Before I get to my post, I do want to take a moment to apologize, as it's damn near 2 months later that I'm getting back to this.  That said though, some things have gone on since then, and I have taken the time to read through everyone's replies.  I wrote down notes from everyone's contributions and presented them at the January train club meeting, which was well received.  Our superintendent and treasure reported that the 2025 show generated a lot of traffic through the door and donations were good as well.  That said, we are looking at possibly setting up next year, if the mall can find room for us.  I'll talk about this more in a bit.

Getting back to everyone's posts, I liked a lot of ideas people brought up.  One of the biggest ones was roping things off, which is something that while I was unsure about at first, I feel more confident about this decision now.  Rick brought up about using Christmas lights and garland to rope off the area, and only having it accessible from one or two sides.  One of the neighboring train club's in my area actually does something similar, and from what one of the members has told me, it seems to do the job.  This is something I'm definitely taking into consideration.  While some people brought up about putting everything on tables, I don't necessarily want to go that route.  I've always set up on the floor for convenience sake, and don't really want to mess with folding tables, as that's more stuff I have to drag in and out during setup and tear down, not to mention the cost of buying however many I need for a large setup.

I noticed Greg also mentioned that if there is really a need for hands on, he recommended putting a small oval of track out and have something running on it.  One of the club members actually did something similar to that with an older O gauge train set that he picked up at a yard sale.  He just had a simple oval running around in one of the corners, which was popular with the kids.  Perhaps this is something the club should look into doing for 2026 as well.  The setup doesn't necessarily need to be G scale I don't think, but an inexpensive O gauge set that the kids can interact with might be the way to go.  I certainly wouldn't try any scale smaller than that for what should be obvious reasons.

With all that said, I presented the information I wrote down to the club at the January meeting, and members agreed that considering the circumstances, the G scale setup should be partially isolated from the public.  Our treasurer made the point too that being I provide my own track and equipment, and other members have the "privilege" to run their models on my setup as well, that I should have the final say in how the G scale is managed.  No one was opposed to this, and some members also brought up that they feel the show itself needs to be managed a little better by the club.  One of the members was very blunt with our superintendent that he felt there was not enough help with this year's show.  We had a couple times where only  about 3 people were present to run everything.  To explain, our setup for 2025 consisted of the HO scale modular layout, N scale modular layout, an N scale loop, G Scale loop, and the O gauge which was previously mentioned.

With the HO modular, you can easily have at least 2-3 people running the main line, with a couple others switching at the industries.  Both N scale setups basically run themselves, same could be said for O gauge, but that doesn't mean they should be unattended.  G scale is also setup where multiple people can run, but can also be operated by a single person if necessary.  Most times however, only 2 people were really running the modular layout, N scale and O gauge were on their own, and either myself or someone else was running G scale.  Like one of the members brought up, we were short handed this year.  The club talked about wanting to have at least one person running each layout, along with a couple other members walking around and talking to the public.  Unfortunately, the problem we have with making that happen is that some of our members only want to show up when it's convenient for them.  It's understandable that everyone has a life outside of model railroading (depending who you ask), but if you're going to be part of a club, then you need to be willing to assist your fellow club members.

Later on in the meeting, our Treasure shifted the discussion to whether the club wanted to setup at the mall again this year or not.  Both he and the one member mentioned earlier were very clear that if we do setup, everyone needs to be on board and can work around their schedules to help.  All members voted yes, though whether that actually happens is yet to be seen.  As I mentioned before, no one is opposed to the measures which are to be put in place with the G scale setup, and I've got several ideas in mind, depending what happens.  I'm already aware that we will not be in the same location for 2026, as the store is now in the process of being occupied by another retailer.

All things considered, I think we're on the right track as it pertains to the G scale setup and the matter of this years show. The mall has stated that they want us to come back, and if the club can coordinate and make that happen, then I think we're golden.  I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and also, Bill for given his advice on how to present the matter to the club.  At the time of writing this, the February meeting is almost upon us.

-Mr. Plow

So as of the time of me writing this, the local train club I'm a part of has just finished up our annual module show at the mall for this year.  The turnout was great with many people through the door, and the club got quite a bit in donations and/or requests for applications to join the NMRA.  This makes 3 years now that we've been setup at this location, and for the most part it's been good.  We had a couple setbacks this year in regards to insurance, mainly due to lack of communication between the mall owners and the NMRA.  Still, we were able to setup before Black Friday and were open every Friday and Saturday up until December 27th.

That all said though, this year I noticed some concerning issues in regards to the G scale setup, of which I hold the responsibility of running, as all the models are from my own personal collection.  I've been reluctant to bring the matter up with the train club, as I'm not exactly sure how to approach the situation, nor do I want to cause any conflict among the members.  The issue at hand is unfortunately, young children and/or irresponsible parents.  Now I want to make it clear, I'm not one to flip out anytime one of my trains is touched by a child.  I'm not that kind of person, but like many modelers out there I'm sure, I've invested a lot of time and money into what I have, and don't want anything getting damaged.  In previous years it's always been an issue of the occasional child doing something they're not supposed to be, but I can report the parents have addressed the matter and taken charge.  However, this year it honestly seemed like there were more problems than we've had in the last 2 years combined.

Opening weekend we had a situation where I was not present at that moment, and the setup was basically running itself for the time being.  Because of that, members running the modular layout nearby were watching the setup for me.  A mother came in with 2 toddlers, and basically let them do whatever.  Aside from them messing around with the G scale figures/accessories and other trains, the young boy also took the cover off one of my locos that was sitting in a siding, and for whatever reason tried pulling the DCC electronics out.  One of the club members shouted when he noticed what was happening, and the mother just grabbed her kids and left without saying or doing anything.  Thankfully nothing was damaged and the model still worked, but I honestly can't believe that given the circumstances, someone could be that irresponsible and have little to no respect for someone else's property.

In addition to that one occurrence, there were several other incidents regarding the G scale setup during the past month.  I'm not going to go into every little detail, but I'll summarize some of the other issues that occurred.  There were a few kids who touched the tracks and got bit by the power system, a number of times kids were stepping on or over the tracks, and there were a couple kids messing with the trains which were off to the inside.  There were also a couple cases where the trains that were running got derailed or knocked off because of kids touching them.  I can even report that someone (unknown who) apparently messed with the control system at one point.

Because of the number of issues that went down with the G scale setup this year, it honestly got me thinking and trying to come up with a solution on how to rectify these problems.  Other members and myself already have signs all around our layouts asking people not to touch the trains, and yet apparently that's not enough to get the point across.  In all actuality, it really seems like people just don't care.  I understand, it's really not the child's fault, as they're young, and it's the parents responsibility to explain to them that they cannot touch.  However, it honestly feels like parents don't want to be parents, and instead just let their kids do whatever they very well please.

As mentioned before, I worry about my models getting damaged by a child who is not properly supervised.  My C-19 is a good example of a model that I was fortunate enough to get, and likely cannot replace.  It was a $1,700 model that I was lucky to only pay $600 for back in 2018.  Yes, if a detail part gets knocked off, a little bit of glue can put it back in place.  However, what if a child damages it and breaks something such as the valve gear?  I then have to send the model to Bachmann and pay the shipping, plus also pay the $125 service fee, and the additional cost of parts.  That's money I really don't want to spend because of someone else's negligence.

Another concerning issue is one that I've already mentioned happening this year.  Kids have touched the track and gotten bit by the power running through them.  My big worry is the possibility of this happening to where the child bursts out crying, and then momma bear gets angry, throwing all the blame back on the train club for her little darling being hurt.  Not to mention that if something happens and depending on the severity of the matter, the mall could potentially prohibit the club from setting up there anymore.  Then if something should happen and it's my setup that causes said problem, I really don't want the club to kick me out because I'm seen as a liability.

All things considered, I've been throwing around the idea of trying isolated the G scale setup to where kids and/or the general public have less access to the trains.  This is where I have concerns about bringing the matter up with the club, as again, I don't want to cause a disturbance within the division.  Looking online I've found that placing barriers around layouts at shows seems to really divide people within and outside of the hobby.  Some people say that putting up barriers is necessary to protect layouts from damage, while others see it as discouraging, especially to young children.  From what some are saying, kids see barriers around the trains and/or layouts, and to them that sends the message of, "Go away, keep out, you're not welcome."  Other people go on to say that this sort of activity is unacceptable, as it's does not help invite others to pursue the hobby.  To quote one person, "If model railroad shows continue to display layouts like this, then it's a fantastic way to kill off your so called AMAZING HOBBY".  While I can somewhat agree with what people are saying, at the same time I can't really say I blame those who just want to protect their models and/or layouts.

After reading through a lot of back and forth on the subject of putting up barriers around layouts at shows, it honestly feels like more of a Catch 22 situation.  Do you have everything out in the open so the public can engage with it, or put up barriers and kill off the hobby?  It just seems like a lose/lose either way.  I've always displayed G scale on the floor for simplicity sake, and have never bothered with putting up barriers of any kind, but I'm starting to think that just can't be done anymore.  People don't pay attention to the signs that are placed all around the layouts, and instead just do whatever they want.  Again, I'm not trying to throw the blame on children at these shows, as all the responsibly falls back on the parents who are grown adults and should know better.

While doing some looking online, I did find that another neighboring train club in my area has a similar setup with their G scale, however they have everything roped off with Christmas lights.  Another thing they do differently is that instead of allowing people to walk all around it, access is limited to only 2 sides.  I'm sure this setup could still have issues, but perhaps it would send a clearer message that the area where the trains run is out of bounds?  Not only that, I feel it's less of an obstruction compared to something such as clear acrylic panels.  I was kind of thinking that if my local club is setup in the same location next year, the best option would be to move everything into the far back corner, with a 10' walkway to the one side.  The hope would be that this setup would still allow the public access to view the trains, but at a safe distance without the risk of damage to property or person.

I'm looking for advice from other modelers out there who may have displayed their G scale at events such as this, and how they go about it.  Maybe someone also has an idea about how I can bring this topic up with the train club without it causing any trouble.  I understand, I'm probably throwing around a lot of "what ifs?" in this post, but these days we live in such a crazy, mixed up world, that anything is possible.  Again, I don't want to see any of my models get damaged, anyone get hurt, and/or the division get a bad reputation after something goes wrong.  I'm sure there's probably some modelers out there that will say the easiest solution is to just not have the G scale setup at this event anymore, and maybe they're right.  Still, I feel like even that approach would have a negative effect to some degree.  Anyways, I'm curious to hear what others have to say, and what advice they have to offer.  I'm kind of at a loss at this time.

-Mr. Plow

Quote from: Rodimus Supreme on February 07, 2021, 10:44:00 PM
Yellow Rheneas has no relevance whatsoever. Even Mattel doesn't give a crap about Yellow Rheneas.

People are saying that since Bachmann is making a recolor, they should've went with Smudger, which now makes him more desirable since recolors are now happening. And everyone is still saying they want Sir Handel. Both are being suggested to cover all the bases. It's right there in front of everyone's faces that people are saying "If were getting a recolor, it should be Smudger. If we're getting a new tooling, it should be Sir Handel".

I never saw proof that Mattel are forcing Bachmann to only do characters that appeared in CGI. And why would Mattel have approved of The Spiteful Brakevan or, to a lesser extent, Toby's Museum Coaches, in that case? They may be repaints of rolling stock, one with a newly tooled face, but Mattel didn't create those. And it's very clear at this point that Mattel flat out hates anything and everything they didn't make. It wouldn't surprise me if they make Bachmann do that, but I never saw proof of this claim.

It's ludicrous and absurd to say that making a character people would have wanted anyway is less realistic than making a recolor of an existing character no one wanted.

None of this makes any sense, it just seems more like excuses made from misunderstanding what people are saying.

Well that escalated quickly... 

-Rusty

I definitely agree that Sir Handel is the best choice for the next Narrow Gauge announcement.  Like Chaz already mentioned, he offers contrast to what we have in the range already and fills the number gap between Rheneas and Peter Sam.  I can also say I'm for the idea of Bachmann reusing the model to make Falcon, as it does seem like this would be a great piece of nostalgia for those who want to model their layouts after the Mid Sodor Railway.  I do wonder if Bachmann would consider this though as a nameplate change seems very minor, but at the same time it's so simple to do.  Regardless, I think Sir Handel should definitely take priority for the NMRA or 2022 announcements.  Same for the wagons as well.

Now I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes by saying this, but I do think we need to take a few steps back on the whole Smudger topic.  Considering people were literally on this the day of announcements, I think it just shows ignorance.  Yes yellow Rheneas wasn't something anyone asked for, but it makes sense why he was announced over a new engine like Sir Handel or even a recolor like Smudger.  What people don't seem to understand is that significance also plays a factor into a character getting announced.  Stepney is another example people have been knocking down the door to see get a model in HO, but he honestly doesn't have any significance because he is not a character from the CGI era.  If it's true that Mattel doesn't want Bachmann investing into characters that aren't CGI based, then it's pretty clear Stepney isn't going to happen.

Smudger on the other hand has even less significance than Stepney.  He only had a small appearance back in Season 4, and because of that his character is very much forgettable.  He hasn't even received any merchandise in the last 10 years, so clearly Mattel doesn't see him as a marketable character either.  I understand people think he has a chance from Bachmann just because his tooling is already there with Rheneas, but this same argument can be made with characters like Splatter and Dodge.  Bachmann has the tooling there from Diesel, but those characters are not going to happen because they hold no significance today.  The same thing applies to Smudger being made from Rheneas.  Bachmann still has to make a new face tooling, which they would already be doing for something like Sir Handel anyway...

Again, I don't want to sound like I'm putting down those who are asking for Smudger, but if someone wants to get upset with me for being realistic, then so be it.  There certainly seemed like far more demand for Sir Handel back in 2020, and Smudger was hardly mentioned.  Now we suddenly have people who would rather step back and see another minor recolor get announced, rather than a new tooling/character.  These sort of discussions aren't necessarily a bad thing, but when people constantly want to discuss items that clearly don't have a chance of being made rather than something that would actually be considered, that's how we end up with announcements that no one wants...

-Rusty

Seeing as we are still waiting for several announcements from 2020 and even 2019 for that matter, I don't really expect to see any new tooling's announced this year.  I'm also doubtful that we'll see a lot of new items announced for the same reasons.  That being said, I honestly think Bachmann should take advantage of recolors they could do, and recolors that people would actually want unlike some of the mediocre ideas Mattel has pushed for.  Now I don't see everything on my list happening, but I do think there are a few ideas here that should be considered as I know some have requested them in the past.  I'll begin with suggestions for HO.

HO:

Sidney:


I remember several people brought up that when Paxton came out in 2018, that Bachmann should hold off making Sidney for another time.  Not only was it too early for another Class 08 character, but Sidney seemed better for a time when Bachmann couldn't make a new tooling.  Well, now is about as good a time as any I think.  While an easy model to produce with a tooling already being there, I'm not sure how popular Sidney would be.  He really hasn't seen a lot of screen time as of late, and the last time (at least to my knowledge) he was really in the spotlight was back in Season 20.  Another issue I can foresee is that many people were critical over how Bachmann did the face for Paxton, and granted the same may happen with Sidney.  I still have to laugh at how some people whined about how bad the model supposedly was, yet still went out and bought it though.  Clearly if Bachmann does Sidney there would be issues with the face in terms of scaling, but would it really be that bad?  Overall I think that given the current circumstances and the fact that Sidney would still probably do well in terms of sales, it's a model Bachmann should consider for 2021.

Chocolate Covered Percy:


Since we've seen various engine recolors over the last 5 years, I think a variation of Percy would be a good choice for the next one.  Percy's Chocolate Crunch has been a favorite of mine from the classic series and when also considering this is a theme Mattel has continued  to released in various merchandise to this day, it just makes the most sense in my opinion.  It would be easy for Bachmann just to add some chocolate brown paint to the existing Percy with no need to do anything else.  I know some have suggested the Jack Frost Percy, but the only downside with that is the ice would require additional tooling.  I think a Chocolate Covered Percy would be a simpler model to produce and take less time.  I was also going to suggest for Bachmann to make the sugar cars, but then again I myself don't really see where they would be a desirable piece of rolling stock.  Then again, maybe these would be a great idea to release alongside a Chocolate Covered Percy, but I'm getting off topic.

Blue Henry:


Now while this is one I think has a very slim chance, at the same time it's also one I have seen requested in the past and I'm sure many wouldn't mind seeing become reality.  It's easy just to take Henry's tooling and paint it blue, maybe even correct some of the color errors on the model while doing so.  I know some want to throw up the argument that Henry was in his old shape when he was blue and Bachmann would have to make a new tooling to compensate for that fact, but we've gone over the old shape Henry topic before.  There has been no merchandise of Henry in his old shape from any range, so there's no need for Bachmann to bother with it either.  The only thing I will say in regards to Bachmann making a blue Henry is that maybe this should have been announced back during the 75th Anniversary, but at the same time Black James isn't going to be available till later this year.  That being said, releasing a blue Henry alongside him would just be another positive.

Toby's Museum Coaches:


Moving on to rolling stock, I'll begin with Toby's Museum Coach.  This is clearly just a repainted red brake coach from the model era, so again sticking with recolors, it's another simple model for Bachmann to produce.  I'd take things a step further though and also make a normal coach to go along with the brake coach.  As we've seen in the past, rolling stock like this doesn't just sell one of each and most of the time people will buy multiple coaches to make a larger train.  Despite these being referred to as "Toby's" Museum Coaches, these would definitely look great behind another older engine such as Edward.  Some may even say these would be a great substitute for the Old Coaches from Season 1.  Still it may be asking a little much suggesting rolling stock from the model era, but we've seen in the past that Bachmann isn't afraid to go back in time for ideas.

Brown Mail Car (utility van):


I can honestly say I don't know why this hasn't been done sooner considering the number of people that have asked for it.  Not many people were impressed with (much less even asked for) the Green Mail Car or the Live Lobsters Car, so I think it's time to announce something that has been requested and that is in demand.  A simple recolor doesn't seem like much, especially considering this has been Bachmann's choice for new rolling stock the last few years, but again this is something people have requested.  If they want to take it a step further, I think Bachmann should also consider the 4 wheel variant of the utility van, although a new tooling for the chassis would probably be required.  Whether they can squeeze that into the budget for 2021, I don't know.  Either way, both of these pieces would prove to be popular sellers.

Narrow Gauge:

Brown Brakevan:


Going back to 2020, I was a little surprised Bachmann didn't announce a brown brakevan alongside the red and blue ones.  When looking at the fact that the tooling was already in production, again I'm not sure why this 3rd brakevan was overlooked.  That being the case, I think Bachmann should consider making this for 2021.  There really isn't anything else I can say in regards to this model, but in regards to the Narrow Gauge range itself, I wouldn't expect to see anything such as a new engine being announced considering we've heard nothing on the current status of Peter Sam.  Just a single brakevan recolor may not be much for announcements, but it's something at least.

N Scale:

Toby:


This is the only new tooling I'll suggest, but I think Toby for N scale would be the best option if Bachmann wants to make another engine character this year.  Despite being a new tooling, Toby is smaller and would not present the same complexity or production cost as characters like Edward, Gordon, Henry, etc.  Toby is also more of a basic shape rather than a combination of multiple shapes and doesn't possess an elaborate valve gear.  In future Toby's chassis can also be reused for Mavis if Bachmann were to make her, so I feel that is another positive to him being announced.  Personally I wouldn't get hopes up for Henrietta in N scale, (at least not anytime soon) considering I feel she may pose the same issue as a Large Scale model of her.  One concern with Toby however is that with still no word on James, Bachmann may pass on announcing a new engine character for 2021, even if Toby would be an easy option.

LBSC Thomas:


Considering how ecstatic people were over the HO models announcement, this is another one I could see people getting excited about as well.  LBSC Thomas has proved to be a popular seller and the reviews I've seen on the model praise it for being one of Bachmann's best releases for the Thomas line to date.  It's an easy recolor for Bachmann which is sure to pay off in the long run.  When also considering that the N scale line is already CGI era based, it makes even more sense.  The Adventure Beings is by far my favorite Thomas & Friends special of all time as it is for many others, and this along with the 75th Anniversary makes it a desirable model.  Just like I mentioned with the HO Blue Henry though, an N scale LBSC Thomas maybe should have been announced last year, but we didn't even get the normal models of Thomas and Percy till November.  Still I feel this is something for Bachmann to take into consideration for 2021, even if it's a little overdue.  Better late than never, right?

Open Wagons/Trucks:


Because we already have the Troublesome Trucks in the range, I think it makes sense for Bachmann to do recolors with the existing wagon tooling.  Some announcements I can see are models like the red and blue open wagons, the cargo car, the coal wagon, and basically anything else that is an open wagon.  I can also see Bachmann making S.C. Ruffey basically for the same reasons he was made in all the other ranges out there.  I'm not exactly sure what to say when it comes to other stock like vans and/or other wagons.  Considering Bachmann reused the Graham Farish tooling for the N scale tankers last year, it does have me and many others curious if they will use those tooling's again for other rolling stock.  Anyways, I think if Bachmann can at least announce 3 open wagons for the range this year, I'd say that's a win.

Large Scale:

Paxton:


I'm not going to say too much on this, other than the fact Paxton seems like a given in my opinion.  His tooling is already there and Large Scale itself is limited on what it can do when it comes to engine characters.  The range has also pushed mostly for recolors over the last 5 years, and when also considering that Diesel (a new tooling) was announced last year, I wouldn't really expect to see another new tooling till 2025.  I will say that if Bachmann does announce Paxton, I would be all for it.  He is a more popular character and his HO model has done well in terms of sales, despite the negative response from some.  Plus with the Class 08 tooling available right now, it would make more sense for Bachmann to do Paxton rather than Arry and Bert considering they were not good sellers in HO, nor did they do well in OO and O for Bachmann's competitors.  Paxton is the best bet hands down.

LBSC Thomas:


This model in particular honestly should have been announced last year during the 75th Anniversary.  Given that an LBSC Thomas is just a simple recolor, releasing it alongside Diesel would have been a good idea, but the model just never appeared.  Still if Bachmann were to do Paxton for 2021, they could easily release an LBSC Thomas alongside him.  Two engine recolors in the same year may be a disappointment in some cases, but I think models such as these would be an exception if released in tandem.  Just like the HO model there was a lot of hype for the LBSC Thomas when it was announced, and I'm sure many Large Scale modelers would go crazy for one as well.  I pretty much said I wasn't getting anymore models after Diesel, but I would definitely make an exception if Bachmann were to announce this for 2021.

Red Coaches:


Over the last half decade or so I've seen many people mention that the red coaches are long overdue in Large Scale.  This is understandable considering they have been one of the most requested rolling stock choices for the range and are relatively simple for Bachmann to do.  All these models would require is reusing the existing Annie/Clarabel tooling and making slight alterations, mainly in regards to the brake coach.  When it comes to the sales on these models, rest assured that they "WILL" sell and in large numbers at that.  Just like their HO counterparts, it's very likely that people would go out and buy more than just one of each, considering they've been seen on trains of up to 4 coaches in some cases.  These would also be great to have behind James, considering chances of Bachmann ever doing the express coaches doesn't seem very likely.  If Bachmann could only do 1 choice of rolling stock for Large Scale this year, the Red Coaches should definitely take priority.

Troublesome Truck #3:


I brought this idea up a couple years back, but rather than a troublesome tanker, we got 3 boring tankers.  Many people have requested another Troublesome Truck for Large Scale over the years, and while it was a pleasant surprise to see the Spiteful Brakevan in 2017, we need an another actual Troublesome Truck.  As much as I think a van with a face from the model era would be a good idea for Troublesome Truck #3, I'm starting to lean towards a tanker like one ones from Journey Beyond Sodor because I feel this would kill 2 birds with one stone.  There really isn't much that needs to be done here considering these are essentially oil tankers with faces, and Bachmann has already produced the Oil Tanker in the past.  Basically all they would have to do is bring it back and add a face.  This choice not only offers people another Troublesome Truck, but also offers those who missed out on the Oil Tanker (which was only in the range for 3 years...) another chance to add it to their railroad.  I think a troublesome tanker would be a great choice if Bachmann were to do another piece of Large Scale rolling stock.  Just please don't make that awful one from Big World Big Adventures which isn't even seen on Sodor...

So in summary, I think these are all idea's Bachmann should take into consideration for the 2021 announcements.  Again, I don't have high hopes for a lot of new items this year considering we're still waiting on several announcements 2019 and 2020, but I think Bachmann should take advantage of recolors that they could do which are in demand right now.  Another advantage to sticking with simple recolors is that everything that is currently delayed or gets announced this year could potentially be out by Christmas, thus allowing Bachmann to start with a clean slate for the 2022 announcements.  Hopefully by then all the current on goings in the world have ended and we can all get back to our normal lives.  If that's the case, I'm sure we can expect some new tooling's by then, but that's a discussion for another time.

-Rusty

With the current on goings in the country this year, it has come as no surprise that train shows and swap meets (among other things) continue to be canceled or postponed.  I've watched several shows I had hoped to attend this year be canceled due to health concerns and sadly it appears I won't be making it to any at all.  The last show I had hoped to attend here in December has recently been thrown out as well.  Still there are train clubs that are having small shows, but a lot of the local ones near me have either packed it up for the year or they don't allow non-club members to setup a layout.  Needless to say, my Large Scale collection has not left home this year...

In other news, a friend of mine who is a member of a club out in Colorado recently told me that his club is starting to have public running sessions again at their local clubhouse on weekends.  They are also preparing for their upcoming Christmas shows starting in the middle of November.  Last night he sent me an email in regards to an article (titled "The Shocking Truth") from the club's assistant superintendent in the November newsletter.  He was completely speechless and rather cheesed off by what he read, as was I after taking a read.  I would like to hear some other peoples thoughts on this article and the matter of which it talks about.  I have quoted it down below...


"THE SHOCKING TRUTH
It has amazed me the number of people that have continued to support our club during this challenging year by coming to our shows and donating to keep our organization running. Sadly, we've had to cancel many of our spring and summer running sessions, but slowly things are returning to normal. Although I've only been on the committee for two years now, I've experienced so much joy participating in these running sessions we've done. I've watched many young train fans come to these shows and even talked to their parents, some who came here when they were kids themselves and are now bringing their own children to these events. When the club's founder, Robert ******* started this great organization back in 1995, I don't think he ever imagined there would be so much support for our club from the community. I want to thank both our members and our fellow neighbors for keeping our organization running.

As we begin to prepare for our holiday running sessions leading up to Christmas, I would like to address something that has been a concern of mine recently. Because many children attend these shows, I think it's important that we do all we can to ensure their safety. Getting children more involved with these shows is part of how we continue to have such great success. We are essentially passing the torch to the next generation to take grasp of the hobby and appreciate it. I have done a lot in the last two years to help the little ones be more involved, including having my own children participating and put together a small layout of Lego trains that the other children can interact with when they come to our shows. While we are getting our younger ones involved, regarding their safety should also be a priority. Many children like to get close up to look at the trains running around our layouts, and most of these layouts are powered by high voltage systems. While these power supplies are needed to run the trains, they pose the risk of electric shock. I've brought this up with my husband, Rich, who understands my concerns and thinks it is something we should discuss with our club members.

The use of high voltage power systems at these shows is worrying as they pose the potential risk of causing injury to a child which could be fatal given the right circumstances. Rich and I would like to try and get our members to consider changing out their power supplies if the output of them is greater than one amp. This especially applies to any setups which are displayed at a child friendly height or on the floor like our members who run o and g scales. These setups need to be powered by a control system that will not harm a child should they touch the trains. We will be discussing this topic further at our next club meeting on Sunday, November 15 and I'm hoping more club members will agree with my concerns and want to get on board. We not only want to be able to enjoy displaying at these shows, but also keep them family friendly especially for our little engineers who attend.
- Irene *******
Asst. Superintendent"


Now I want to ask the question, is this sort of precaution really necessary?  Will it actually be a positive for safety or just cause headache for those trying to run their layouts?  I'll admit that I do see where it's important to get the younger generation involved in this hobby, but at the same time shouldn't we also expose them to the risks as well?  I mean, these model trains could potentially present more hazards if you really wanted to get technical about it.  They have small parts which can become choking hazards, some lubricants and cleaning solutions are poisonous, misuse of equipment could cause a fire, but it all comes down to everything happening given the right circumstances.  Heck, some models out there have the whole "Warning this product contains a chemical known to cause cancer" on the package and not too many people seem concerned about that.  I myself can think of things we use every day that are far more dangerous than model railroading equipment.

So while this change wouldn't have any effect on me, my friend on the other hand says it would cause issues with running his layout.  He runs O Gauge and is currently using  an MTH Z-4000 transformer which he likes since it has no problem running the size of layout he has.  According to him though, should the club decided to enforce the "1 Amp Rule" (as he calls it) he wouldn't be allowed to use that transformer anymore.  He doesn't think a smaller power supply would work for what he's running, which is why he upgraded to something better in the first place.  I'm even sitting here scratching my head and wondering if a system such as O Gauge wouldn't just end up overloading a 1 amp controller and destroying it at some point.

I myself run Large Scale trains and I use 2 different power supplies on my railroad.  A USA Trains Train Power 10 for analog and an MRC Prodigy Elite 10A for digital.  Both of these systems put out 10 amps of power and I've found them to be very adequate for running my railroad.  I've tried running Large Scale on smaller power supplies in the past which put out around 2 amps and they just can't handle the Large Scale models I have, especially if I'm running multiple trains at one time.  I've also had one of Bachmann's 1 amp controllers that came in one of the first Large Scale starter sets I got, and it failed just by running a standard Big Hauler loco.  Maybe these smaller units can run Large Scale and I'm just not doing it right, but if something out there has a better output, then that's what I would prefer to use.

Now in regards to child safety, I've had my Large Scale trains to 2 shows in the past and while that isn't really a significant number, I can still say I haven't had any issues.  Like many of the Large Scale guys do, I set up on the floor for convince sake.  Both times I was using the Train Power 10 (as I did not have DCC at the time) and no one, I repeat "no one" got bit by it.  The kids mostly would just lay on the floor, watch the trains as they went past and sometimes follow them, but they knew enough not to touch anything.  I do have signs around my setups asking people not to touch the trains, but that's only good for those who listen.  In fact based on my own experience going to model train shows and/or diecast shows, it seems the kids actually listen better than the adults.  What's up with that?

Given the right circumstances, yes it is possible to get a shock from the tracks.  I've been bit before when doing something like cleaning or rerailing, but it's basically no different than someone building up static and then touching you.  Other than a quick jolt, I cannot say I've been effected to the point where I'm in severe pain.  Now I am aware that infants and toddlers have softer skin and could experience more of an effect, but again would a shock from one of these systems really cause injury to the point where it could be lethal?  I mean, we're dealing with a 10 amp model train transformer, not a 6 joule cattle fencer.  I wouldn't doubt that even a 1 amp controller would bite you too if the conditions were right.

I'm in no way agents the idea of making train shows more kid friendly, but to say that members running layouts must conform to a power supply under a ridiculous low rating regardless of scale seems to be taking it a little too far.  People participate in events like this because they enjoy the hobby and want to share their collection and/or layouts with the public.  However, when they begin having problems while trying to abide by the rules set in place, it takes all the enjoyment out of the hobby and most people just won't want to be bothered.  Model railroading in general is a dying hobby and in my opinion, the people in charge of this club wanting to implement this new requirement just seems like good way to kill off your 15 year run.  At the end of the day is this really a necessary change for child safety or is just a case of someone who knows absolutely nothing wanting to make decisions?

-Rusty

Christmas trains are a debatable topic for me.  Personally I don't care for them because they get used for about a month out of the whole year, then they basically sit the rest of the time.  I prefer to have models that I can run year-round and don't look out of place with everything else on my railroad.  Still I do see where trains specifically styled for a Christmas theme have their advantages, but I've decorated my existing models with miniature decorations which seem more convincing in my opinion.

Looking at Bachmann's catalog this year, it seems there is only 1 Christmas set in Large Scale that is still available.  Bachmann seems to be steering away from Large Scale sets in general, probably due to the high RRP of them.  At $629 for the Night Before Christmas set, that makes some of the cheaper sets from your local discount store seem like a hell of a bargain.  Like Bill mentioned, the quality is definitely there in the Bachmann products, but when you start looking at things from the standpoint of just an average individual who wants a set to go around their Christmas tree and not someone who is seriously into the hobby, the price is sure to turn them away.

I have found however that based on my own experience and others, that those cheap, Chinese, plastic-fantastic train sets aren't without their flaws either.  A couple years back a friend of mine went out and purchased one of those EZ Tech Christmas sets from Walmart to put under the tree, then it sat in the attic till the following year.  The following Christmas he got the set out again, ran it around the tree for a couple evenings, and then it just stopped.  Turns out the gears on the main drive had split and it really wasn't worth putting the time into fixing.  He ended up just gutting the unit and making it into a set that his kids could push along.  In my opinion though, at a price of $60+ for a train set that only had about a month of runtime, he should have just thrown his money in the trash to begin with.  Worst part is he went out and bought one of their $28 sets next Christmas.  Idiot...

I won't lie, I too have wasted a lot of money in my younger years buying those cheap G scale sets from the Dollar Store and I honestly regret it.  With all the money I spent on those, I probably could have bought a decent Big Haulers set from Bachmann back when they were cheaper.  It wasn't until 2010 when I decided to save up my money and purchased a Bachmann set, and I can honestly say it's a decision I wish I'd have made sooner.  I still have the same set to this day, although I expanded upon it and upgraded to brass track rather than steel.  Although I paid around $200 for the set, the models (with proper care and regular maintenance) have lasted over a decade.  The cheap plastic sets I had all deteriorated over the years and found their way to the local landfill.  I dare say that you get what you pay for.

The truth is that if you look around on sites like eBay, you can actually find some Bachmann Large Scale sets for under $100.  The radio controlled ones seem to be very reasonable and sometimes can be had for around $50.  At the end of the day everyone is entitled to their opinion on what they think is good or bad, but I myself would steer away from the cheaper toy like sets.  Its better to pay the extra money for a set that will stand the tests of time, rather than spending that money on multiple generic sets that just don't last.  Of course I only purchased a few quality Large Scale trains for under the Christmas tree, and now I've got trains running all over the house.  I regret nothing...

-Rusty

Although I haven't added sound my Lyn, I have been working on adding modules to my other locos this year.  I'd recommend checking out SoundTraxx's website as I know they apparently make a lot of sound modules for Bachmann models.  Chances are though that you may need to acquire additional hardware in order to install one into the Lyn.

-Rusty

Well I first want to apologize for taking so long to get back to everyone, but I haven't really had time to do anything to give any updates.

So the MRC system arrived and I tried running the Porter with it, but I still have no control over turning the light on or off and the same can be said for the smoke unit.  I had the model running for probably around a good 20 minutes before the smoke unit even started to work, and then after turning off the switch the unit still continued to smoke.  That being said, I'd assume I've got no control over that be it with the DCC unit or the switch on the model.  So once again I'm left asking questions.

I'm also noticing issues with my Peter Witt street car and the Lyn.  Both models use Bachmann's 44915 decoder.  The Peter Witt has no interior lights, but the headlight and rear light come on depending which direction the model is moving.  The Lyn on the other hand appears to have the issue of the smoke unit not functioning even when the switch is in the on position.  I'm not 100% sure without testing, but I'm wondering if my Davenport has the same problem?

I'm not sure what the problem is.  I've installed a similar decoder in my Rail Truck and haven't had any issues, so whats wrong with the other models?  Do I have a defective decoder?  Did I wire it in wrong?  Do I have the right decoder for the model?  I really wanted to add DCC to my railroad this year, but now I'm starting to wonder if I've just over-complicated the hobby...

-Rusty

I did hook things up according to the DCC wiring diagram.  The decoder I installed was a 1amp decoder from Bachmann #44915.  At the moment I am using a Bachmann Dynamis system, but I recently upgraded to a MRC Prodigy Elite which I'm currently waiting on to arrive.

-Rusty

Got another question.  I installed a decoder in Bachmann's 0-4-0 Porter and noticed that the headlight comes on, but you can't turn it off.  It's not a big deal, but I'm just wondering if it means I wired something in wrong?  In addition to that, I can't seem to have any control turning the smoke unit off.  I noticed that the smoke units on my Lyn and Davenport aren't even turning on, but those have the plug in boards.  Anyone know anything on this issue?

-Rusty

The number for the 8' curves is 94655.  Keep in mind that Bachmann's brass track is not compatible with their steel alloy track.  If you have any steel track, I'd recommend just replacing it with brass.  I had what came in the first couple starter sets I bought and it all rusted over the few years I had it.  Yes brass is more expensive, but I can honestly say it was well worth the money for me when I made the change.  I'd recommend shopping around as Bachmann brass track is around $7 per foot and I paid nowhere near that for a lot of what I have.  Look around on eBay and run a Google search.

Another advantage I found with Bachmann's brass track is that it is compatible with USA Trains and LGB track.  I used LGB switches for the first few years, but recently switched over to USA Trains' 8' switches.  Bachmann only makes 4' switches in the brass track.  I believe USA Trains had some input with Bachmann when they designed their brass track, as both companies use the same type of rail joiners and screws.  Really nights when things fit together like that.

-Rusty

I'm telling you right now, the larger the radius the better it will be for both you and your models.  I've told many people who want to get into Large Scale to steer away from the smaller curves if they can help it.  4' diameter curves are good for very short trains under a Christmas tree during the holidays, but not year round operation.  Regular use tends to shorten the life of your trains and the track overtime. 

The big problem with these curves is they are tight and add a lot of friction to the wheels of your locomotive which in turn causes wear on the motor, gearbox, and the gears.  Not to mention that overtime the wheels on the engine slowly grind down the railhead.  In addition to that you'll also start to notice a lot of black dust that is hard to remove from your carpet (if you run around the house like I do) under the track.  This is a mixture of brass from the metal wheels grinding away the inside of your outside rail and plastic dust from the brass track grinding down the plastic wheels on your rolling stock.  As the rails wear, the gauge of the track will also become larger in time and eventually your rolling stock will start dropping down between the rails.

When I first got into Large Scale I used 4' diameter curves, but these days I won't run anything smaller than 8' diameter curves.  The only time I get out the 4' ones is (like I mentioned earlier) when I set up tracks around the Christmas tree.  A lot of the models I own have long since been discontinued by Bachmann and with some of them costing well over $1k, I'd rather not take my chances and risk destroying them.  Like I said, 4' diameter curves will work on very short trains and for occasional running, but that's it.

What I would recommend is to use the largest diameter curve you can fit into the space where you're running your trains.  About 3-4 years ago I went out and purchased a box of Bachmann 8' diameter curves and it was one of the best choices I've ever made with Large Scale.  As I said before, the best thing is to use the largest diameter curve you can, but I wouldn't recommend using anything smaller than 8'.  Anything smaller than that and you risk damaging your trains and constantly replacing track every 2-3 years.  In this case, bigger is better.

-Rusty

Problem solved, Hunt.  As you suspected I had the decoder plugged in backwards.  Turned it around and the light now turns on and off with the control and also when the model is in reverse.  Unfortunately DCC is still very much new to me so I'm still learning.  Thanks for the help!

-Rusty

Hey all,
Recently began converting my models over to DCC and acquired decoders for my smaller locos.  I put one in the Davenport I have and after programing it found that the model runs fine with no issues.  However, the headlight on the model will not turn on.  I've tried turning it on through the DCC controller, but with no luck.  All my other locos have lights that turn on, but the Davenport seems to be a no go.  I purchased a new PCB and headlight when I got the model, so I don't feel that it's either of those causing the problem.  Any help would really be appreciated.

-Rusty