Back in December when the holiday season was starting up, I decided to start covering my HO-scale 11x8 model railroad layout with "snow" for the upcoming winter. I had a stroke of genius in devising a way to come up with snow... using 1/4" Styrofoam sheets cut to fit parts of the layout and decorated with Woodland Scenics "snow" material!




The Christmas train, pulled by my Bachmann Spectrum ATSF 2-8-0, makes its' way through the snowy landscape!















Of course, any "snow" that comes loose I vacuum up so it doesn't get into my trains' motors! And then when spring arrives, I can remove the styrofoam snow sections and store them until next winter!
Pretty cool landscaping technique, huh?

You may recall me mentioning four months ago I got me a Bachmann 2-8-0 Spectrum Baldwin steam locomotive and tender, the DCC-ready version (I've since plugged a decoder into the tender.) But it arrived with the cowcatcher damaged and the coupler part broken, so I ordered a replacement cowcatcher from the Bachmann parts store (model H11408-Cowcatcher-B). But now how do I remove the old cowcatcher so I can replace it? The diagram I looked at didn't help much, and when I removed the screws and cover plates from the bottom, the cowcatcher piece still stays in tight. Is there any additional screws or parts I need to remove before replacing the cowcatcher?
Thanks.

I recently ordered on eBay a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 steam locomotive and tender (in ATSF road name, of course) and it's DCC-ready. But what decoder should I use? I'm going to run it with my E-Z Command unit and I don't want anything to fancy.
I've been eyeing this one, as I've often had good luck with TCS decoders on my layout and E-Z Command system...
http://tcsdcc.com/installation/ho-scale/bachmann-spectrum-baldwin-2-8-0/dp2x-uk

Anyone ever try this decoder with E-Z Command? If not, any other alternatives? Would any of Bachmann's own plug-in decoders work? (It would have to be the 8-pin version.)

Time for another post from me about a vintage Bachmann model train product! This time it's about their "Scenic Classics" line...

In 1979, when Bachmann started making landscaping products as part of their model train line (a precursor to their SceneScapes line) they also came out with the "Scenic Classics" line, which included a Plasticville building kit or similar accessories and some landscaping (to be set on a small square grass mat).
It was a pretty neat concept, especially for young model railroaders who were starting out in wanting to do landscaping.


The back side of the box; same as on the boxes for their action accessories of the time. Believe it or not, Bachmann still sells some of their operating accessories in the older late 70s box style from time to time, just with the product number updated. At the hobby shop I often go to, I've seen the Wayside Steam Whistle Warehouse sold in the original 1980 packaging style, complete with the back showing some of those long-discontinued products. Talk about a throwback! (The only products seen here still made by Bachmann include the dual crossing gates and blinking bridge (now modified to work with E-Z Track) and the diesel horn oil tank.)

Here are links to old catalog images showing different Scenic Classics kits...
http://hoseeker.net/bachmanninformation/bachmanncatalog1979pg17.jpg
http://hoseeker.net/bachmanninformation/bachmanncatalog1980pg28.jpg

Then in 1982, Bachmann refreshed the line into the "Lighted Scenic Classics," where the included Plasticville kit would also include an interior light unit to be set up in the building. Bachmann also made them in O-scale as well.
Bachmann eventually discontinued them after the 80s. But I know Life-Like had also come out with their own equivalent in the 80s, with their "Build-a-Scene" kits, which remained available until the early 2000s.


Here's how I put the vegetable garden together on my layout! I didn't need to use the little grass mat, since I already applied ground cover to the layout (i.e. I paint the foam surface in an earth color and sprinkle on the ground cover material while the paint is still wet.) It was kind of tricky applying the "vegetables" to the garden, but I am pleased with how it came out. The kit was missing the little wooden poles to apply tomatoes to, but I suppose I can make them myself. It also came with a couple of unpainted figures, wheelbarrow and a PINK tree. (What was Bachmann thinking back in 1979?) Maybe I'll get around to painting the figures at some point; I already have the paints I would need...


I think it'd be cool if Bachmann brought back something like this on the market. Of course the landscaping materials would the newer (and much better-looking) SceneScapes variety, and several of those Plasticville kits and accessories are still in production. After all it's neat how Bachmann makes some interesting kits and packages for beginning modelers to expand their train sets (like the new E-Z Track siding sets coming out this year.)

Well, this weekend I got to see the new house my family and I will be moving into! The basement is pretty big and roomy, and I found in the area I'll be working in, there will be enough space for the 12x8' U-shape layout I am planning to build...



The entire layout will reuse my two existing plywood pieces and a new 4x8', with a few inches of extruded insulation foam on top of it, and will mostly be using nickel-silver Bachmann E-Z Track.
I'm already planning on where several action accessories will go, as indicated by some of the "regular" sectional track pieces. The "spaghetti bowl" yard on the top left will include stuff like the TYCO Operating Boxcar and Log Dump Car sets and the Life-Like Coal Tipple, and the TYCO manual piggyback loader/unloader will go on the spur on the bottom of the top inner loop. Near the center section next to a crossing there will be the TYCO Freight Unloading Depot (this time I'm placing it near a straight track line), and opposite of that the track will go over a ravine using Bachmann's E-Z Track Blinking Bridge (I saw one in action at a train show a couple weekends ago, and it appears to now use an LED instead of the old incandescent version.) On the bottom is where I will be setting up the Life-Like Logging Mill and AHM Thunder Mountain Logging Company (yep, I'm going to combine both of them!) The spur next to that using sectional snap-track will be TYCO's Operating Hopper Car unloading area. As for railroad crossings, I will be using a few operating ones, including Bachmann's E-Z Track Crossing Gate, along with TYCO's Crossing Gate and Lighted Signal Crossing. I will feature many different types of structures, including Bachmann Plasticville (of course), along with some others from Walthers, AHM, TYCO, IHC, Life-Like, etc. I'm also going to set up a drive-in theater on the bottom extension of the layout (the Walthers Skyview drive-in kit, which is named after the drive-in theater my hometown of Brockton MA used to have!)

I'm already moving my train stuff into the area where the new layout will be set up in the new house!

So there will be quite an interesting mix of old and new on this layout. I may not start the actual construction until after Christmas though, but at least I've got the exciting planning stages to go through! And it also helps I found a great little hobby shop in Hanson MA, near the bowling alley my brother's bowling team meets at every other Sunday, for me to buy stuff from for this new layout.

As hard as it is to believe, Bachmann's classic dual crossing gate operating accessory is 40 years old this year!


It was first introduced in 1976, when Bachmann first began to get into action accessories (to compete with rival companies like AHM, Life-Like and TYCO at the time.)

Over the years, it's gotten a few cosmetic updates, such as a more realistically-green base, nickel-silver rails, prototypical colors for the crossing signals and gates, and the ability to easily connect to E-Z Track. (Bachmann didn't start making an E-Z Track version of the crossing gate until 1997.)
Bachmann also made another version in the 80s and 90s that came equipped with a flashing lights and bell sound, but it wasn't very good (the lights would strobe together unrealistically and the bell would ding too fast with a grinding motor sound), and it was discontinued by the late 90s.

We have a couple of them set up on our big HO-scale train layout at the hobby shop I volunteer at, and even with the unrealistic bouncing gate problem, they still attract attention, and the owner will order some to sell to his customers! And visually they look pretty neat (especially since we live in an area where most railroad crossings have gated signals, due to the MBTA operating commuter trains through here.)

Just felt like sharing this interesting Bachmann milestone.

Now before I begin, there's gonna be a LOT of Bachmann stuff involved in this layout, thus making it perfect to share here!

For some who don't know, I volunteer at a hobby shop in Brockton, MA (Hogie's Hobbies), and the owner is setting up a museum in his shop. Me and a few other volunteers will be putting together an HO-scale layout for this museum! There will be plenty of Bachmann stuff, as the shop is an authorized Bachmann dealer. So far we'll be starting with a large L-shape framework that will get bigger in size over time. For now we have this temporary setup:


It's pretty neat, I will say.


I recently got this for the museum. Bachmann sold this pack in the early 80s, and it was a pretty interesting idea to do so. We can display the box as a museum exhibit, and use the structures on the layout! Two birds with one stone!


Currently we're running the "Thoroughbred" train set on this temporary layout. Mr. Hogan usually sells this since the Norfolk Southern runs in the New England area. He's also planning to sell Bachmann's new "Coastliner" train set, because the freight trains running through our area are typically pulled by CSX GP40 locomotives, like the set has:

(The MBTA owns the track line running through Brockton, but CSX runs the freight trains on the route, taking it over from Conrail.)


Walthers Cornerstone Merchant's Row I, Bachmann dual crossing gates, and a TYCO/Pola Howard Johnson's building! (We got this because of how Brockton used to have a Howard Johnson's restaurant.)


The real layout will be built using E-Z Track, with 22" radius curves for the outer oval. We also plan to get Bachmann's "Digital Commander" train set to start it up, so we can have a DCC unit and a couple of decoder-equipped locomotives to get started. Anyone who's volunteering can bring their own equipment to run as well. (I have some Amtrak stuff I think would look good on the layout.) Since the owner is also into vintage model train stuff, you can expect to see quite a bit of vintage Bachmann stuff on the layout (along with A.H.M., TYCO, etc.)

I'll post more updates as I go along.

A while back I acquired catalogs of Bachmann's products from 1992 and 1996. It's interesting seeing how the company was back then. All three of them have train products for HO, N and G gauges (no Spectrum stuff; that used to be cataloged separately.)

The 1992 catalog advertises the "King of the Rail" series train sets; each one including a chrome-finish F9 Santa Fe Warbonnet diesel locomotive, along with signs, poles and figures. There is the "Thunder Chief," with the loco pulling two freight cars and caboose around a 36" circle of track, the "Tornado" with the loco hauling three freight cars and caboose on a 45x36" oval of track with a bridge-and-trestle set, and the similar "Lightning Express," but with six freight cars, a 54x36" oval of track, and more signs, poles and figures. Some familiar sets are also included like the "Old Timer" sets, the "Smokey Mountain Express," the "Golden Spike," and the "Overland Limited" (featuring an 87x40" figure-eight track layout using a 90-degree cross track.) One set, the "Empire Builder" (featuring a figure-8 over/under track layout with the blinking bridge and dual crossing gate), curiously features a Mehano GP18 locomotive in Union Pacific colors (obviously this set initially came out before Bachmann began making their own high-quality locos.) 1992 is also when the Bachmann Plus line was introduced: several older steam locomotives like their older Consolidation and their 4-8-4s (like the Class J and the Daylight) were upgraded into the Plus series with much better motors and all-wheel drive, and new diesels included the F7 and B23-7. Many older steam and diesels were still being sold during this time, even their old DD40X and SD40-2 with "space age electronics!" Their rolling stock was still the old type with plastic wheels and truck-mounted X2F couplers, and they still had about as many operating accessories as they had in the 1980s (including long-discontinued models like their operating log car, action depot and operating caboose), and their "Snap=It" action accessories building kits. (I have the "Log Loader," but it's REALLY tricky to assemble.)
All track was mostly steel, except for their 30-degree crossing, which still used brass track. A number of their older Plasticville accessories and building kits were still available, and they also had the "Highlights" series of lighted accessories (basically the same as Model Power's light-ups, like the traffic lights, Exxon station signs, crossing signals and billboards.)
All their N-gauge stuff is unchanged at the time, and features nickel-silver track. The Plasticville O-gauge kits and accessories are still available, and the "Scenic Classic" building and landscape kits are still shown but with "DISCONTINUED" printed over them.
They also had their Magnum series of Spectrum power packs sold, along with their "Big Hauler" G-gauge train sets, along with some new locomotives also in the "Plus" series.

The 1996 catalog is similar in many ways, but also marks some new arrivals. A big new arrival at this time is nickel-silver E-Z Track (as the steel version had debuted two years prior), initially only available in full 18" and 22" radius curves, 9" and 3" straights, curve and straight terminal rerailers, 30-degree crossing, standard "old-style" turnouts and the older-style bumpers (still found in the track expander sets.)
By this time, most of the crummy older-style locomotives with single-truck pancake motors and truck-mounted couplers are only found in their "regular" train sets, and with the exception of the 0-6-0 steam engines, are no longer sold separately, in lieu of a much wider selection of "Bachmann Plus" locomotives, including the F7 with more new rodenames, the B23-7, SD45 and B30-7 (new for that year.) They still come with X2F couplers, as I don't think Kadee's exclusive patent had expired yet at the time. Also with the exception of "old timers" rolling stock, the older-style freight cars and cabooses with plastic wheels and talgo-truck couplers are only sold in train sets; similar separately-sold rolling stock is now equipped with metal wheels and body-muonted couplers (still X2Fs) and are billed as "Silver Series" rolling stock. (It's a lot like the rolling stock Bachmann makes today!)
Interesting train sets worth mentioning in the 1996 catalog are the Cannonball Express, including a 65x38" double-oval of E-Z Track with manual switches, and their Gandy Dancer handcar (the big selling point of the set), along with a chrome Santa Fe F9 diesel locomotive, three freight cars and caboose, and the usual signs, poles and figures. There are also "The Galaxy" and "The Meteor" starter sets, each with a freight train hauled by a chrome Santa Fe F9 diesel, a 47x38" oval of E-Z track, and including the signs, poles and figures. There is also the 1990s version of "The Thunderbolt," with the older Santa Fe GP40 (in Warbonnet colors) pulling five freight cars and a caboose on a 56x38" oval of E-Z track, and the usual figures, signs and poles. There is also "The Golden Star," similar to the above set but with the old Union Pacific GP40 and caboose, and including a bunch of Plasticville building kits, including the Suburban Station, Barn, Farm Building set, School House and Signal Bridge, along with a picket fence set, park assortment accessory set, and the usual figures, signs and poles. According to the blurb, it says the set "not only gives you a fantastic train, it also gives you an instant rural community! (I'm actually buying one of these sets off eBay for setting up at my local hobby shop's railroad museum as an operating HO layout for display and for kids to run!) The "Old Time Village," "Smokey Mountain Express" and "Overland Limited" sets are still available, but now with E-Z track (and the Overland Limited now has a 65x38" oval of E-Z Track, not as good an option as the 22" radius oval now included with the set!) All of these sets still came with their 1980s-style power pack.
But Bachmann didn't stop there with their train sets, they had also introduced the Silver Series train sets that include the Spectrum "Magnum" power pack, nickel-silver E-Z Track, and their higher-quality rolling stock and Bachmann Plus locomotives (though their "The Patriot" Amtrak set actually includes their Spectrum Amtrak F40PH!) One of them, the "Trail Blazer" (the one with the Conrail B23-7 diesel, three freight cars and extended vision caboose), we have at the hobby shop/museum and plan to also run this as well! (The locomotive works really well.) They still have the X2F couplers during this time though. Also, all sets are listed as including the illustrated "Bach Man" instruction manual (IDK if they updated it to reflect E-Z Track, or if it was the 1988 original with the stereotypical "perfect" comic family.)
In addition to the E-Z Track available, Bachmann still had "classic" (sectional) steel track available in 1996 for those still using it, but only in 18" radius curves and 9" straights, and manual and remote switches. Operating accessories in 1996 still included the classic "Gandy Dancer" handcar, crane and floodlight cars, the crummy diesel horn tank and the steam whistle shed, and lighted freight and passenger stations still available today. They also still had the tri-level car transporter available in 1996, along with the older version of their dual crossing gate (non-E-Z Track version), even that crappy version that had the "flashing lights and bells" was still being made in 1996! (Bachmann should really consider making some nice scale-model flashing crossing signals for the intermediate and advance hobbyists.) They also still had their blinking bridge and trestle sets (and non-blinking bridge), but these would not work with E-Z Track (the blinking bridge did come with track on it, so you COULD use it on an E-Z Track layout if you aren't using the trestles.) The usual Plasticville building kits, accessories and figures are also still available in the catalog, but they also have the Bachmann Plus series of building kits, along with introducing the "Silver Series" of Plasticville building kits.
In N-gauge, they introduced the Bachmann Plus line of N-scale F7 locomotives, along with a 16-wheel drive DD40AX. New "classic"-style passenger cars are also introduced in the Plus series, along with there being the Bachmann Plus series of N-gauge building kits. A G-gauge Spectrum locomotive is also introduced: the Two-Truck Shay steam engine!

I will soon get around to scanning both catalogs and uploading them to this site (loads of good vintage train catalogs and instructions are up here!)
http://hoseeker.net/bachmann.html

Still interesting to see what Bachmann was like in the 1990s. Not much seems to have changed since then in some ways. Worth of note is how the locomotives and rolling stock in train sets are different than what was sold separately at the time, though today's lower-end Bachmann train sets use the same higher-quality locomotives sold in the base Bachmann line (i.e. with all-wheel drive and can motors, as well as optional DCC), and cheaper versions of the rolling stock with plastic wheels but still with body-mounted knuckle couplers. There doesn't seem to be any "Silver Series" or "Bachmann Plus" equivalent offered today, but I suppose this may be what their newer GG1 and NS "Heritage" locos may fall into if such a category still existed.

A while back on eBay I saw an auction for a boxed train set from Bachmann that was a Sears-exclusive set. Now, Sears-exclusive train sets was nothing new then: I believe Lionel had several, and in the late 1960s and early 1970s, there were Sears HO sets made by TYCO.
This Sears train set I found was made by Bachmann some time in the late 1980s, and also included landscaping material, very much like the store-exclusive Life-Like train sets of the 1990s (usually sold by J.C. Penny.) It makes sense Sears chose Bachmann to make this, as by this time TYCO was really shrinking in their train line and not doing so well, and Bachmann was much more popular then.
It was officially labeled as "Sears HO SCALE TRAIN SET NO. 49-91569," and item number 476. It included a double-oval 45x90 track layout that also had a dead-end siding. The train was hauled by a 2-10-4 "Texas" PRR steam locomotive and tender (I think the tender had an electronic chugging module as well), pulling eight freight cars, the crane car and boom tender (no caboose, it seems!) It also included a bunch of action accessories, like the "Gandy Dancer" handcar, electronic wayside steam whistle, railroad crossing with gates lights and bell, and lighted freight station. Also included were the Plasticville switch tower, signal bridge, barn, farm building set, water tank, gas station and school house, along with signs and telephone poles, a 17-piece bridge-and-trestle set, and a grass mat, trees, lychen and gravel for landscaping. It even came with two power packs instead of one (maybe to power all those accessories.)

This was literally a full model railroad in a single package, very much like what Life-Like used to often sell in the 1980s and 1990s. I think this might have been the only time Bachmann ever did a set like this, but I could be wrong. Too bad too, because even if it was pricey, it was still an easy way to start a very nice model railroad without buying all the parts separately. (But for me, my method for starting a railroad would be to buy a good train set, some additional cars and track, and the landscaping material and buildings and such separately; maybe even buying them all together if shopping online or something!)

I think it would be neat if Bachmann offered a package like this again as some online or store-exclusive thing, except this time it would probably be similar to the "Digital Commander" set, including their E-Z Command system and two trains. I mean, except for that locomotive and that admittedly crummy railroad crossing (with the unrealistically-strobing lights and super-fast bell with grinding motor noise), as well as the old-fashioned "sectional" track, pretty much everything in that set is still available!

Does anyone else have any information about this or any similar sets, if Bachmann made any?

As some of you might know, this year marks the 20th anniversary of Bachmann's E-Z Track. While it was not the world's first roadbed track (Marklin and Kato made their own way back when), but it was still new and innovative to the North American HO train market.

(sorry about the low resolution)
It was ideal for floor-based train layouts or playing, but could also be used for tabletop layouts if needed be.
Back when it came out, it was more limited. Only with steel rails and black roadbed (as steel was still commonly used in train set track back then), and only available in full 18" or 22" radius curves, 9" and 3" straights, standard left and right remote turnouts, non-prototypical bumpers and 90 and 30-degree crossings, and that was it. I think around maybe 1997 or 1998, the nickel-silver version was introduced, along with a much wider variety of track configurations and sizes. This version of E-Z Track was more ideal for tabletop layouts, and still is today. (I've seen a number of online E-Z track layouts that can be rather elaborate!)

It proved to be very successful. Even Athearn and Walthers wanted in, and they began including the track with their train sets (though the Athearn sets appropriately come with the nickel-silver version, and the Walthers TrainLine sets typically include the steel track.) Some other companies like Atlas, Life-Like, MTH and Model Power came out with their own roadbed tracks to compete. Model Power's was discontinued after a while, due to a lawsuit from Bachmann, as their Lock-It track system was apparently designed to connect to E-Z Track, and I imagine Bachmann didn't want a rival company's track to be able to connect to their own without the need of cutting or adapters. Though the others had their own innovation in some way (Atlas's True-Track had a removable roadbed and Code-83 rails, Life-Like's Power-Loc could connect without the need of rail joiners, etc.)

I remember with Robert Schleicher's "The HO Model Railroading Handbook," the initial 1979, 1983 and 1992 editions only mention traditional HO track, so the 1998 edition had extensive new content added to reflect the roadbed track, along with other newer stuff like DCC, the use of a foam base instead of plywood, etc. There's even a nice 7x8 layout showcased in the book that uses weathered nickel-silver E-Z track!

Any comments?

My local library has a pretty interesting vintage model railroading book from 1977: "How to Run a Railroad," written by Harvey Weiss. It was apparently written with children and teenagers in mind whom are starting out in model railroading.

It is definitely an interesting read. Being from 1977, this means you won't find any DCC systems, roadbed track, sound modules, or anything other typical modern model railroad entities. We also see the stages of the author's model railroad layout he builds, using mainly AHM and Tyco equipment, custom-built structures out of cardboard and balsa-wood, and an interesting trackplan designed in a 3-1/2x7 sheet of plywood! The book primarily seems to work with HO-gauge, but also mentioning O and N-scales at times. However, a lot of this is still relevant today, and is why my library is still keeping it.

There are some interesting things worth mentioning. The book mentions in starting out:
"It is possible to buy all the parts separately, choosing the amount of track and the type of cars and locomotives you want. But there is such a wide variety of sets on the market you can usually have a large choice, and at the same time get a somewhat cheaper price, by buying the complete, packaged set. In some cases, the store may let you substitute one part for another. The set I bought came originally with a diesel engine. However, I preferred a steam engine. The store was able and willing to make the swap for me."

It appears his layout started out with the 1973 version of Tyco's "Twin Diesel Freight," going by the rolling stock utilized, and replacing the F7 Santa Fe diesels (powered and dummy) with an AHM Chicago & Northwestern 0-4-0 Shifter steam locomotive and tender, along with a couple of AHM switches.
He also advises to not get a passenger train, saying that freight trains provide more opportunities for railroading action. (I prefer freight trains on model railroading anyway.)


Two vintage pieces of Bachmann rolling stock are shown here, along with a Tyco caboose.


LOT of AHM and Tyco stuff in the background of the hobby shop there.


An older Bachmann terminal track with the early "Simplimatic" plug-in receptacles.


Stock photo of the Plasticville freight station.


Elaborate is right! I would recommend starting out with a single train myself. This is the 1975-1976 version of Tyco's "System 200" train set; complete with remote switches, blocking control, a "Spirit of 76"-themed locomotive and caboose on one of the two trains, and various classic Tyco operating accessories (some of which I actually have on my layout!)


Stock photos of the long-discontinued Plasticville Auto Body Shop (the N-scale version is still available) and the Plasticville Barn.

Now some pics from the layout!








Pretty interesting stuff!

I noticed that the Bachmann "operating dual crossing gates" first offered in 1976 are still being sold today. So far the only differences between the original:

...and the current version:

The new one uses nickel-silver track, has a more green base, and the gates and signals are painted in more prototypical colors, but that's about it.

Though it does look nice, I will admit it's a rather dated accessory now. But since technology has improved over the years, then I am thinking maybe the company should have a more updated version to compete with other companies' crossing signal and gate offerings (like MTH, NJ International and Walthers.)
Maybe they can replace the fake red lenses in the signals with red LEDs, have the gates motorized (or if not, make motorization optional but keep the old-style pressure sensor) and maybe include track sensors so an approaching train can trip the signals.
This would be better than Bachmann's attempt at such a product in the 1980s...

(It did have pressure sensors for activating the signals, but they only work with conventional track, and the lights simply blink on and off unconvincingly and the bell dings extremely fast.)

Maybe even make a dual-track adapter of sorts for those who want a two-track crossing, like Kato does for their N-scale crossing gate.

Sure, it would probably look out of place on a professional layout, but it'd be good for the beginner or novice, and would be rather easy to install, even with some wiring involved (maybe the controller for the lights could be built into the base!)
Since this accessory has been available for 38 years, I think such an update would be good for it.

We're doing some reorganizing in my basement, and my father came up with the idea of making an even bigger train table for my model railroad so I don't have to be just confined to a 4x8 sheet of plywood. I agreed, this would be a pretty good idea. But with it would also come an overhaul to my train layout. SO... time to make some new plans!

Here is what will be Stage One of the new layout:

It will be constructed in Atlas Code-100 nickel-silver snap track, and will start of as analog DC (maybe with blocking), before I eventually upgrade to an E-Z Command DCC system.

I plan to reuse the same structures and action accessories, also get some new ones, and of course reuse the same locomotives and rolling stock. (Though I may also make this layout DCC as well.)
The landscaping will also be more improved with this layout. I may reuse several of the trees, signs and poles, but the grass, roads and other parts will be new. (Instead of a mat, I will paint directly onto the plywood and then sprinkle the grass and earth material onto it.)

The new benchwork construction should begin next week, hopefully. Until then, I had already dismantled the existing layout to get that out of the way. For the time being, I set up a temporary figure-8 layout of track on the plywood so I can continue running my equipment:


Any comments?

I just got an interesting accessory for the new HO layout I am building. It was made in 1982 and was available until 1985, IIRC, and is called the "Disaster Crossing":

How it works is that if the car is on the track, the train is supposed to stop before hitting it. Then once the car is pulled away from the crossing via the two truck, the train will move on again. An N-scale version was made as well. Rumor has it that this product was discontinued for being deemed "politically incorrect" or something (I'd like to find out more about that!)

However, this did not come with instructions. The box says some assembly is required, but I am not entirely sure how to do so. If anyone has instructions for this, I would like them please!
(This will be installed as part of "Stage 2" of my new layout; I will make a separate thread about that.)

Here's a link to a 1984 Bachmann train catalog from 1984, about 30 years ago from this year, from Tony Cook's excellent HO-scale Train Resource (perfect for looking up old Bachmann, Tyco and AHM products, etc.)
http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/bachmanncatalogs/id63.html

In 1984, Bachmann was still one of the really big players in the consumer HO train market. AHM and Tyco were slowly starting to dwindle down a bit, Life-Like and Model Power were growing a bit, and of course there were the higher-quality (and pricier) offerings from Athearn and Mantua, etc. This was before the Spectrum line came out, so Bachmann was still pretty much seen as low-end and cheap (along the levels of Tyco), compared to the high-quality products Bachmann offers today. But back then, Bachmann had almost as large an offering as they do today.

Bachmann came out with an N-scale TGV train set that year, and they also had their "Powerhouse" HO-scale set that came with a decorated layout mat and several nifty operating accessories, obviously to try and get more kids into model railroading.
Bachmann also had a M.A.S.H. -themed train set (similar to how Tyco had train sets based on G.I. Joe, the A-Team, etc.)

They also had their DeWitt Clinton set out at this time, and they just released the John Bull train set. They also had several other sets that came with accessories like bridge-and-trestle sets, utility poles, and a few other accessories.
Some of their other operation accessories available today was also around back in 1984, such as the lighted passenger and freight stations, electronic steam whistle in billboard, that cheesy "diesel horn" oil tank, the blinking light storage tank, "gandy dancer" hand car, crane cars, dual crossing gates and "tracksters," but they also had some other interesting operating accessories available in 1984 that were discontinued by the 1990s, like the Tri-Level Car Transporter and the "Disaster Crossing" (there's a rumor it was discontinued for being too "politically incorrect.")


Get a load of those diesels with "space age electronics." Today you can get those same locomotives but in much higher quality and with DCC (and sound on the DD40X!)

A bunch of these locomotives are still available today, but perform much better and have nicer detail, and are also available in DCC. (The GP40-2 was, and still is, a Bachmann favorite.)

Many of the steam locomotives available at the time are also currently available in improved models, like the Class J and Daylight 4-8-4s.


Back then, Bachmann offered conventional Code-100 track in steel (E-Z track did not come out for another ten years.) It was better than their prior brass offerings, but not as good as today's nickel-silver E-Z track (and other tracks of the same material.)
Also note many of the accessories on the page; those are still available today as well (even the water pump!)
They also used to offer those bridge-and-trestle sets, similar to the ones Life-Like and Model Power currently offer, along with AHM, Tyco and Walthers having offered similar bridges in the past.


They also had "lighted scenic classics" building kits, basically select Plasticville building kits with a structure lighting unit and a little landscaping material.

Their "regular" Plasticville buiding kits were also available at that time, having been a mainstay of the company for over 50 years now.

They also had RC and die-cast cars available in 1984, but I don't know if they sold really well compared to Bachmann's train line. Perhaps they were trying to compete with Tyco or something that way.

Some things just never change, and Bachmann is one of those things, in some ways!

Some of you may already know that I am often interested in vintage HO-scale products (and yes, vintage Bachmann is one of them.) Since the 1970s, Bachmann was one of the top HO train companies.
BUT... during the 1970s and up to the mid-1980s, Bachmann's biggest rival was... Tyco Toys!


Originally an offshoot of Mantua, Tyco was popular during the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. Tyco and Bachmann were the two big HO train manufacturers of the 1970s (HO was the ONLY scale Tyco manufactured trains in), and they both offered a wide variety of sets, locomotives and rolling stock, buildings and action accessories. (But Tyco never offered scenic/landscaping accessories like Bachmann first did in 1979.)

Tyco even had sets based off the Chattanooga Choo-Choo (years before the Bachmann version), the A-Team, G.I. Joe, Transformers, M.A.S.K. and Rambo.
Unlike Bachmann, Tyco never really offered locomotives based on the most latest models in use during this time (like the F40PH or the GP40.) Their building kits were also typically made by Pola in Europe, then rebranded by Tyco. They even offered building kits based off Pizza Hut, 7-Eleven, Burger King and a 7-UP Plant in the 1980s (some of these were also offered by A.H.M. around this time.)
Tyco even offered some rather unique products, like a large track expander set that featured blocking control and diagrams for a large 4x8 layout:


...to their TycoScene layout board of the 1980s!

It was sort of similar to the Bachmann Power House train set layout board of the 1980s, but designed more realistically, and could be expanded to support a 4x6 layout with a passing siding, and even had strategic placement of accessories. This layout board was often included with some of their train sets, and at the time was an innovative way for playing with HO trains on the floor, before today's roadbed track.
Tyco also offered some rather cool action accessories that still look pretty good on a layout today:


Just as Bachmann had some of their own exclusive action accessories in the 1970s and 1980s, Tyco also had their own as well. Some of these could also be used with Bachmann E-Z track with some modification.
During this time, Tyco's other big product was slot cars. Although Bachmann did make slot cars for a while, I don't think they were as popular as Tyco's, and were discontinued in the early 1980s. It was HO trains where Bachmann and Tyco really competed with each other.

As the 1980s went on, Bachmann was growing and Tyco was shrinking, partly due to the general loss of interest in model railroading as a kids' toy, and partly because by the late 1980s and early 1990s, their products could be seen as a joke in the model railroad market, especially compared to the more high-end stuff of the time like Bachmann's then-new Spectrum line. Tyco never had such an equivalent (like Life-Like did with their Proto 2000 line.) Tyco last offered HO-scale trains in 1993, and then finally went out of business in 1998 (their slot and RC cars were acquired by Mattel in 1997.)
Of course, Bachmann lived on, and is still a major player in the HO train market today. Tyco didn't even survive long enough to come out with a roadbed track to compete with Bachmann's E-Z Track!

Just to make a note, I actually like both Bachmann and Tyco's output they offered during that time. In fact, if I were making an HO-scale layout in 1979, even if I started with a Tyco train set, I would probably also be using Bachmann Plasticville kits and some of their action accessories, rolling stock and locomotives in conjunction with Tyco's equivalents (very much like my current layout, where I use a combination of different manufacturers' products.)
Though today Tyco locomotives can vary wildly in terms of operation. I only have two: a small Tyco diesel switcher and an 0-8-0 Chattanooga steam locomotive and tender car. The switcher runs really well, but the Chattanooga sometimes struggles due to its "PowerTorque" pancake motor.

I am also a member of the Tyco Collectors' Forum, since I like both Bachmann and Tyco's stuff.

I'm not sure about some of you guys, but I think a train set is usually a great way to start a model railroad. You get the train and enough track to get you started. But sometimes, I feel if you want to start a model railroad, the train sets that come with accessories is a really good idea. Bachmann's sets that feature some kind of accessories would usually come with their signs and utility poles and (unpainted) figures, and I recall a few would even include their Plasticville suburban station building kit!


This kind of harkens back to the olden days of some train sets that would also include such accessories to add to the play value for younger ones and to also make the most of starting a model railroad; even some of Bachmann's older sets were like this:

It would be also a bit cheaper than buying the parts separately.

Any comments/opinions?

I'm sure anyone who purchased a Bachmann train set in the late 1980s or early 1990s will recognize this. As one way for them to try and step ahead of the competition at the time, Bachmann had a clever means of an instruction manual, done as a comic book; this way kids could also easily get into model railroading, and there's lots for them to get into. This may have also been the debut appearance of the Bach Man!



OK, so the story opens on a stereotypical "perfect" comic family (complete with a pet dog that thinks his own thoughts ala Snoopy and Garfield!), purchasing a Bachmann train set...

See what I mean by the "perfect" family? The "boxcar full of cookies" reminds me of how they sometimes did that with the model trains on Gumby.
Though the scaling isn't entirely accurate, I think they are supposed to be trying to set up an HO-scale train set here, probably one of Bachmann's "starter" sets.


Of course, the family is initially baffled by their attempts to get the trains going, even the father! I do find the boy's "Is that IT?" reaction amusing, as if he feels they were ripped off.


LOL at "No! Rugs are trouble." That's the case when using standard model railroad track, and this was before Bachmann developed roadbed track in 1994 with their "E-Z Track." I know back then, the only real option for playing with the trains on a floor was with some kind of layout board on the floor, regardless if it's a piece of plywood set on the floor, the layout mat included with Bachmann's old "Powerhouse" train set of the mid-1980s, or their arch rival Tyco's "TycoScene" layout board.


Bachmann changed the Simplimatic plug design some time in the early 1990s, and still uses that design today. Also back at this time, their train sets would always use a curved terminal rerailrer track, unlike the E-Z Track sets using an oval that come with a straight terminal rerailer. Also note the track in this looks like it's brass, though I think by the late 1980s all of Bachmann's train sets came with steel track...


LOL at the "All the other cars" sign.




Even though I use a more advanced MRC Tech 4 280 power pack on my train layout with an on/off switch, I still unplug it when my trains are not in use anyway.


Many of those accessories and buildings are still available today. Though some of their more interesting operating accessories, like the tri-level auto carrier, log loader/unloader, action depot and action caboose were discontinued once E-Z Track hit the market. (I think Bachmann should have made E-Z Track -compatible versions of the action caboose, etc. Some of those were pretty cool!)



I'm sure many of you will enjoy this trip down memory lane. I myself am into vintage (1970s - 1990s) model railroading products and accessories of the time, including what Bachmann had to offer back then!
Too bad this wasn't updated to reflect the new E-Z Track in 1994, if they did at all. I wonder what a more contemporary take on this would be like?

I am both a (currently) budgeted model railroader, and that I also enjoy classic HO-scale train stuff (especially from Bachmann, Tyco, IHC, Life-Like and Atlas.) So I thought that for my basement model train layout I can use a lot of that stuff, yet still continuously update it for the new millenium. So far, I have my trains running mostly on Atlas nickel-silver track, a mix of Code-100 and Code-83 (some of it is True Track.) A little of it is steel, but I am not going to bother with brass track on my layout. Right now it is a Standard-DC layout with blocking, but I will also probably eventually upgrade to DCC (I will probably so so by getting the Bachmann E-Z Command train set or something, but retrofit my layout to work with the DCC controls and locomotives.)
Like many model railroaders typically would, I usually like to vary in manufacturers of products, so that it isn't entirely a Bachmann layout, or a Tyco layout or whatever. This makes the layout seem more realistic.

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Overviews. I have it set up on a 4x8 sheet of plywood, because that's all we have room for, but you can get a lot done on a 4x8 layout anyways. The track plan is partially based off some of Tyco's "Layout Expander System" track plans. I refer to this land as "Sheffingtown." The main railroad I use is BNSF.


The controls. Note the Tyco blocking switch and buttons for "action" accessories. It should be noted that during the 1970s and early 1980s, Tyco was pretty much Bachmann's biggest rival when it came to HO-scale trains, so I use quite a bit of both.


I got this in today; the Bachmann action caboose! It was made some time in the late 1970s or the 1980s (latest I know it was still available was 1987.) I want to try and replace the X2F couplers with knuckle couplers, but this has extended talgo trucks, and they have unusual horn-hook couplers that must be screwed in and the holes are in a weird size, compared to other manufacturers' couplers, and I don't really want to take the body-mount approach with this caboose.


Residential area of my layout, including the nice little Plasticville Cape Cod house.


Life-Like downtown business center next to a Pola/Tyco/IHC Loew's movie theater with a customized marquee.


Plasticville post office. I got this because just about every town needs a post office, and I like the small size of it.


Plasticville school house. I plan to add a playground behind it (probably the Bachmann playground accessory set), and maybe even expand the building so it's not so small (or at least add a portable, like some schools do.)


Every town should have a fire station, too. I went with the Life-Like one because it reminded me quite a bit of the fire stations we have in my hometown of Brockton, MA.


A smaller, second train is parked on this inner loop - the "B" block. I still do like the classic look and feel of steam when it comes to model railroading. Maybe some day I'll get a nicer Bachmann steam locomotive.


Plasticville switch tower, at a rather convenient location.


Even though this is a "retro" layout, I mostly try to use more modern locomotives, like this Walthers Trainline ATSF Dash 8-40BW. It came with X2F horn-hook couplers (one of them was damaged), so I replaced them with E-Z Mate couplers, because I prefer knuckle couplers over the X2Fs.


Tyco crane car and maintenance tender, made some time in the 1970s. Very similar to Bachmann's current crane car and boom tender (which was introduced in 1979, apparently to compete with Tyco's version.)


A modified Life-Like KFC building kit. Since I like their chicken, I couldn't resist. Plus, it's a great attention-grabber on my layout anyways.


Used car lot, operating coal tipple and general store, all mostly from Life-Like. (Unlike several of you here, I started my model railroad using Life-Like products, which is why I also like that company's offerings  )


Tyco diesel switcher locomotive, again Santa Fe. The front coupler I found really difficult to remove, but I was able to replace the back coupler with an E-Z Mate knuckle coupler, to make it more compatible with my rolling stock, which I also mostly retrofitted with knuckle couplers (Tyco and Life-Like stuff mostly gets the SceneMaster knuckle couplers from Walthers.)


Tyco freight unloading depot. You press a button and hold it down, and the little plow scoops a pipe section off the flatcar. Very interesting, and it's too bad Bachmann never made a similar version.


Tyco piggyback loader/unloader and steam whistle billboard. Unlike the Bachmann electronic steam whistle accessory, this uses an electrically-operated air whistle, similar to the whistles found in old Lionel steam engines, that is activated via a pushbutton. It also sounds better than Bachmann's diesel horn storage tank accessory!


Life-Like dual operating crossing gate. Very similar to Bachmann's version they've had since 1976. This will only work with Life-Like's Power-Loc track (it came with my Life-Like "Freight Runner" train set), so I used special Power-Loc adapter tracks to connect them (these adapter sections will also work really well with E-Z track.) I am thinking of modifying it some day so the lights will flash and the gates will be motorized.


Tyco operating crossing signal from the early 1980s. It works slightly similar to the crossing gate, but when the train runs over the pressure sensor, it activates a small wind-up bell housed in the loading dock, and the lights flash alternately. The lights don't really work right now, but the bell does, and is pretty neat.


Tyco pressure-operated pipe loader.


A small accident scene I staged on my layout.


Life-Like stock pen with cow and pig figures. I haven't gotten around to painting some of the human figures yet.


Tyco lighted freight station. This was made some time in the 1970s, and is very nicely detailed.

http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp316/wiley207/railway/file-2212.jpg
Life-Like "Snap-Loc" train station building kit. This was introduced in the late 1990s, obviously to compete with Bachmann's Plasticville snap-together building kits. It came with my Freight Runner train set, and looks very nice (I also have a Bachmann Plasticville suburban station, but right now I don't really have any room for it...)


A small fruit stand next to an apple orchard.


Note the Tyco billboard in the background.


My other locomotives I often use on my layout. The blue-and-yellow one is made by Mehano, and I plan to replace its X2Fs with E-Z Mate couplers. The two Life-Like engines on the left are a bit low-end, but do look nice (the hi-nose GP38-2 came with the Freight Runner set I mentioned), and the other three have more powerful can motors and smooth eight-wheel drive. Once I get more cash, I might get a good-quality Bachmann (BN)SF locomotive of some sort, or maybe once I make the move to DCC or something.

Any comments/questions?