Before 26 years of aging that all but guarantees that the plastic motor/trucks have disintegrated and will require a $250 replacement with die-cast motor/trucks.

Anyone recall MSRP from 1997 for the Two-Truck 36 Ton Shay?
Can't find a catalog.....

Is it a fair statement that investing in a 36 ton AND a pair of replacement trucks is an OK move.

Thanks Bill. Worked for me. Savings covered the shipping cost.

The small, square pin faces up, so I would say these offset down.

Could this be adapted
https://www.ebay.com/itm/374143075018?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&srsltid=AfAwrE4VS8DqTw5YvCMU9MjpTr5kM6AdGKmuRqm0NEdKxP-ZU5SgmZhJe6Q
Star Hobby is a great place to do business.

I believe $1499.00 is Bachmann's MSRP. Typically, hobby shops are selling for a lot less.  There are at least two reputable sellers on eBay, "ana.kramer" and "starhobbyannapolis". Definitely shop around.

Code is "Spring23" (No spaces in code, all letters and numbers)

From Google, the MSRP was $525
Online train stores were selling from $370 to $450.
Recent eBay sale was $450 + $65 shipping (BUT this was a blue box 90033, not red.  Newer?)
Other eBay sales were Best Offer Accepted (they had started around $500), so it's hard to say
  what they sold for.
Instead of bidding you might consider setting a Buy Now price with offers enabled.
Also, others who have looked at eBay sales have noticed that the were certain periods (like say months leading up to Christmas) where sales were more brisk and lucrative.
Good Luck and remember: no soliciting is allowed on the Bachmann websites.

Yes, I have also seen the first digit as C and I am assuming they had an aversion to starting with 00.

Have not seen any date codes from the 90's

Got out my 90018 set purchased around 94, no date code on box, but appears to have possibly been stamped on Styrofoam but has faded from handling.

A year ago went to local hobby shop and bought brand new EBT 3 Bay Hopper w/Coal Load.  Noticed on the underside of car the date code (K150508) had been stamped into the plastic.  So at some point they have started date coding the rolling stock.

So, check the Styrofoam and the body (although it could have been stamped internally)

Use the rule, "its worth what someone is willing to pay for it"
First, look for the set number (something like 90018) on the box.
Go to eBay, use Advanced Search and search for "Bachmann 90018" and "check" the box that says "Completed Listings"
This will give you all the listings both "sold" and completed without selling.
Calculate your price/expectations accordingly.

For grins did this for 90018 set and got anywhere from $80 to $180 depending on condition and also look carefully at shipping cost as some sellers build additional profit into an excessive shipping cost.

Do you have the original box?
If so, look on the inside of the end flaps for a date code.
The six-digit format is YYMMDD and may start with a 'K'
Normally printed, but may be embossed in the cardboard.

Does Bachmann put production date codes on their product? - No, not that I have seen.
But in the past year and a half I've been accumulating Bachmann track, rolling stock, accessories and I have noticed they do put a date code on the packaging.
Sometimes its printed (rolling stock end flaps), other times its embossed (wheels, turnout signals).
Typical is 6 digits in the YYMMDD format.
In later product it's 6 digits plus a 'K' at the beginning (maybe for Kader post acquisition).

It's interesting to buy NIB at store or online and see that "new" is actually 15 years old.

Out of curiousity, was the cause ever narrowed down.  Was it the type of plastic or maybe a lubricant that attacked the plastic?

Anyone us the LGB 10560 Electric Uncoupler Track with the standard Bachmann Knuckle couplers?