I just recently received my first Proto 2000 diesel loco.  I was wondering why I can not get the shell on it.  It almost seems as if something is blocking it.  Any suggestions?
Thanks

     Were the older Spectrum GP30s (before they were moved to standard) DCC equipped or ready?

     Is the Walthers line of Proto 2000 locomotives actually worth as much as they sell for?

     I have a locomotive to return to Bachmann for technichal problems.
But my question is this: "What does it mean by 'return it, postage prepaid'?"

     Hey all, I was just wondering the other day.  If I have a large scale layout that depicted real size, what would N or Z scale be on the large scale layout?I don't know all the scale dimentions, otherwise, I would try to calculate it myself.
Thanks for any info.

    Mr. Bachmann,
    I just bought item number 17523, HO 56' ACF center flow hopper, New York Central, gray; and I think I found a mistake in the printing.  Right below the NYC logo is a list of cautions.  The last line says, "EXTER CAR WITH RUBBER SOLED SHOES ONLY."  Is this a mistake?  Because I think it ought to say ENTER instead of EXTER.  It's not like anyone is going to notice it, but I noticed it as not being prototypical unless the prototype is that way too.  It does not bother me; I just think it's funny.

Well guys, it's a little boring today, even though it's my birthday, but I have a little bit of wisdom I received a few days ago that I would like to share with you.  First of all, with me, I like the power of locomotives and have purchased some.  But being new the hobby with no layout, what good is motive power?  However, I plan to build a layout sometime, so the motive power is needed.  Then this wisdom hit me.  I have two steam locos, one has an alternate tender that I bought for it, so I could say I have three; and I have three diesels.  But I only have four cars.  Why should I buy motive power if I don't have anything for them to pull?  So here's the wisdom:
I've decided to buy motive power one at a time.  With each loco I buy, I will buy enough cars for that particular loco before I think about buying another loco.
This wisdom is great for small layouts.

Just a litlle bit of wisdom from the new 21-year-old.

     I have one steam locomotive with another one on the way.  Recently, I've been thinking about getting another tender for it.  While looking at the tenders in HO scale, I noticed that some of them have wires sticking out of them to be hooked up to the cab, but some do not.  these wires look identical to the wires on my loco except that mine come from the loco to the tender, not from the tender to the loco.  Did Bachmann change the way the tenders are hooked up?
Thank you

     I just received a new Bachmann Gordon.  But when I stick him on the track, my controller tells me there is a short circuit.  I decided to put him on an electrically gapped portion of my track and scoot him towards the powered part.  The moment his front two flywheels touches the power, I get a short circuit.  I then reversed him, and with the rear two flywheels, I still get a short circuit.  I haven't sent in the warranty card for him yet, seeing that I just got him today.
Does anyone know what I can do, or should I contact the service dept.

     I have a Bachmann GP30 Nickel Plate Road 903, item number 60809.  My right air-horn is broken but is still connected.  I want to be nice so I'll just say that it happened by my careful brother-in-law, but notice that careful starts with the same letter as clumsy .  Any suggestions as to how I could take care of it?
Thank you

  I'm curious, why does Bachmann have couplers on the front of some of their locos but not some others?  Thomas, Percy, and James do not have these front couplers, but Gordon, Henry, Toby, and Spencer do.  The pictures of Edward and Mavis do not indicate such couplers, but the picture of Emily do.
     My first loco was Percy, shortly followed by James.  At first, I thought that they were made without the front coupler to look more like the episodes.  Then I found that only some of the engines have them.  Thus bringing about this puzzlement.
  Anyone have any comments about this?

     Does anyone know if the 15" r curves will work with the Thomas engines?  They probably won't work with the express coaches, Gordon, Henry, or Spencer.  But what about the others?  According to their nature, Thomas, Percy, Toby, and Mavis should work fine.

Anyone have some comments?

     Does anyone know what angle of curvature is for the 15" radius curves.  For example, the 18" r curves are equal to 30 degrees each piece, making three to be used for 90 degree curves.  Are the 15" r curved pieces the same as 18" r, or do they have some other degree of curvature?
Thank you,

     I have given this a lot of thought and I think that in addition to sound, there should be a function for uncoupling cars from the engines.  It would require a geared coupler box and coupler, but I think it would be awesome.  At least for the time being, restrict it to the locomotive, but maybe sometime expand it for uncoupling cars in the middle of the train.

Anyway, this is just my idea.  Anyone else have an idea for a new function?

     Hi all,
I've just purchased Percy and the two trublesome trucks on Ebay.  Though I haven't received them yet, they will expand my 'Island of Sodor' dramatically.  Actually, they are my first Thomas the Tank Engine characters in the realm of modeling.  Quite truthfully, it's kind of hard to expand if you have nothing to expand.

     This post is for locations of fellow modelers.  For security purposes, just give the city of which you live.  I'll start:
   I am new to model railroading and live in Geneva, IN.

     Do the Bachmann Thomas the Tank Engine train sets come with the steel track on black roadbed or the nickel silver track on gray roadbed?
Thank you

     I am interested in finding all the railroad names dealing with Indiana. (predominately, with Indiana in the name)  I don't believe there is an Indiana Midwestern (I made up this name. ), But I am wanting real railroad names.  I can only think of these two:

Indiana Harbor Belt
Muncie & Western


Please, I want to add to the list.
Thank you

     I have some regular turnouts that are equal to an 18" radius and 9" staight.  But I am just wondering if there is a regular turnout that would be equal to a 22" radius instead of the 18" , but still with the 9" straight portion.

     According to the product search, the only spare part that Bachmann sells is couplers.  I understand that couplers are under more stress and ware, but What about spare wheels or trucks?