Dec 9, 2010

Dear Mr. Bachmann:

Could you produce the first version of the RGS #1 inspection car?

http://www.rgsrrhobbies.com/index_files/Page2690.htm

A model T Ford running on rails.

Thank you
Norman

Dear Mr. Bachmann:

Here is a link to locos similar to the Bachmann Indy:

http://www.cplerr.com/engineroster.html

Note how the boiler is low slung. The Bachmann Indy boiler sits too high.

Can you produce a follow up to the Indy with a low slung boiler, one steam dome, one sand dome, cow catcher, diamond stack, oil burner headlamp, cab with side windows of equal length?

Can you build this Indy follow up at the same scale as the present Indy?
You cab use the existing Indy tender and existing Indy drive.
You only need to create a new cab and boiler.  Maybe shrink the driver diameter.

Is this too much to ask?

Thank you

Norman

Dear Mr Bachmann:

A quote from a hobbyist on another model train website:

" I ran the Bachmann Hand cars on a professional display for several years.  It was on point-to-point tracks. I wore out 6-8 each year.

The problem was not having ball bearings where the axles go through the steel frame.  The stamped holes in the frames would wear to a point the the gears would start binding and then the motor would be under so much stress that the motor would finally burn up.

I tried converting them with bushings (from a R/C racing hobby shop) but at that time did not have the proper tools to modify the frames.


If Bachmann woold add the Bushing/Bearing improvement, the hand cars would be much better mechanically and electrically.  "


Question:

Can Bachmann issue new frames with shouldered tube inserts for the axles to turn in?
Why would Bachmann release a product with metal axles turning in metal holes?
Can a retrofit handcar frame be sent to the parts department?

Thank you

Norman

Dear Mr. Bachmann:

Could yourself and Lee Riley pull out the drawings for Baldwin Locomotive Works Burnham Williams & Co. 20925  locomotive? This is the Disneyland 2-4-4T engine painted and lettered as Ward Kimball No. 5.

Suggestion for a future engine and this is what I wanted the next issue of an Indy sized engine to be. Anyway, at least I can ask!

Also please see below:

Thank you

Norman


FROM Steve DeGaetano on the Disney Railroads Discussion Board:

A while ago, I told you that I was working with the Librarian at Nicholls State University, to obtain some of the Barker and Lepine papers dealing with a little 1902 Baldwin we're all familiar with. Today, those papers arrived.

I thought some of you might find the following excerpts enlightening. The letters from Barker and Lepine are handwritten, and occasionally difficult to read; I have done my best to transcribe them accurately. This correspondence is a fascinating look into what it was like to purchase a locomotive from the mighty Baldwin Locomotive Works at the turn of the last century. Enjoy:

April 23'd 1902
Messrs. Burnham, Williams and Co., Philada, Penn

Dear Sirs:

Will you please quote us delivered at Melodia Switch S.P.R.R. the lowest price of a 36" gauge Plantation locomotive dimensions about 9 x 14 cylinder, water tanks to carry 500 gallons, equipped with headlights etc. etc. and arranged on the basis of using firebox grates, stack etc. for oil fuel including tank and all necessary piping and fittings for same.

Yours Truly,
Barker and Lepine

***

April 26, 1902
Messrs. Barker and Lepine
Lafourche Crossing, La.

Gentleman:-

We have your favor of the 23rd inst. desiring proposal for 9" x 14" cylinder saddle-tank locomotive of three feet gauge, arranged for oil-burning...We quote for a locomotive to this Specification, delivered on car at our Works, Three thousand one hundred and fifty ($3150)...We have not yet been able to obtain a rate of freight to Melodia Switch.

Very truly yours,
Burnham, Williams & Co.

***

April 28, 1902
Messrs. Barker and Lepine
Lafourche Crossing, La.

Supplementing our letter of the 26th inst., we are now able to name a freight rate of 73c per hundred pounds, on a minimum weight of 30,000 pounds, for the locomotive proposed, delivered at Melodia Siding.

Very truly yours,
Burnham, Williams & Co.

***

April 30th 1902
Messrs Burnham, Williams and Co.

Dear Sirs,

Your favor of the 25th inst. only just in hand. We now have a locomotive very much like the one represented on your (illegible) but on which you gave us specifications and we do not like it. We do not fancy a saddletank and prefer a watertank attached on the rear...However, we have seen the locomotive you sold last to our neighbor Sibbey and Blouin, Bush Grove Plantation and would ask of you to give us quotation on a duplicate of same for Oil Fuel.

***

May 13, 1902
Messrs. Barker & lepine, Lafourche Crosing, LA

Gentlemen:-

We acknowledge receipt of your telegram of this date accepting specification #A-4436 which accompanied our letter of May 6th. We have accordingly entered your order for one locomotive as per this specification, for shipment in about four months, for the sum of Three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500), delivered on car in Philadelphia...Please instruct us as to the lettering, name and number, you desire on this engine.

Thanking you for the order, we remain,
Very truly yours,
Burnham, Williams and Co.

***

Unfortunately, there is no corresponding letter specifying the name, number, etc. Reviewing a photocopy of the actual Baldwin specification sheet for this particular engine, however, obtained from the California State Railroad Museum, shows that the engine had no number, but that it had a name: Maud L. --Steve D.

***

May 16th, 1902
Mr. Frank Barker
New Orleans

Friend Frank:

I enclose your letter of Burnham, Williams and Co. received this day...It would be a good thing to look up the S.P. people and by shipping locomotive from Philadelphia to N.Y. and from there by S.P. steamer etc. we might obtain a better rate.

Your friend, W. Lepine.

***

May 20th 1902
Mr. Frank Barker
P.O. Box 1229
New Orleans, LA.

Dear Sir:-

You letter of 26th inst. is at hand. If the locomotive is shipped by vessel from New York, the additional cost will be from $100 to $200. The rate which we have already quoted you for all-rail freight, figures up to $219.
If the engine is shipped by vessel, from New York it will have to be dismantled and boxed. This will cost $150. The Southern Pacific freight will be $158, to which must be added the cost of delivereing from our Works to vessel in New York, say $25, and the additional cost of putting the engine together on its arrival at destination.

Very truly yours,

Burnham, Williams and Co.

***

Oct. 6, 1902
Messrs. Barker and Lepine,
Lafourche Crossing, P.O., La.

Gentlemen:-

We hand you herewith statement referring to small locomotives shipped September 10th, and will ask you to kindly favor us with a remittance to cover.

Very truly yours,

Burnham, Williams and Co.

***

November 13, 1902

Messrs. Burnham, Williams and Co.

Dear sirs:

We beg to advise that the new locomotive, Maud L., or a 4436, has a broken gland on the Piston Rod and the brass box on the front axle will not stay in place and constantly keeps jumping out...

Yours respectfully,

Barker and Lepine

***

December 23 1902
Messrs. Barker & Lepine,
LaFourche, La.

Gentlemen:-

Please find enclosed an Adams Express receipt for shipment of a tank plug, grate bar, two piston rod swab holders and one fire door glass for locomotive #20925. There is to be no charge for these. Our engineer, Mr. P.B. Shelmerdine asked for them when he erected the engine.

Very truly yours,

Burnham, Williams & Co.

***

There you have it--the story of how the Maud L. came to be. $3,500 for a brand new little engine! Anyone want to guess what it cost to restore the engine for Disneyland?

But history sometimes takes strange turns. If things had turned out a little differently, we might have been witness to the first Porter to run on Disney rails--a story for another day. However, I will leave you with this one last little tease:

April 10th, 1902
Messrs. H.K. Porter and Co.
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dear Sirs:

Please let us know what figure you can duplicate for us the "Melodia B" Locomotive, contracted with you in August, 1897. Same to be delivered to Melodia Switch S.P.R.R. and to burn oil for fuel instead of coal.

Yours truly,

Barker and Lepine.



Edited By Steve DeGaetano on 1117051594

_________________
Steve

Hi Scott:

Your kitbash example is just what I wanted, but also an open cab peaked roof version. This size of model fits in with the 1:22.5 and 1:24 market. The present Bachmann Forney is strictly for the 1:20.3 market. As well the Indy-Forney hopefully would be in the price range of the present Indy which would present a very affordable model.

May I point out to Bachmann that one may purchase a 1:20.3 live steam all metal brass Forney for the SAME price as the Bachmann electric powered plastic model. That makes absolutely no sense.

Thank you
Norman

Dear Mr Bachmann:

Another large scale mfg has just released their 1:24 scale Forney with real brass domes which I intend to buy.
That is what I wanted Bachmann to produce as their next version of the Indy evolution:
2-4-2 became 2-6-0 and I hoped next would be 2-4-4.

One could kitbash the present 2-6-0 Indy into a 2-4-4 Forney but unless one has the skill of for example David Fletcher the result will not match a factory produced product.

I realise that Bachmann presently has a 1:20.3 Forney on the market but it is too large for those of us intested in 1:22.5 and 1:24 indoor Guage One model railroading. Would Bachmann later produce an Indy sized version of a 2-4-4 open cab Forney using Indy components to model a Baldwin prototype such as the Disneyland Ward Kimball locomotive ?

Alternatively as the Baldwin Disneyland Ward Kimball locomotive is a small prototype, how about a 1:20.3 version?

Thank you
Norman

Dear Mr Bachmann

Have you been able to test fit the stacks?

Thank you
Norman

Dear Mr Bachmann:

Is the Eureka & Palisade Radeley Hunter stack interchangable with the blue boiler diamond stack ?

Do the Radeley Hunter stack and the diamond stack plug into the same type of smoke box base?

Any problems to encounter in switching the Radeley Hunter stack with the diamond stack?

Thank you

Norman

Monday, May 10, 2010

Hi Mr. Bachmann:

Here is a prototype example to return the Indy as a 2-4-4T locomotive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwTl4iGxAGM&feature=related

Restored Fairymead No. 1 , Baldwin b/n 10533 of 1889

http://www.australiansteam.com/baldwin10533.htm

Norman

Monday, May 10, 2010

Dear Mr. Bachmann:

Will the Indy model return as a 2-4-4T similar to the Disneyland locomotive No 5 Ward Kimball ?

The Disneyland No 5 Ward Kimball and decoration are proprietary.

But the Baldwin 2-4-4T locomotive is not !

Can you research how this locomotive appeared when released from the Baldwin factory for shipment to Hawaii and then build a new 1:22.5 scaled Indy model without the latest electronics and wiring harness (just the engine with motor) at a price close to what the Indy was previously released at?

Thank you
Norman

Monday, May 10, 2010

Dear Mr. Bachmann:

Can the diamond stack of the unlettered blue boiler 4-4-0 be switched with the Eureka & Palisade Radley Hunter stack ?
Can these stacks be switched and mounted on each alternate engine ?

Thank you

Norman

 

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Dear Mr. Bachmann & others:

What is the best method for stripping the Spectrum 4-4-0 tender paint to bare plastic ?

What paint is the closest match to the Lake Brown of the unlettered Style #1 Spectrum 4-4-0 ?

Is there a Krylon paint colour that you can recommend?

Thank you

Norman

Mondday, April 26, 2010

Dear Mr. Bachmann:

Can you bring back the Indy similar to the form of LKPRR Engine No. 1,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaina,_Kaanapali_and_Pacific_Railroad

?

Note the cab flat panel roof, the brass steam cylinders, the pilot deck and the Radeley Hunter stack.

Could you eliminate the front sand dome and switch the rear sand dome with the middle steam dome ?

Could you produce this return of the Indy as a 2-4-2 with tender loco
AND as a 2-4-4 Forney loco ?

There is still a market for the 1:22.5 and 1:24 folks.

Thank you
Norman

I was hoping that Bachmann would produce a 2-4-4 Forney using the Indy as a starting point.
The present Forney is far too expensive.
My interest is 1:24 scale. The 1:20.3 4-4-0 fits in nicely for my needs. The remaining locos are all too large.
Mr. Bachmann, any chance of the Indy returning as a 2-4-4 Forney ?

Thank you
Norman

Sunday, March 28 , 2010

Dear Mr. Bachmann:

1) - where in the on line catalog are the open air passenger cars located ?
    - same roof as the J&S cars but no sides

2) - will you be lettering these in the Disneyland roadname with a Christmas red
       letter board and gold leaf lettering ?
    - will you be lettering your Forney as "Fred Gurley" for the Disneyland RR ?

Thank you

Norman