If you call Bachmann don't use the 800 number as it is often overused, and overloaded.  You will get better results using 215-533-1600 and asking for Irv.  As far as I know they observe lunch (Eastern time) and that is a bad time to call.  Bachamnn has lots of parts(not necessarily every part) still not listed, so it pays to call and ask. 

I have had good luck calling, and recommend at least trying it before using some other aftermarket solution.  It also pays to call back 4 to eight weeks later to check again if they don't have everything you want on the first call.  The stirrups are seperate press fit items on Stock, Box, Reefer, and Gondola cars, for sure and possibly on flat cars as well.

These cars are actually as many as 20 years old!!   I have also bought some cheap basket cases at swap meets just for parts.  In the spring show at York, some dealers were selling old stock Bachmann Freight cars withour the metal wheels as low as $15 each, and some with metal wheels for as low as $20. 

Maybe we can ask Kevin to photograph his repairs to his connie and post it as a how to item!!

Kevin, if no one asks consider that I am asking,  it would be a fantastic contribution to the forum!!!!

Gary,
Yours is one of the early Radio Control sets, They go on Ebay for $35 to $95 depending on condition!

You can get Deans connectors and the 2600 mah batteries or packs at
All-battery.com.  They have great batteries at low prices.  My run time experience is about the same as Kevins.   

The D&S version wasn' t the "Plus" version but rather came equipped with the latest Version 5 chassis.  It is a much better runner than those old Plus chassis.

It is a Bachmann Set.  Your set is #90035 The Prospector which came out in 1999.  There were four V&T Sets but only the Prospector and the special run Prospector for OSH came with the black coal burner 4-6-0. 

If your combine has an OSH logo on it the set was a special run in 2002 just for Orchard Supply Hardware for their 70th Anniversary. Otherwise the two sets are exactly the same.

In both sets the 4-6-0 has the latest Version 5 Chassis and should give you great service. 

The green full baggage car is not from the Prospector set, but it is also Bachamnn.

Enjoy your set!

It was in set 90014, which first came out in 1989 and was in the catalog til 1992. The locomotive was also sold seperately as 91101, at it was in the catalog til 1993.

Although it is a small loco, IMHO it does look OK with the 1:22.5 cars. Considering when thy came out they had good detail and if not overloaded and were well maintained they were fair runners.  It is definitely necessary to keep the wheels clean on these.   Mine still runs good but does have a tendency to stall on wide switches with  long frogs.   

Shoo, There was no 2-4-2 G Scale loco put out in the last five years, you may be thinking of the 2-6-0 Industrial loco which was also a very smaill loco.

Enjoy your trains

No, it is not normal, but it is or has been done.  The GW used to use MU switchers for mainline service.   There is really not much difference between a 1500 HP GP 7/9 and a 1500 HP SW 1500.  As long as the switcher has MU cables it can be used in MU service.

Welcome Back to large Scale and most of all enjoy all your trains!!

I really don't think these problems can be blamed on the manufacturer's, there are just too many variables, and no manufacturer can control what we do to their product after we get it.   Some paints and clearcoats are just not compatible, and it is easy to make mistakes when applying different products.  I was a custom painter for years, everytime I thought I was invincible, something would happen to humble me.  I used to brag that I could spray floquil paint on bare plastic without crazing every time.  I was wrong about that on a customers expensive passenger car, so anything that can go wrong often will!

All we can really do is learn from our experiences as best we can!

I forgot to mention that I have never has a problem with the Krylon clear coats which are made for outdoor use.  I like the satin and the flat best, but often use the primers as well.  I use the red oxide primer for trucks and couplers with excellent results.

I have never had a problem with the Rustoleum products, including clear, over Bachmann products.   I use extremely light coats from 14 to 16 inches away and it works fine.   I use it before and after decaling.  Looking at your model I believe that you probably got to close with the spray.  I had a similar problem on an Aristo Box car when I got too close, and the temperature and humidity were high. 

I get best results when the temps are around 70 to 80 and the humidity is no more than 50 to 60 percent.

I often wait for those good days or turn the AC on in my shop till conditions are right before I paint.

Hi , Im not sure how my database entries will display on the board, but I have pasted them below:

96201   1991   Hand Car   w / gandy dancers   P   yellow
96201   1997   Hand Car   w / gandy dancers   P   gray
96240   1993   Hand Car   Christmas 1993   P   green
96241   1994   Hand Car   Christmas 1994   P   red
96241   1996   Hand Car   Christmas 1996   P   white

While I have not seen the inside of all 5 of the above Items, I can say that all five versions are gear driven.  None of them are very good runners and break down fairly quickly, usually due to gears sliding out of alignment.
Later versions (the gray one and the white one have an improved drive train so if you must have one at least get one of those.  I have repeatedly had to fix mine due to both gear problems and electrical contact problems.  The wheels must be sqeaky clean on both the hand car and the trailer because both provide pickup.  They also have a tendancy to stall on switches!


Good luck!

Some of us actually use the "narrow guage" Bachmann 1:22.5 items to represent standard guage prototypes.  My Missouri Western Railway is standard guage freelanced after the CB&Q Kansas City cutoff..

The point of my rambling is that you can do whatever you want, as long as it pleases you!    The critical thing is to have fun doing what you enjoy doinf with you trains!!

Enjoy your new GN set and pretend it is standard guage if that works for you!!

Hi Emster,

Bachmann never made a matching full baggage or coach for this set,  One guy I know did convert the observation car into a coach which is very easy to do.


I have listed below the only other GN Items made by Bachmann:

93311   GN   23713   1996   Box Car   Great Northern
93711   GN   70867   1996   Gondola   Great Northern
93811   GN   X410   1996   Caboose   8 whl, Great Northern

The loco and cars you have were never sold as seperate items, so to get more you will have to either buy another set or find someone who has broken up a set to get the seperate pieces!


Enjoy you new set!!