Hello Everyone:

well I finally got my project done that I mentioned on here last year.

it's the bachmann 2-10-2 southern locomotive.

I added weight to it, replaced the cruddy yellow leds and the bachmann dcc chip.





thankfully to the design team at bachmann, they made it where the smoke box comes off, easy to do the headlight swap, the tender was easy as well.

the added weight came from 3/8" thick solid steel slugs I saved from a job I had years ago, I epoxied them in, and the locomotive has more pulling power now.

little things like this do make a difference, and thankfully the 2-10-2 does not have that belt drive like a few of the bachmann locomotives have.

take care
George

Hello Everyone:

I am looking for a set of smoke deflectors for the bachmann 4-8-4 niagara, I contacted bachmann's service department and they told me I have to buy a complete boiler just to get a pair of the smoke deflectors.

if anyone can help, please contact me.

take care and thanks
George

  Hello Everyone:

I figure since bachmann now has williams, what a better way to get some nice O scale sets going than with some E-Z track.

all of the other companies produce it in O scale, it could be something good for bachmann.

take care
George

Hello Everyone:

I am not trying to sound mean or sarcastic, but I reached a dead end when I contacted bachmann in regards to an engine I have.

it is a nickel plate 2-8-0 spectrum version, it is missing the steam pumps that mount on the fireman's side near the cab.

I want to replace it with the original part if possible, I figured I might ask here, some people change parts out for more details, and there might be a spare laying about.

bachmann told me I have to send the whole engine in and have the boiler replaced, or order a replacement boiler, I think this is a bit out of the way since it is a seperate piece that mounts on the boiler.

so it's either spend $15.00 and send the loco in, or spend $30 for a replacement shell, which in my opinion doesn't add up.

if anyone can help, please do so.

take care and thanks in advance
George

Hello Everyone: 

I love bachmann's 2-8-0, but the 2-8-0's seem too problematic with their belt drives in my opinon,

I have had to use the warranty on them more than once for the belt, I found a small solution using a steel belted vcr belt, it works,

but I heard of a conversion kit that eliminates the belt, does anyone know of it?.

it's a great loco, but the stupid design flaw is the belt in my opinion, there is enough room to use a gear driven system and still keep it hidden, you would have to change the pulleys to gears and somehow mount a gear inbetween the motor and the bottom shaft.

any help is appreciated on this,

take care and thanks
George

Hello Everyone

I am considering a 2-8-4 by bachmann, but here's the kicker,

does it have a belt drive in it? or is it a gear drive?.

I have looked on the net and I haven't found any news about it or tech specs.

I don't subscribe to model railroader so I don't know what their opinion was on it.

I am tired of belt drives, and I want to know in advance what the loco has before I purchase one.


any input is helpful.

take care and thanks
George

Hello Everyone 

I managed to snag one of the bachmann #43-1290 N&W passenger sets that was made by Rivarossi,

one question, what cars are in this set, it's a 6 car set and for what I got it for, I consider it a killer deal.

I want to know what's in it just in case I have to get a few other cars for it.

any help is appreciated, take care and thanks
George 

Hello Everyone:

I realize bachmann makes 2 diesels and a 2-8-4 for the Nickel Plate road,

but what ever happened to the 2-8-0?, when the spectrum lines upgraded, this roadname was left behind and because of it, people pay an arm and a leg on ebay for it.

how about using most of the tooling from the prr 4-6-2 to make a NKP 4-6-2?.

or how about the 4-8-2, your company makes that loco, and the Nickel plate used them as well.

I know your company made the articulated 2-6-6-2, but those were leftovers from the W&LE.

you could issue a new explorer train set with the 2-8-0 and the passenger cars in the nickel plate livery.

it would sell,

any help is appreciated

take care and thanks
George

Hello Everyone 

I have been working on a layout off and on for the past few years, and I have finally decided on 26" and 28" radius curves.

I know a lot of people like to hand laid layouts, I did it a while back and I had too many problems so I decided to go with E-Z track.

I am using a 6' x 10' table, I can easily make it 7' x 10' if I have to,

I am trying to use track planning software atlas rts, but the problem is the fact they don't have radius curves that large, so I really don't have a clear idea on how it is all going to line up.

I am going with the idea of two basic ovals, # 5 L and R switches, then adding a few sidings and a roundhouse,

I decided on the larger radius mainly because of the passenger cars, a lot of them are asking for 24" radius curves, so now I am going to tear down the old layout and start building the new one.

anyone have any ideas on some layout software that might be able to help, possibly freeware?

any help is appreciated

take care and thanks
George

Hello Everyone:

I am glad bachmann made a 2-8-4, but I am wandering on the details on it since bachmann's site has such a vague description about it.

does the loco have a flywheel inside?, and what is the general tech specs on it?.

I don't use dcc, I am not worried about that jazz, but I am hoping there is a flywheel inside, if not, I will pitch the extra $$$ and go for a proto version.

any help or info is appreciated

take care and thanks
George

Hello Everyone 

I have a problem with a spectrum 2-8-0 with dcc,

I don't use dcc so I put the dummy plugs in, and when I run the locomotive, the headlight doesn't work.

what can I do to fix this problem?, and is this a common problem?.

I don't use dcc, I am old fashioned, and I have a lot of older locomotives, so DCC doesn't suit my needs.

any help is appreciated.

take care and thanks
George

 Hi Everyone

I really like the Bachmann spectrum passenger cars, but one of my problems is the lack of a few cars in each consist,

I am wandering why didn't bachmann make baggage cars or sleepers for their spectrum sets?.

also why didn't bachmann make more Norfolk and Western cars?.

the cavalier set is a nice set for the price, but none of the stores I have talked to carry extra cars in the Norfolk and Western markings.

sure you could buy another train set, but the cars would have the same roadnumbers.

I know walthers sells the other cars and the paint is close, but why didn't bachmann bother to do this in the first place.

and one last idea, hey Bachmann make a spectrum Nickel Plate Road Passenger set, the heavyweights would look cool.

take care
George

Hello Everyone:

well I finally snagged one for the layout

a spectrum DDA40X # 6900

I know all of the features, but what is a radius one of these beasts need to run on?.

I had the older crappy version with the pancake motor before, I redone it with an athearn chassis and it improved it a lot, but when I tore down my old layout, I sold it off.

what is the pro's and cons on the spectrum one?

please let me know

thank you in adavnce
George

Hello everyone:

Hey Bachmann when are you going to have a E-Z Track bridge available?

you have the trestle set, it would seem natural to have the bridge.

I know of a few bridges that can be retro-fitted, but what about the kids and people who are new to this hobby?.

the trestle or elevated pier set is kinda lame if you don't have the bridge.

this would be an easy seller for bachmann also.

just a thought

take care
George

  Hello Everyone:

it has been a while since I went all out and did a new layout with Atlas tracks, I have a small layout using E-Z track, but I want to do a more realistic layout with my nephew.

the question is this.

what Switch track would be compared to a 22 inch radius.

I plan on using code 83 track

I know there is # 4 , and such, but which one would I use that would give me the 22 inch radius turn?.

I am building a basic 2 main line layout with sidings and more, but all of the mainlines are going to be using 22 and 24 inch radius turns.

I run Big steam engines

I like e-z track for it's ease of use, but I want to build another serious layout like my O scale one.

any input is helpful

take care and thanks
George