This web site has information about the 30 inch gauge Rio Turbio Santa Fe's - the 2-10-2 locomotives that received the "Porta" modifications and became high efficiency steam power.
http://www.martynbane.co.uk/modernsteam/ldp/rfirt/santafes.htm
A possible REAL 30 inch prototype for Bachmann to consider?
If it could be made to get around 18-22 inch curves I would buy one or two.
Regardless, this is an interesting railroad and worth checking out.
Video of these locomotives on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNWjrx3eDO0&feature=player_embedded
Neat video, wished the lighting could have been better, but still its a treasure! wonder what the dimensions are?
Thanks for sharing. :)
Looking at the driver diameter, it could be bashed from an IHC 2-10-2
(http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/v/vspfiles/photos/348-23411-2.jpg)
(http://www.martynbane.co.uk/images/modernsteam/ldp/rfirtlocos/trenr1.gif)
Harold