As far as I can see from a quick look the only new On30 a nnouncements are the reefers in new colors. I have mixed feelings on this. While something brand new would have been nice, that Bachmann are continuing to re-release items in new versions shows that On30 has not been abandoned. Little brand new appears for any scale. The 0-6-0 is shown as a previously announced item.

Hamish

Dear Bach Man

The new 0-6-0 has received some mention below in a thread rumours of a new 2-6-0. It has now been confirmed as an 0-6-0 and appears in the 2018 catalogue. It does appear to be modified from the 2-6-0, but for all that. makes a neat and plausible industrial locomotive.  I recall seeing  photos of broadly similar narrow gauge locomotives operating in Cuba and elsewhere. I welcome any new On30 item from Bachmann as it shows that they are still supporting us. I don't really expect a brand new On30 locomotive from Bachmann in the foreseeable future unless demand for On30 considerable increases.

As well as the 0-6-0 the 2018 catalogue shows as new (which means since last years catalogue), the derrick car, the 18 foot cabooses (cabeese?) and a handful of new liveries on other items. This , at a quick glance, appears to be about on a par with other scales. We have not been forgotten.

On the other hand quite a number of items have been deleted from the catalogue. That is OK, provided Bachmann rotates the locos and other items available,  i.e. brings back, modified or not, previously deleted items from time to time. Thus over a number of years, we would have a quite a choice of items.

Just my thoughts

Hamish

At last an On30 excursion car! Just what I have been waiting for for years! Thanks Bachmann.

Apologies to those whe saw my earlier post, I was too hasty in reading the announcements. Thank to Max for pointing out my error.

Hamish

Given the lack of new announcements this year, and that some items seem to to be in short supply in hobby shops, can Bachmann indicate whether there are likely to be new models in future years? Also will rolling stock be rerun so as to always have a reasonable range available? I accept that all items can not be available all of the time.  Will locos be rerun, or will existing models be replaced by new models as they sell out?

I am not trying to criticise Bachmann, only to clarify the situation for my planning and budgetting purposes.

Hamish

Will the 2014 catalogue be available for downloading from this site, as has been the case for catalogues in recent years" I have much appreciated being able to download the catalogue. When might it be available?

Many thanks

Hamish

The Climax at the 30 inch gauge Puffing Billy railway is to re-enter service, see http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/news-events/climax-locomotive-recommissioning/

This loco is probably the only 30 inch gauge Climax made, It is about the same size as the Bachmann model, but more modern. If Bachmann ever revises the Climax, perhaps.......

Hamish

Can  somebody please tell me which  EZ Mate Mk 2 coupler is used on the 0-4-2 Porter?  Also which couplers for the old high frame style freight cars and the side tipper cars?  I need to replace some of my Old Mk 1 couplers.

Many thanks

Hamish

I am pleased that  Bachmann has decided to  expand the EZ street range with the introduction of the automobiles, however I would like to see more track items, in particular turnouts.

I also saw with interest the introduction of O gauge EZ track (not Street), again without turnouts at this stage. Will more pieces, including turnouts, be added in the future?

Will EZ Street track and EZ O gauge track be compatible? From the sample shown on Jack Lynch's video  it doesn't look as though the O gauge EZ track would join with EZ Street track, perhaps adapter track could be made available?

Finally, has Bachmann considered making the  single truck Birney in O gauge? It would be wonderful with EZ street track.

Hamish

An examination of the online catalogue on this site shows two unlettered boxcars, one described as mineral red and one oxide red. They are described as new and are, I presume, the previous standard box cars. No photos are yet shown. They have new product numbers. Similarly there are two  low sided gondolas described as new,  one oxide red and one black.

There was some discussion a little while ago on this board about the apparent demise of these boxcars and what it meant for the future of Bachmann's On30 range. Their return, and with a choice of colour, shows that Bachmann is indeed committed to ON 30.

Thank you Bachmann

Hamish

Dear Bach Man

Do you know when the 2012 Catalogue will be available for downloading from this site?

Thanks

Hamish

Dear 3rd Rail, Bach Man or whoever

Is there any news on when the EZ Streets range might arrive?

Hamish

Dear Bach-Man

The On30 V tipping cars seem to be in short supply at the moment, are more going to be made?

thanks

Hamish

The Bachmann home page is advertising the HO Jackson and Sharpe excursion cars - will we ever see either type of excursion car in On30? I know that kits are available from other manufacturers but some people prefer ready-to-run.

Hamish

Williams by Bachmann have announced, in 3 rail O, the re-introduction of the former K-Lines Superstreets under the name E-Z Street. In some on-line retailers they are shown as O E-Z Street. This raises whether Bachmann might do something similar in HO scale, i.e. HO E-Z Street, or even N scale, N E-Z Street. For those who may be unaware, O  E-Z Street consists of road sections with operating 3 rail O gauge track embedded in it. Road vehicles to run on the track are also being made. It is also suitable for trolleys. With Bachmann making in HO a good range of trolleys and having the High Roller vehicles there would seem plenty of scope for HO E-Z Street (with HO 2 rail track of course!. A modified version of the High Rollers as road only vehicles should be easy to make. HO E-Z street would also be useful for the On30 Trolleys. So how about it?

Heres hoping

Hamish

Apparently (I wasn't there) Williams had a new product brochure at the York show which included the 4-6-0 and some other products. Any chance of this flyer being available for downloading from this site?

Hamish

Dear Bach Mann

What is the latest information on the arrival of the revised Porters?

Thanks

Hamish

Dear Bach Man

The new catalogue shows no brand new items for ON30, not really a surprise as the toy fair/catalogue announcements are, for ON30, generally confined to train sets and new liveries on existing items. Those ON30 items shown in the catalogue as "new", which means since the last catalogue whether or not previously announced elsewhere, are the previously announced revised Porters, two train sets both using the 2-6-0, and a couple of re-liveries i.e. the 2-6-0 in D&RGW green and black livery  (before any-one asks this appears to be the existing 2-6-0 with a new livery and not upgraded in any way) and a black unlettered flat car. This means that Bachmann have not announced any brand new ON30 item since the NMRA convention in 2009.

As well as the lack of brand new Bachmann items a worrying sign for the future of ON30 is that some retailers seem to be pulling out of ON30. On the other hand a positive note is the introduction by Bachmann of new train sets - train sets attract new modellers to the scale/gauge combination, and I was concerned by the lack of any new train sets last year.

So I ask, does Bachmann remain committed to expanding the ON30 line? If so, when can we expect announcements of brand new items? (I am not asking what they might be.)

Awaiting your answer

Hamish

Dear Bach-Man

Will the 2011 catalogue be available for downloading from this site, as has been the case with those of the last couple of years?
If so, any idea of when?

Yours in anticipation

Hamish

World War 1 commenced in 1914 in Europe, the USA joined in in 1917, Canada and Australia and New Zealand were involved from 1914. While the centenary is still some years off it is not too early for Bachmann (and other manufacturers)  to start planning what they might release to mark the occasion. Can I hope that Bachmann will release a series of On30 models of  WW1 light railway equipment? It would be really nice if they worked together with their European branches to produce models from both sides, e.g the USA 2-6-2 tanks, the German Brigadelok 0-8-0 tanks, a British Hunslett 4-6- tank. There are many others to choose from including internal combustion locos and the French Pechot-Bourdon articulated locos that look like they have two boilers, one at each end (many of these were built by Baldwin). After the war this equipment was widely used on light railways in many parts of the world, and a few examples of all the main types have been preserved.

I realise involving the European branches has a scale problem, O scale in the UK is 1:43 and 1:45 in much of Europe (1:48 in the UK). However I am sure a compromise could be found (either use 1:45 for the entire WW1 series or use the scale appropriate to the country of origin for the particular item).

Can we hope?

Hamish

In a post below on another topic,  there was a mention of unlettered passenger cars being available in burgundy and black. These have now appeared on the online product list and show that the baggage, passenger car, combine and observation car are available separately in this livery.  The observation car is also available in unlettered olive green. This is, I think, the first time that the observation car has been available outsie of a train set.

I am interested in the colour of the bugundy cars - is it the same as that previously used for the Ohio River and Western, and PRR passenger cars (were those the same colour)?

I would have liked these available earlier - a reddish colour is more appropriate for my line than the green I currently have! Still, a welcome move.

Hamish