Hi: I am an Alaska collector and just purchased on EBay the WP&YR G set from 2010. I found out that it was from 2010 from your office and then found a used catalogue from 2010 to confirm it. I have two questions. First, I was told that this set has never been opened or run. When I look at the inside Styrofoam cradle that the cars are in I found a large indentation to the left of the Lake Spirit Car and the power pack. It looks like something should have been in that space, although the carton contents seem to match up. I was wondering why such an empty space would be left that way with nothing there. Could you please check to see if in fact that was the way it was made or is there in fact something missing. Also, since it is supposed to be un opened I do not know if there is an instruction manual with the set. That being the case could I order another IB so as not to disturb the unopened set. Anything else you can tell me about the set would be helpful (like how many were made, is it rare to find in this shape). Thank you in advance for your help. By the way since I am an Alaska collector I have all versions of your McKinley Explorer sets. Thanks again. Don,
Hi Don,
I document the history of Bachmann Large (G) Scale trains, but I do not work for Bachmann Trains. I am guessing the set you got is:
90059 WP&Y White Pass & Yukon 2007 2012 Pass 14 Annie Coach #214 Lake Spirit Observation #240 Lake Bennett
90059 Notes: New in 2007 This is the first non-Christmas set with an Annie and the first non Christmas Catalog set with an Annie no lights in passenger cars.
This set is listed as a "Limited Edition" set, but I have never been able to learn how many were actually made, It would be great if we could get an answer from Bachmann about the quantity.
If I am correct about what you have, your set first came out in 2007 and it last appeared in the catalog in 2012. it was the first set with the Anniversary 4-6-0 Locomotive that was not a christmas set. The Anniversary 4-6-0 locomotive first came out in 2000 and was very up scale with a new mechanism which has become known as the version 5 chassis. It has many metal detail parts and metal siderods and the chassis is very trouble free when properly taken care of.
If you got the set on Ebay from other than a Bachmann Authorized Dealer and it was not sealed, it is most likely not absolutely brand new, but it is impossible to tell for sure. The only things I know of that was in the sets that was not on the contents list is a DVD with information on it. So you should have a DVD. There are also the track clips to hold the track sections together and of course the power supply with the speed controller. The photos I have do show an instruction manual so you should have one as well. Here is a link to an online copy:
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/Big_Hauler_Instructions.pdf
Bachmann has never released the number of sets made in recent years. They did have some limited run sets starting around the early 90's and ending in 2000. They were called Golden Classics Series Sets and most were produced with 5000 sets made. One set was made with only a run of 3600 and the last set had a run of only 1000.
Your set most likely have had a run of at least 5000 sets and possibly more. Since 2000 Bachmann has never released the quantity of a particular set made.
I do not have any photos of the styrofoam insert for that set showing the contents, so have no idea what the open space may have been for. It may be that nothing was in the space. I have noticed that many of the styrofoam inserts are possibly used for different sets, such as other sets with the 4-6-0 locomotive and two passenger cars like the WP&Y set.
Since you are an Alaska collector, you may be interested in other Large (G) Scale items made by Bachmann. Here is a list:
90059 WP&Y Set 2007 ^ Set White Pass & Yukon w/10th Anniversary 4-6-0 Limited Edition S $425.00 1st non xmas set with annie
90095 WP&Y Set 1993 ^ Set The Northern Express P $325.00
31497 WP&Y 10 1992 ~ Loco 4-6-0 +, White Pass & Yukon Bachmann Plus $200.00 new worm gear drive, full valve gear & metal handrails
81000 WP&Y 14 2007 ~ Loco 4-6-0, 10th aniv, White Pass & Yukon Ver 5 S Set Loco only in 90059
81096 WP&Y 10 2000 ~ Loco 4-6-0, 10th aniv, White Pass & Yukon Ver 5 P W $300.00
81296 WP&Y 7 2001 ~ Loco 2-8-0, White Pass & Yukon P Spectrum $799.00
91119 WP&Y 9 1992 ~ Loco 2-4-2, with tender White Pass & Yukon wood burner $120.00
91219 WP&Y 10 1993 ~ Loco 4-6-0, White Pass & Yukon p $140.00 Set 90095
93319 WP&Y 704 2007 Box Car White Pass & Yukon Gateway to the Yukon $69.00
93119 WP&Y 903 1994 Caboose4 4 whl, White Pass P Ltd Edition 1200 $40.00 Set 90095 and seperately
89393 WP&Y 203 2001 P Baggage White Pass & Yukon P Not Lighted $75.00 Metal Railings
97419 WP&Y 203 1992 P Baggage White Pass & Yukon P Not Lighted $55.00
89392 WP&Y 209 2001 P Combine White Pass & Yukon Royal Mail P Track Power Lights $75.00 metal railings
97119 WP&Y 209 1992 P Combine White Pass & Yukon Royal Mail P Track Power Lights $55.00
89391 WP&Y 224 2001 P-Coach White Pass & Yukon "Lake Tutshi" P Track Power Lights $75.00 Metal Railings
89391 WP&Y 226 2007 P-Coach White Pass & Yukon "Lake Fraser" Track Power Lights $75.00 metal railings has same B number lake tutshi in catalog
89395 WP&Y 248 2004 P-Coach White Pass & Yukon "Lake Tagish" P Track Power Lights $77.00 Metal Railings
89396 WP&Y 204 2010 P-Coach White Pass & Yukon "Lake Chilkoot" P Track Power Lights $110.00 Metal Railings
90059 WP&Y 214 2007 P-Coach White Pass & Yukon "Lake Spirit" plastic railing Not Lighted Set Car plastic railings Only in Set 90059 as of 2007
97219 WP&Y 224 1992 P-Coach White Pass & Yukon "Lake Tutshi" P Battery Lights $55.00
89394 WP&Y 240 2001 P-Obs White Pass & Yukon "Lake Bennett" P Track Power Lights $85.00 metal railings
90059 WP&Y 240 2007 P-Obs White Pass & Yukon "Lake Bennett" Plas railing Not Lighted Set Car plastic railings Only in Set 90059 as of 2007
97319 WP&Y 240 1992 P-Obs White Pass & Yukon "Lake Bennett" P Battery Lights $65.00
88195 WP&Y 59 2007 Tank Car White Pass & Yukon 1:20.3 Framed Spectrum 1 Fn3 Finescale $200.00 10/1/2007 8 ft dia track req
93419 WP&Y 9 1994 Tank Car White Pass & Yukon P Ltd Edition 1200 $40.00 Reisued in 1999
The product number is followed by the reporting marks, then the road number on the product then the year introduced then the type item, then other info I might have.
Most importantly enjoy your set! It should give you many years of good service if you take care of it and store it in a cool dry place when stored.
Loco Bill