter months.  He's gone into detail on his layout and construction techniques over on the On30 Conspiracy Group, on Yahoo, and he's also posted a few movies on Youtube. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onbdUiQrV7E

P.S. I've heard that Peco track is the only brand that uses UV-resistant plastic.  That would be critical for a layout that spends any significant time outdoors.

Here are a couple of links to Australian modeling sites.  They're not all On30, not all 30", but are mostly narrow gauge.

http://members.optushome.com.au/jdennis/ng_webex.html

http://lauriegreen.info/

If it's Windows XP, you can format a floppy by opening My Computer, right-clicking on the A: icon [usually at the top], and then picking format on the drop-down menu.  I think there is an option to make the disk bootable.  I can't test it, since I can't find any floppies around here.

Or, remove the hard drive in question, and install it as a secondary drive in another PC.  That should give you time to back up your data, assuming that the hard drive isn't dead.  And it might be.

Always back up your data, especially your train data!

See if this link works:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=22527

Thanks for the pictures, Bob.  Sorry to hear attendance was down.

I've thought about modifying my On30 equipment to run on On3 track, if for no other reason than to pacify the rivet counters.  But when I consider the cost, in both dollars and time, of buying new trucks for rolling stock and the extensive modifications to some of the locomotives so they will run on On3 track, it's just not worth it.  It would take a great deal of time away from other projects, like lettering rolling stock, or building structures, or someday building a functional layout.

At the end of the day, we are talking about a difference of, what, 3/32", between On30 and On3 track?  I can live with that.

Personally, I think that's a great idea Harold.  For the tooling costs of new domes, cab, smokestack, and maybe a fancy bell, you've got a very different loco.  I'm sure Bachmann can handle the paint schemes, and this version could also have DCC installed, ready for sound.

I just received a bunch of the low arch-bar trucks from Wholesale Trains, at a pretty good price.  It looks like they are also in stock at Caboose Hobbies and Trainworld, for those of us without a Local Hobby Shop.  For those of you with a LHS, count your blessings.  And order some trucks now, "while supplies last."