Searsport;
Maybe a good place to start would be in the state archives dept; State of Louisiana.  or Arkansas.
I am sure that, if they are like most other states, they have some pretty good photos.  One day, I was at the security building for 'Amtrak" Ct, and they had a wealth of photos, hanging on the wall, and in archived form.  None for sale, or any other form of give-away...  Great hour or so well-spent.  I also got some really nice photos of the coaling tower up close.  As a result, I was able to build a reasonable facsimile for my main engine terminal.

Rich C.

Len; which was that: an R-1 or R-2?  I had seen both Mountains and 'Santa Fe' types at the Boston roundhouse a couple of times; as they were usually used on different parts of the system, I would put off an afternoon baseball game with the guys in favour  of catching them.  After 1950?  SOL!

Rich C.

Read the accompanying pamphlet/service instructions.  Then go to this site and find whatever information you can use on 'parts service information' or 'catalogues/brochures'..  There are several on-line forum/sites that can help.  If all of that fails, then contact Bachmann tomorrow morning.

Rich C.

The 'challenge' being...

Rich C.

One sure-fire way to fix the problems of loose connectors, is to hard-wire between the decoder and it's respective functions.  However; I might point out that a decoder tester project would serve you well.  There are several variations of the same theme in-what else?-several mags pertaining to this hobby.
I champion hard-wiring just for peace of mind-not piece of mind.  The "KISS" approach works very well in this hobby...

Rich C.

I believe the New Haven used them behind their 4-8-2 Mountain, and the 2-10-2 Santa Fe types.  These locomotives were used primarily on the Maybrook Line-between Cedar Hill in North Haven, and Campbell Hall (Maybrook).  These were both ALCO products, and were used primarily for freight movements.
When I rebuilt (customized) my 2-10-2s, I installed medium tenders.  I installed Buckeye type trucks on them-only because I like the appearance.  All told, I think they would look good behind most any larger steamer. 

Rich C.

On some of my brass locomotives-some of which have been around quite a while-I have noticed wearing on the drivers; evidenced by brass showing through the nickel silver.  Now, I am not really sure if the drivers are nickel silver plated, or if it would be a thin tire-I am 71, so the eyes-you know?

On curves:  a long time ago-around 1970, there was an article in 'Model Railroader' by Linn Westcott dealing with radii.  He brought the concept of 'easement curves', which works very well.  I think that, in use with super-elevation-especially towards the apex-this might be a pretty good idea.  The only thing I would be  hesitant to do is use turnouts on that type of curve.

Rich C.

That is fine-I have no problem with what you say here.  Yes; you do have an obligation to the members to keep an eye on what goes on. I can certainly accept and desire that in  a site. 
As I aforesaid, I am happy with the Bachmann products I have.  Also, I agree with not maligning Bachmann-or any other product-or castigating them here; that is in very poor posture-I don't care who it is. 
I consider this site-as well as a few others-to be an excellent source of information, and am happy with it's presence.
Also, I am happy with the decorum made by both the site masters, and the reading public.
If you factor these things along with free press, speech et al, then we have here a great family.  Am I right?

Rich C.

Jonathan;
If guys would go to the other pars of this site-like information, or parts, they would really be pleasantly surprised.  They (the staff) are very helpful as well, and do care about their customers.  I am at the finishing stages of the pair of Mikes I decided to build this past winter; Time is an elusive commodity, though...
Like you, I like to tinker around.  That 0-4-0 linkage got me intrigued some time back.  I had thought the nominal offerings, like model power, had overly simple, very basic  gear, as well as those 'pizza cutters'.  Then I saw one on "Evil-Bay" and decided to go for the modification.
What has surprised me is that Bachmann had not, to my knowledge,  produced an A-5, or a reasonable facsimile... They were a great-looking engine, and really give a layout some "expansion". 
When the Panama Canal project was started, They were using what appeared to be A-5s on their 'dirt trains'.

Rich C.

Jeff;
You are right on the mark here!  This has been around almost as long as the world's oldest...  It is a great idea-cheap as well.  You are also right about the large capacitor to store that charge.  It is very simple and very effective!

Rich C. 

Yardmaster;
I am under the impression-and I believe I am right in this-that any public forum, whether run by a mfgr, spec. int. gp, or whatever-as long as it is a PUBLIC forum-is subject to rights under the first amendment.  I may be wrong, but if you look it up in the Bill of Rights, I think you will find I am right.  I am strong about this, being a Vietnam Vet, and feeling as I-and my Vet brothers and sisters-have earned those rights, and we have earned them the hard way.  Now, I will shut up about that. 
Also, I have been using your products ever since I swung back in to HO standard Gauge, and have been extremely satisfied with the quality of them.  It is, under the best of circumstances, a pretty tall order to produce a steam locomotive to the standards presented here on an everyday basis.  I am also aware that things change.  In this case, Bowser dropped production of steam inventory.  I hadn't been aware of the 'fire sale' on parts until recently, so I plug into any and all refs.  Also, I am not the greatest modeler out here, so will take "ALLLLLLLLL" the help I can get-and there are some pretty knowledgeable heads on this site. At any rate, onward and upward.

Rich C.

Johnny;
To the best of my knowledge, this is an open forum in which model railroaders can exchange thoughts, information, and factual references; as well as links to pertinent sites.  I think that, if someone got on here and wrote inappropriately, Bachmann might have a thing or two to say.
If you, myself, et al, couldn't deal with Bachmann, thee are certainly other sites out there.  Bachmann is not a panacea for the woes of the world; they are a good convenient site.  Most of us, from time to time, may have an issue with Bachmann-this is the nature of the beask.  (Popeye)

Rich C.

Jonathan;
On figures:  It would be nice if it were feasible to produce figures with a "flex-feature"; that is, to have the  quality that is needed to a), be pose-able, and b), to be able to be painted in a convincing manner, as limbs would be moveable.
John Allen did it with wire armatures covered with a waxy compound; I believe this could also be done using a putty-like compound; possibly a slow-setting epoxy.  Heck; if we can kill the world 150 times over; surely we can come up with the technology for something as mundane as this!
As an aside; I received my valve-gear from Bowser.

Rich C.

Trainman;
I have three Roundhouse HOn3 2-8-0 locomotives; one still in the box.  These are about forty years old.  To me, this was an oddity for MDC to market this loco.  It's prototype was a C-25, built by Baldwin, and sold to the Crystal River Ry.  One still exists in the cane fields of Cuba...
To me, this boiler would be a shoe-in for a replacement on a Bachmann 2-8-0-or even a high-boilered 4-6-0.  Now, I like that thought as, personally, even though it is a great little locomotive, I tend to look at it's low-slung boiler with contempt; so one day, I just may take the plunge, find an MDC 2-8-0, and do some "customizing"...

RIch C.

Sid;
Yep...Now I remember.  One thing it does is have great detail resolution.  Some of this stuff, when modified with brass parts can produce a highly  detailed noteworthy model.  This is why I had earlier, endorsed the lighter detailing on the models-brass investment castings give a better 'finish'.  In most cases today, Bachmann in particular, the model structure-wise is a great place to start.  At least in my case. 

RIch c.