Great News Bachmann!

But please don´t forget about the 2-Railers in O-Scale out there. Over here in Europe, its almost 2-Rail and I have understood that there are lots of Model Railroaders already having switched over to 2-Rail.

Well, Williams did precious 2-Rail versions and I desparately hope that we´ll see some more by Bachmann the coming years. Especially the 2-Rail Market lacks some affordable 2-Rail Steamers and others (Atlas, Weaver) just gets started with that. Weaver has just one after discontinuing their  Light Pacific, Atlas comes out right now with a USRA type.

Please take your chance, Bachmann. You won´t regret it.

Kind regards, Tom

Shayman,
as we have been in touch all the time, please be ensured that I will enclose you in my prayers. No question to me that the Lord is with you. There are miracles and those who trust in Jesus will not fail. Trust in him, trust in your Doctors help and keep yourself that positive approach to it all.

Peace and blessings across the Atlantic to you.

Kind regards,
Tom

Well,
actually something very similar to the G-Scale Heisler: A more modern one, not too small...

Same about a Shay: A more modern Shay, 2-Truck plus an 3-Truck version would be fine. The T-Boiler Engine is fine, but for me a bit too recent.
Have upgraded two Bachmann Engines with Keith Wiseman´s 1890 and 1920 Boiler/Cab Shells. They look great.

Kind regards, Tom

Or -go for "overshank" or "undershank" Couplers, that´s what I did:
Check out the Kadee Website, they have in fact all kinds of Couplers
to solve your problem.

Worked fine since I found the Bachmann Low Side Gondolas and Passenger Cars were out of correct Height anyway.

Kind regards, Tom

Ken,
as far as know, the Soundtraxx guys have several matching decoders for the Loco, and as I know Bachmann, there will be something like the decoder installation with the 2-8-0, more or less a drop in job.

The only thing is-one would have to solder the 8 wires to a 8-pin plug, nothing more. Just easy!

Or-if you want to go the more relaxed way, try ESU-Loksound which already has the 8-pin connectors attached. Personally I would rather stay with Soundtraxx, but ESU is worth a closer look too.

Kind regards, Tom

Or - if you want to go another way, replace them with Kadee No.5´s, by using either Standard, Overshank or Undershank Couplers, you can even adjust their height.

Not all Bachmann rolling stock shares the same coupler height, the low side Gondolas and some of the Boxcars have a different height...

Kind regards, Tom

Mark,

no problem, you can even adjust the Chuff rate on the Tsunamis and I bet one can do this on the Bachmann-Sound equipped too. The Forney sounds great, has (just for an example) a nice brake-squealing etc.

They need wide curves and should operate well on your tracks, no question. I´m sure you will be happy with a Forney, both types are really beauties and have a definite "Must Have" appeal.

Over here in Germany, I´m running a Logging Layout in our Guest Room, plus a O/On30 Layout DRGW/RGS Style, but since I got hooked by the Maine Style Rolling Stock that much, maybe there will be another Coastal Design Layout additionally...

Keep em rolling.
Take care, Tom

Hi Glenn!

Have done this several times, no problem. Taking the Climax apart is that easy: there are three screws on the running board to get the Water Tank off, you can see them from the underside.

It´s a bit fiddling arround with the electronic part which has to be soldered to the two connecting wires and the decoder board, best keep them long enough in order to let this part slide underneath the tender Shell/water tank.

Be careful about the two contacts of the backup light. Best, isolate the decoder/board with a bit of tape to avoid a short ciruit between the backup light contacts and the board. Have lost a decoder by that...

Everything else is a snap, just let me know if you need any further assistance. I´ll be there.

Kind regards. Tom

Bob, definitely YES for the Engine on the Picture,...
Would be a beauty to have, no question!!!!

But additionally: A Shay, we all want a more modern Shay, don´t we...?
Bachmann owes all the Loggers outside there a Heisler or a Shay....

Cheers, Tom

Ollie,
can truly imagine the familiar touch of the Consolidation, they will probably form a easy convert into something Scandinavian. And putting sound is just fun, nothing to worry about. If you go with a Sound traxx Decoder, remember to use one of their speaker baffles - gives much better Sound quality - they´re cheap but worth to use...

Happy Logging!
Kind regards, Tom

Ollie,

you did ask for Electronics to run your Shay in DCC+Sound: That´s Soundtraxx which offers Drop in Decoders for the Shay and Climax´es -
especially with the Climax (and her Backup Light...) it´s a bit of fiddling but
both work fine. Take a look at: www.soundtraxx.com

Same if you go with the Consolidation - there is the Tsunami Range which is almost drop-in, just solder the needed 8pin plug and the Speaker wires and that´s it!

Kind regards, Tom

Hi all: Thanks for your comments - would not need to add anything just than to say "Thanks Bachmann -  this Lokie is a Beauty and will give a payback to you by selling pretty well!!!"

She will fit, as mentioned before, to a certain lot of On30 Layouts already exisiting plus hopefully drag other Model Railroaders to this great Theme if Model Railroading...

Cheers from Germany...
Tom

Well guys,

if I cast am eye on the Pictures already to be found here: To me it´s a nice looking Lokie... Can´t see anything ugly on her...

She will get some work to do on my Layout, but anyway:

I´m not wishing to pester Bach-Man that much, but shouldn´t we have some more geared Engines, let´s say a bigger Shay (more modern) and the Heisler we all would like to see one day.... Don´t let this go to others...

Kind regards, Tom

Dear all,

nothing really to worry about: for those who want Sound right away, keep an eye on Soundtraxx´s Products, for those beein´ able to wait: Let´s see what Bachmann will bring out the next year, as Bach-Man said.

In fact: I´m sure that Soundtraxx will get involved, and they already have fitting Tsunamis: It´s that easy if properly prepared by Bachmann´s Construction (which I´m sure we all can suggest as with the Engines before) - it´s a right away job, nearly just "drop in" and be happy...

To me it´s clear that there will be some kind of joint-venture between Soundtraxx and Bachmann as it had been before. That worked pretty well for the Forney, so why shouldn´t it work for the American...?

Can´t wait to have a plain-black little Beauty: to me she is a nice little Engine for my Logging RR...

Take care!
Keep the Drivers rollin´

Tom

Hi all!

Thank you for all your thoughts and recommendations, Terry2foot, I´ll have a go to find out about Russ Simpson, just case he can do something for me.

I don´t stick that close, but I´m modelling DRGW in On30, where On30 dual gauge track would in fact look a bit odd, but this could give a cool chance to get the On30 rolling stock a bit more "living space"...

Thanks to you all.
Keep on the right track...

Kind regards from Germany,
Tom