Plow Bender
It has been a while since I have seen your name pop up in the train forums.

I think you have pretty well listed every pro and con of public display of model railroading. In my opinion there is no single answer to your issues but some things just have to be done no matter what "people say" and those people saying things usually have no horse in the race. 

Our local Garden RR Club here in Southern Oregon has put on a Christmas train show for the 3rd year in the local mall. We rent a vacant store front and decorate the whole place for Christmas. Last year we had over 20,000 visitors, don't have the door count yet for this year. WE Open Black Friday and close on New Years Eve, we are open during all Mall open hours, can be a tough schedule to keep.

We have experienced almost everything you mention, but have learned to cope.

We always have a large G scale display on the floor and it is only accessible from one or sometimes two sides. It is ALWAYS roped off with Christmas lights/garland, no matter what. Not only from children but from adults that just have to get that perfect picture.

The modular layout is elevated at about 42 inches high with no barriers of any kind.
All other displays are also unprotected.

We always have 3-4 members in club colors and also couple in plain cloths with name tags circulating and interacting with guests. It keeps problems at a minimum.

Good luck sorting it out
Rick

 

Take a look at this site.     https://rcsofne.com/
And contact Don, he can help you with everything you need.

Best repair is to use a small section of brass rod or even a section of straight pin, drill the valve and super glue it in then drill the boiler and super glue the valve on.

Unfortunately Barry is in Hospice care and won't be building any more drives.  You might contact Bachmann and pick up one of the newer generations chassis for your loco. They may still be on sale for $55

Joe,
I think that means that your Chassis will come with the old (original) style pilot assembly not the new style that is on the latest generation of "Big Hauler" locomotives.

Just bought a pair of chassis's last year and that was the case.

This may not be the problem with yours but it is a very common issue with these little Gems.

Take a look here.   http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/Bachmann_Rail_Truck_Gear_Repair.pdf

I would open it up and take a look to be sure then order the parts.

Rick

Sounds like a cracked gear.
Pull the cab and floor boards and check the  gear in the "transmission"

You should be able to find a Styrene tubing at a local hobby store that will replace the axle tube.
I have repaired several pilot axles this way.

I discovered a broken gear in a large scale rail truck that I was finally getting around to bashing and painting for service.

Called Bachmann "Parts" and was told that the entire gearbox assembly had to be replaced.
I said OK, fine how much?  The reply Is Sorry out of stock, don't know when they will be in stock.  I'm thinking, hmmmm, not very helpful. 

I thought about it for a couple days and called Bachmann service and talked to one of the techs and explained the issue.  His response; Do you have the sales receipt? is it within one year?  If so fax me a copy and I will send you the gear you need, we have one left right now.

Found the receipt, discovered I had one week before the year was up, faxed it to him, couple weeks later the part arrived.

No fuss no problems just good service.
Thanks Bachmann Service

Not real sure what the issue is.
I just changed out a set of these a couple days ago for a friend.
He brought his height gauge for his 1:22 stock over and it took about 10 minutes
to change them out after looking at the line drawings supplied with the model.
Threw the leftover parts in the box and checked the engine on rail with his height
gauge and everything was fine.

Pretty straight forward change out to match the 1:22 standard.
Rick

Mickey,

Depends on what your trying to do but Gary Watkins (Sierra Valley Enterprises) used to make a fine scale conversion kit for those early (plastic frame) side dumpers. 
Just checked his web site and he still has them listed, might want to give them a look.

http://www.sierravalleyenterprises.com/bach_ore_cars.html

Good luck
Rick

When I did a bunch of custom work on my Connie a few years back I found on disassembly that a couple of those springs had been damaged at the factory and were useless.  I replaced them with KD coupler springs and it has been perfectly fine since.
Rick

Hi Phil,
I hope you haven't thrown away the packaging yet because the instructions are tucked up between the cardboard layers at the top of the package.

You will also need the "additional" instructions which are available several places on line and also in the August 2005 issue of Garden Railways.  If you can't locate them give me a yell back and I will scan and send you a copy.  Pretty sure someone will jump in with the location though. 

It's a simple conversion but the additional instructions are critical.
Later
Rick Marty

RLD Hobbies had a couple left when I talked to them last week.
check here

http://www.rldhobbies.com/

Later
Rick Marty