Hello Bachmann,

I was just visiting the UK Graham Farish side of your world. I saw an announcement
that I need a validation for. Is it true Bachmann is finally adding a NEW magnetic automatic coupler for 'N' scale models? Or am I dreaming. UK models too? I saw it in black and white, but having trouble adjusting to the possible reality. YeeHaw if soo... Thanks, Dave

Hello Williamson,

I have the six different car no.'s on order from my local Hobby shop. It seems odd to me that after waiting years for Bachmann to produce a halfway decent model of the N&W J. The cars never seemed to be an issue for them. With so many of the newer Bachmann
J's out there. I would have thought the N&W road name would have been a sell out for Rapido Trains. I've seen the Pennsylvania sleeper, It's a Gem and the Easy Peasy lighting system is included in the price. The price may seem high, but if you consider what your getting. It's really a bargain. Sure hope it doesn't get cancelled.

BTW Intermountain/Centralia Car Shops is offering N&W sleepers in their new lineup in the Wabash/NKP paint scheme of stainless steel with blue letter board (Lettering iis Norfolk and Western). These new cars include interior details and interior lighting. Below is a link to their web site. I don't see the N&W cars listed to date, but did see them listed and pictured on a poster at my local hobby shop here in Anderson Twsp. (Cincinnati), Ohio. Haven't ordered any yet, but plan to buy a couple.

http://www.imrcmodels.com/n/npassengercars.htm

Hellhound,
I have this problem with a couple of Bachmann Items. The Jackson Sharp excursion cars ans a Heavy Mountain Steamloco.

My solution was to buy a Bachmann freight
car and use a good coupler and draft gear from the truck to replace the one on the Loco. The draft gear seems to be interchangeable. Maybe you could replace the coupler alone. Not sure, since I have never purchased a Bachmann diesel.

On soap box...This coupler is a piece of JUNK! In my opinion Bachmann would do far better scraping the mold on this knuckle headed cont aption and pay the royalties for a decent true automatic coupler. I love the locos Bachmann produces, but hesitate buying anything but the most interesting steam. I hear the same from other modelers and shops. Off soap box.

Hello again Frank,

I too was away from N scale for many years. The 2-8-0 was one of the first locomotives I purchased. I've been very happy with it's performance. The switch to the MTL coupler was relatively easy.

Chris, I never thought of adding a Z scale coupler to the front. It looks great! Thanks for posting the pictures. I think I'll try to add one to mine.

Dave

Frank,

I looked at the features list for the 2-8-0 on the catalog page and right you are! Bachmann lists it with operating couplers front and rear. I would hope this is correct and Bachmann has finally decided to offer automatics. It would be quite a revelation!
Sadly, I fear this may have been a "copy and paste" feature listing from an older diesel featuring operating Rapido couplers front and rear. Added to the 2-8-0 features listings. The new poor quality Bachmann knuckle couplers are hardly automatic.
I sure Hope I'm wrong!

Dave

Quote from: Guilford Guy on May 11, 2009, 06:13:13 PM
A friend of mine purchased a motion sensing water sprayer, and its worked pretty well! (no more half eaten trees)
http://wrsrr.blogspot.com/2008/06/combat-with-catzilla.html

Guilford Guy,
I have a similar situation. An under the Xmas tree Tinplate Standard/O gauge layout I run in my lower level family room. My cat has decided this makes a great alternative cat box. No train damage to date, only to the layout surface in one area. I currently use a foam core board fence to block the cat. It's inconvient, doesn't look great and doesn't keep the kurious Kitty from roaming thru the holiday neighborhood while the trains are operating. (The fuzy lil' critter likes the trains) I like your solution of the sprayer. You may have saved Christmas in my home.

Many thanks, Dave

Thanks Bachmann,

I understand. Maybe Graham Farish will add 5972 Olton Hall to their line someday.
I would still love to own one in GWR or late BR.

Until then, I'll be just as happy with a LMS Royal Scot and a rake of Stainer LMS coaches or Maroon BR MK1 coaches. If the Grandkids insist on traveling to Hogwarts.
Locomotive "Hogwarts Castle" is in the shop.

Thanks again,
Dave

It seems as if most the popular scales have a Hogwarts Express. Why not N? I know Bachmann's UK line, Graham Farish, has a Hall class 4-6-0 and proper coaches. I'm just a little astonished Bachmann hasn't. Are there other who would be interested?

I saw a video of Model Power 4-4-0 with sound on U-Tube. You'll probably find it and more there. I heard it was a difficult conversion. The loco is amazing and I would think well worth the effort. I think the poster mentions it in his text.

The only other non commercial conversion I've seen is a LifeLike Berkshire at the Dayton, Oh.  train show this past March. The owner drilled many small nearly invisible holes in the coal load for the speaker. He used two DCC modules. One to control the loco speed in the boiler and another for the sounds in the tender. He said when he used only one the loco over heated. Lot of work, but the it was a gem. He did a beautiful job.

I get a kick outta hearing these little guys run with there big Whistles, bells, and Chugs.
Personally, I own a LifeLike Y3 with sounds and run it on DC and am very pleased.

I never thought I'd ever see O scale type sounds in N scale. We've come along way. I would be too surprised if the smaller locos get sounds too. Give it a few years.

Hello N&W1218classa,
I guess it depends on the extent of accuracy you're trying to achieve. There's a big difference between the C&O H5 and any of the N&W Z classes. The H5 is a modern simple articulated locos from the 1940's and the Z's were early compounds (Mallets) build first in 1912. Still, the Z is a 2-6-6-2 and at least a locomotive in the style of N&W could be created from the H5 in my opinion.

I haven't done much kit bashing myself. But the first thing I'd do is move the pumps. Air pump  to the Engineer's side. Worthington feed water heater and pump to the Fireman's side.  Modify the walkways and piping as needed.  Add hand rails to the pilot deck. Reposition the bell if desired. I kinda like the bell on the front like the Y3 myself.  Letter the tender for Norfolk and Western.  Microscale No. 460-60106, they should be available now. Cab No.? Since the H5 is a modern Loco. I think I'd keep the cab no. 1500 series and consider the loco a "tounge in check" Z2b. The one's the Vice President of motive power of the N&W bought from the C&O for testing on some imaginary Virginia branch line.  This works for me.

If you're looking for a realistic model of the Z, I'd have to consider scraping the boiler, firebox, and cab. I doubt the H5's will work without major modifications. The mechanism should work OK except for the front cylinders. I believe it may be possible to modify the front cylinders to the larger low pressure piston valve version. All depends on your level of skill. This loco I'd give a 1400 series Cab no. to represent the Z1b. The last N&W version from the 1930's. I might change the tender if I could find an orphaned Lifelike Y3 tender. Otherwise, the tender isn't a big issue.

The Bachmann C&O H5 is a great looking loco. As badly as we N scalers need additional power, I believe making a few minor changes to create a non-prototypical yet plausible N&W 2-6-6-2 loco might be worth Bachmann's effort. My greatest request is for Bachmann to spend the cash need for the correct tooling for a true model of one of the Z classes. Until then I'd be happy with something a little less. I believe many of use would.

Best of luck with your conversion.

-Dave

As I was watching a N&W video this evening a question came to mind. If Bachmann can produce a heavy Mountain 4-8-2 in C&O and also offer it in N&W too. Why then can't they do the same for the C&O class H5 2-6-6-2 and produce a reasonable N&W class Z 2-6-6-2? I want one!  Or two.  Er Please? Sure the Bachmann model doesn't pull too many cars (Mine pulls 12 OK), but the Z didn't either!

Here is, also, my second vote for the Penna K4 Pacific, L1 Mikado, and (Yes, I may be dreaming) T1 4-4-4-4 in Penna and B&O. It may not be the N1 George Emerson. It still would look great in Blue and Gray.

Hello Bachman,

Now that the New York toy show has ended. When may we hear of any new products in the works? Particularly locomotives. I think I'm in the right season!? Any hint would be appreciated. I'm gettin' old... 

Thank you,
Dave P

A 2-4-2 is generally a small locomotive. Since this is the N scale board I'm assuming your looking for a larger N scale loco under $90.

My personal Pick would be Bachman's Light Mountain 4-8-2. It's a great loco and can be purchased under $90. It can be used for both freight and passenger trains.

Check the EBay dealer The favoritespot for the best price.
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/THE-FAVORITE-SPOT__W0QQ_armrsZ1
Or, MB Klein www.modeltrainstuff.com I've dealt with both and been consistently happy with the results.

Quote from: TCWORLD on March 16, 2009, 12:12:05 PM
Graham Farish sell an A3 Flying Scotsman in N-Gauge
Take a look: http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=GF372379&style=main&strType=Farish

EDIT:

Never mind, ive just seen that they dont make it anymore  Though they do pop up occasionally on eBay - in fact there are 2 on eBay UK at the mo (just as a note - i dont have anything to do with the 2 auctions, so dont think im trying to advertise them lol).

Hatton's in Liverpool offers two diffrent A3's and two different A4's by Graham Farish (Bachmann) I have an A4 "Silverfox" Runs beautifully! They also offer LNER Gresely coaching stock too. Manufactured by Dapol. These coaches include a knuckle type closecoupler in the box if desired.
http://www.ehattons.com/stocklist/ProdList.aspx?ManID=26&PrTyID=6&ScID=2
Since we're talkin about UK Loco's breifly. I'd like to see Bachmann Graham Farish to produce the very new A1 "TORNADO" YeeHaw!

A utility patent for the way an invention works, I believe is for 20 years.

The Bachmann Knuckle couple at least can couple with an automatic as long as it isn't warped. One good point is the draft gear box. It seems to be interchangeable. A very good thing. I had a warped coupler on a Heavy mountain and was able to "POP" off the knuckle couple from a Bachmann talgo truck and "POP" it in place on the tender. An easy fix indeed. Still, it isn't automatic. A major disadvantage for me at least.