Since the current catalogue says that the N scale Fluted, Streamlined Passenger Carriages have body Mounted knuckle couplers, what is the safest minimum radius for operation at slow speeds? FYI, I have a layout with a minimum turning radius of 11 inches. and i am considering upgrading a consist to body-mount Coupling.

-Aaron

I have a few pieces of HO/OO British Rolling Stock and some Steam Engines.  Are the mail cars similar to baggage cars in terms of construction, except that mail cars have postal service markings as per the UK Prototype?  Because i was thinking of adding one to a Flying Scotsman Set I acquired.
Link shows item #77018, Green unlettered Mail/Baggage Car:
http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=258_259_262&products_id=5906

-Aaron

I have an EZ-App engine  Enabling DC mode works well with the Bachmann Controller #44212 after cycling the direction a few times.  Then I tried it with an MRC Tech 2-1400 Power Pack and a Kato Power Pack.  The DC-Mode didn't Enable itself.  If it was enabled with the Bachmann Controller,  It would only Run Backwards in DC mode on the MRC and Kato DC controllers.  It ran both directions off the bachmann controller just fine.  Hopefully a firmware update will improve compatibility with other DC controllers.  By the way, the firmware was updated before testing.

Just wanted to point that out there for Bachmann and Bluerail Trains to make a note of.

-Aaron

Will the upcoming Santa Fe 4-4-0 have a Funnel stack or a cylindrical stack?

A thread in the N scale forum had a discussion about the N-scale crossing gate (44879) bouncing since they were weight activated.  I found a solution that could also apply to HO scale (44579).  This isn't the cheapest solution but it increases reliability.

1.  drill holes in the sides of the counterweight part of each gate arm, to allow the use of a .025" diameter steel or brass actuator wire.  Remove the old plastic actuators from the counterweight portion of each gate arm.

2.  Remove the pressure springs and plate from the track base.

3.  Use in infrared motion activated crossing signal controller with tortoise switch motors or micro servos (azatrax only).

4.  Make sure the steel actuators are the cut and bent to the right length before connecting the gate to the motor.

5.  If you want working flashers, you can get them from Model Power or NJ International.  These are to be placed in front of each gate.     

6.  If the stock gate arm pedestal breaks off,  it can be replaced with the gates that come with static signals (N scale item #42504 or HO scale Item #42200) available from Bachmann.  A hole will need to be drilled on the upper part of the counterweight (marked with an "O"). 

I have had succes with this installation.  Hope this works for you as well.

-Aaron

I noticed the 2011 Catalogue only has the Cafe Car and the nonpowered engines available as separate sale items, and a starter set.  Is there a possibility that the First class, Business Class, and End Business class cars could become available as separate sale items again sometime in the future?

Dear Mr Bach-Man,

I am thinking of expanding my acela N scale train, but the distributers show that the business class car (#160-89973) is out of stock and that walthers indicates that it is "sold out." Are the acela cars currently in production but out of stock on some distributer sites?

-Aaron

Dear mr Bach-man,

I own an Acela Express train, which is recommended to run on a 19-inch radius curve.  If you run it on an 11-inch or a kato 12-3/8 inch radius curve, it will slow down dramatically.  The HO scale acela runs on a 22-inch radius curve.  In proportion, that is like a train running on an 11 inch radius curve in n scale. Is there any way you or the company can design or make an upgrade mechanism that can allow the acela to make tighter turns without slowing down?  A 19-inch radius curve on the main line will take up a lot of space.  If an upgrade was made, the appearance may be less prototypical during the turns, but many people would then be able to operate the train on a smaller layout due to space constraints. Please take this suggestion into consideration.

Thanks,

-Aaron

I would like to create a thread on locomotive suggestions for the  Williams O-gauge line.  Please note that the trains I am suggesting do not have to scale exactly, due to space and track diameter concerns.
Here are my suggestions:

Trains (currently in HO and N scales) -

> E60CP and HHP-8 (both shortened to run on O-31 curves, intended to be 
   used with the 60-ft amfleets previously released by Williams)

> Acela Express (Shortened to run on O-31 curves)

> 4-4-0 Locomotives (i.e. CP Jupiter, UP #119, etc.

Bell and Horn Sounds to include in future locos-

> Acela Express and HHP8 (if produced): K5LA Hybrid horn and bell recorded
   from the real Acela locomotive (s)

> P42 Genesis: K5LA horn and bell recorded from the real Genesis
   locomotive(s)

> E60CP (if produced) Nathan P5 Horn and bell

Mr Bach-man, please consider these suggestions seriously.
Thanks.

Aaron

I have 4 N-scale Amfleets (2005 or later releases, 3 coach, 1 cafe).  When I hook of these cars behind an engine, such as the HHP-8 or any other passenger diesel engine, the train runs normally.  However, when I add a 4th car behind the 3 amfleets and the loco to make train length more prototypical, The wheels on the engine start to slip, even when I gradually bring the train up to speed.  I noticed that the cause of the loco's slipping is due to the fact that there is more friction in the amfleet's axles than the axles of any other coach car.  I tried a light lubrication procedure on the axle bearings, but that didn't quite solve the problem.  What Is the best solution for this problem?

-Aaron

I would like to see some large scale models of the trains used at Disneyland, CA and Disney World, FL.  Such models should include:
>Spectrum 1:20.3 4-4-0 in Disneyland and Disney World colors
>Jackson and sharp Observation/parlor car (red) in Disney colors.
>Open Passenger cars with awnings