I received the 2-6-6-2 and new long caboose in the mail this week from Micro-Mark.  Both items look better in person than in pictures I have seen.

As an old man with big fingers, I found the two plugs to connect the engine and tender together difficult to attach.  In fact, at first I didn't make a proper connection with the larger plug and the loco ran very erratically.  Later, when I realized the problem and corrected it, I had to apologize to the loco for some of the names I called it.

The loco runs great.  I run DC -- so likely you would get better performance (if that's possible) with DCC.  The sound is good, but somehow I was expecting better.  It sounds just like the other Bachmann locos.  There does seem to be a lot of boiler overhang on my 22" radius curves.

All-in-all, a great loco and caboose.  Thanks Bachman.  Can't wait to see (and hear) what's next.

-JRT

Seems like very young kids have taken over this discussion board.  Too bad.  Interesting that many posts are made during school hours.

I think Bachmann's lack of On30 Christmas releases let the steam out of any remaining On30 momemtum and really let their retailers down when the retail hobby industry needed a shot in the arm.  Items that should have been released in time for Christmas:

Both 4-4-0's with sound,

Upgraded 2-6-0 with DCC and sound,

A long caboose (or any new rolling stock.)

Hopefully next year will be more interesting.

-James Thomas

Seems like a lot of "scale specific" items are posted in the General Discussion board.  I think you would get quicker responses if you posted on the correct board for your scale.

Mr Bach Man,

The new releases "sound" terriffic, except I don't see any sound versions.  Is sound a thing of the past in On30?

-Jim

I enjoy watching your videos and appreciate the time people take to make them.  However, I would like to make one comment:  The up-close, eye-level shots really don't show us much that we can't see by looking at our own trains up close.  (I assume you are trying to make the trains look real?)

I'd rather see overall shots of your railroads so that I can see trackplan, scenery, and structures.

Thanks.

Hey Bach Man,

I just bought the On30 4-4-0, steel cab, red and white, version.  It is a very nice running loco.  My only regret is that it doesn't have sound.  I know you said sound versions may be available later in 2008 -- but I couldn't wait. 

When the sound versions are released, what do you think of the idea of releasing tenders-with-sound seperately that would plug into our existing loco?  This would be a nice reward for those of us that bought the non-sound versions.

Thanks.

I posted this question on the On30 board, but received no replies.  My On30 Forney stalls when going thru this turnout.  (I have seven other #5's that don't cause stalling.)  My 2-8-0 runs thru fine; so does the Shay.

What is the black wire for that is taped underneath the turnout?  It has a rail-joiner-looking plug on it.  Can't see any place to plug it in.  Does it power the frog?  Help.

Thanks.

Just bought a #5 LH Turnout for the railroad.  Not an easy task putting the #5 in and getting everything to fit again; but I did it.
1.  Bachmann On30 2-8-0 won't run thru it without tender derailing.   Discovered that the fixed rail just past the pivoting rail was considerably higher than the pivoting rail.  Took a bit of filing, but finally got things working fine.

2.  Bachmann On30 Forney won't run thru turnout without stalling.  (I have a number of other #5 turnouts that cause no problems -- stalling or derailing.)

Any ideas why the Forney stalls on this turnout and not the others?
I run regular DC with an MRC Control Master 20.
There is a wire underneath with a little railjoiner-like plug on it; but I don't see where it plugs in-- no info on the package.  I assume this plug would power the frog?  Would that solve my stalling problem?

I would appreciate some input before I take the track apart again.

Thanks. 

There is no mention of the 4-4-0 having sound as an option; oversight, or is it for silent running only?

In the good old days we would have been hearing (and talking about) new products due out in time for Christmas.  Now, of course, we won't be hearing about these new items until September or October.

I miss the excitement and anticipation as well as progress reports and pilot model photos.  Seems like Bachmann must know what's coming long before four months of release date.  I would also think Bachmann might like some feedback before a project is too far along to make minor adjustments.

Anyone feel the same way?

I've read the manual, but I can't figure it out.  Does anyone know if it is possible to override the directional lighting in the Forney.  I would like to keep the headlight on when going in reverse.  Is there a CV # and value to change?

I operate in DC, but can change CV values.

Thanks.

I got my second Forney with sound today.  The first one was outside frame #12, this one is inside frame #11.  At eye level, these two locos look very different from each other.  However, my railroad is only 12" from the floor.  From above, these locos are quite similar.

I know it was sort of common to paint cab roofs boxcar red (or something like it.)  Was there another colour commonly used for steam engine cab roofs?

Thanks.

It appears that Soundtraxx is no longer selling Tsunami eqipped Climaxes and Shays.  Are there any plans for Bachmann to rerun Shays and Climaxes with Sound, or will sound only be offerred in "new" locomotives?
Thanks.

I am a loyal Bachmann fan, in both Large Scale and On30.  However, I am getting discouraged with the "Procedures" required to repair new products.
There's the Railtruck procedure, the 2-8-0 procedure, the 3 Truck Shay procedure, the Fn3 Boxcar procedure, the sound Forney without enough chuffs per revolution ....

Seems like we have become Bachmann's final assembly station and or quality control department.

My expertise is in structure building.  I am not a master mechanic.  Although these "procedures" may seem straightforward and simple to some of you, many (like the large scale 3 truck shay procedure) seem out of my comfort zone.

Would it be unreasonable to:
- have Bachmann perform the procedures on all remaining in-stock items,
-have Bachmann authorize and fund LHS to perform the procedures,
-offer a rebate to customers willing and capable of performing these  procedures themselves.

I think it has become too easy for Bachmann to pass the problems on to us.  Until it becomes too expensive and/or too much of a hassle for Bachmann to continue having these problems, we will continue to have these problems.

I purchased a Precision Craft Models "DC Master Analog Control Module" to use with their On30 Galloping Goose.  I'm still in the "reading the instructions" phase.  On page 10 it states "The DCMaster can program any DCC CV using the DCC service mode direct programmimg."

I haven't tried it yet.  Does this mean I can use this controller to change CV values on Bachmann Tsunami equipped engines?  Has anyone tried using the DCMaster to change CVs?

This controller was only $50 Cdn; it would be teriffic if it does what I hope it does.