If uncoupling is the issue, here's an idea as well

http://members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/construction/lsbuild/coupler.html


A good friend of mine also paints his couplers to keep them from uncoupling during runs, and he runs very long strings of cars.

Once we put up our trees, there will be a large scale set under our large living room tree. There will be several flatcars with presents, tree's (and the Grinch of course), and don't forget the gondola of coal!
Under our table top tree we do a Christmas garden with a N guage train running as a "garden RR".
Then we have a very small tree with moving ornaments underneath, as well as Polar Express items there as well.
Plus one of the trees has nothing but train ornaments from Hallmark on it.

Yes, we really get into the holidays, our relatives call our house "The North Pole", and Santa's workshop.

Welcome to our hobby!
There are a number of different size curves, and alot of minimum curves that different loco's can take.
The largest possible curve you can fit will allow you to run larger trains. If you use the stock Bachmann track, you can run the Porters, Annies, the two truck Shay, etc. But if you want to run the 2-8-0, 2-6-0, or the new K, they won't be able to make the corners on B-mann track.
We have a suspended system, and I used the stock Bachmann track (as it's for inside use only), but this does limit me to what loco's can make the corners. I couldn't even think of trying a K up there!

Good luck

Bachmann puts out a Christmas train every year. There are several Christmas freight cars, passenger coaches, even a trolley. As far as can the different trains run together, yes and no. Yes, they all run on the same track, but the couplers may or may not work together.

Can your engine pull a couple more cars, it sure will.

Welcome to our great hobby!

Even though they are not still listed on the Bachmann web site, they did make a large scale diesel, and they are still available at many mail order dealers. A 45 ton 1:20.3 center cab switcher. You have to remember that Bachmann models their large scale trains after narrow guage RR's. The diesel actually represents a standard guage engine, reguaged to run narrow guage. This train is huge! If you want to test your track clearance, run this one around as it will show where the tight corners are.

My thanks to each and everyone who has served!

Nice Job Kevin!

Roy,
Welcome to the world of garden RR's. You are correct that the Bachmann track is ONLY to be used indoors, it will rust in no time if left outside.
The engines and cars are fine to run outside. However, most folks don't leave their rolling stock and engines outside, due to the effects of prolonged UV rays and the elements.

Good luck!

If the theory that "if it runs on 45mm track, it's G guage", then does the same translate to all scales? On30 runs on HO track, so with the G scale theory, that makes On30=HO, and HOn3=N guage. You are not considering the locomotive or rolling stock at all. If I widen my trucks on my 1:20 center cab, and hand lay standard guage track, the body is still the same size, but now I'm running on wider track, so now I'm F scale not G. Well the engine is F scale even if I take the trucks off.
I don't fault anyone who wants to call it G scale, me personnally just refer to my RR'ing as large scale. If I am asked if it's "G", I explain some is, some is Fn3.

Zubi,
Like I said earlier, this will start controversy (like it did the last time around). Everyone has their own opinion, myself, you, and everyone else on this board. If you want to call everything "G" scale, fine, but I didn't come up with the scale terms. If YOU look in this months issue of Garden Railways mag., you will see an advertisement for folks modeling F & Fn3, and it shows the scale as 1:20 & 1:20.3.
So call yours what you will, to someone who is learning the hobby like Steam Freak, knowledge is a good tool, and the ability to learn the difference in scales and sizes IS a good tool.
When I first got into large scale trains, I got corrected quite quickly that everything running on guage 1 track was NOT "G" scale.
And like yourself, this is my opinion.

This subject has been drawn out many times on this board in the past, but here is the simple answer. The term "G" scale actually describes the 1:22.5 meter guage cars. Most of Bachmanns rolling stock, the Annies, all starter sets are all "G" scale. However the new 1:20.3 cars and locomotives are all Fn3. They are F scale, narrow guage running 3ft track.
Alot of folks use the term G scale to describe anything from 1:32 to 1:20, but the folks that are more serious about the hobby tend to differ.
To your question, yes the 1:20 "F" scale stock is larger.

The K is a brand new item, and very long awaited. But it is not G scale, this is 1:20.3 which is Fn3

Peter,
How much time do you have to spend? Correct, the B&O museum is a great place to visit, but depending on how much time you have, there are many places not too far away. Western MD, Strasburg, EBT, Wilmington & Western. If you end up with several hours, Mitchells Hobby is located in Wilmington, Del. They have ALOT of train items, Strasburg also has several hobby shops, one at the RR, and another at the Choo Choo Barn (which has a large "O" layout running).

Good luck!

Hi Russ,
Get yourself a copy of Garden railways magazine. There is a wealth of info there, as well as many vendors. There are vendors listed that sell the reversing units for large scale layouts.

You never add a second power pack to a single loop. You can add pick up points from your original power source, but not a second power source.
If you are using the stock power pack and track that came with your set, I have two loops, one 54ln. ft., the other 47ln ft, and both are powered off the factory Bachmann starter sets.
I have a pick up point at the half way point, but other than that, no problems.