I see that Bachmann evidently has released a Baldwin 4-4-0.  Great!  I guess.  I mean, I'm glad to see it(-if, indeed it proves to be an accurate BLW... The wheelbase makes it look like it may be a warmed over Richmond).  Who knows?  Maybe it was just an easy one, given the existence of the previous Richmond models... But what I would really like to see... is a Mogul of the same era.  Maybe start with a B. & M. B15 or a New York Central.  Model Power has N scale 4-4-0s and 2-6-0s using a single (NYC 2-6-0) superstructure; for the freelancers, they include, with undecorated models, a bag of parts including a high-headlight smokebox front, a second cab with arched windows- as orig. built.- piston valve cylinders and switching pilot.  One can create an amaazing array of "looks" with theswe few parts.  Who knows, right?  almost all the Eastern roads used 2-6-0s that were similar.  My guess is, however, that most would wear freelance 'colors'. 

Also, I re-iterate my plea for an A-1 style 2-8-4.  With that chassis and boiler, I.C. , C&NW, TH&B/B&A, ACL, B&M, SP and AT&SF(-both of whom bought the Boston and Maine's) and more all used early copies of the original Lima A1 2-8-4.  I remember how amazed I was when I heard that Bachmann was doing yet another Van Swearingen 2-8-4.  As a matter of fact, the day I read about it, Proto 2000 NKP and C&O Berks were on sale at one of the big places for $99.95. 

I saw the new ads for the Spectrum 4-4-0s.. 'No Big', I thought... Old nerws.  But then I saw "Baldwin" 4-4-0.  The 4-4-0 I was thinking of was a Richmond.  But the wheelbase looked like a Richmond.  Is this a new product?  Or a "Baldwin-ized" Richmond 4-4-0? 

Why is it that the last place to have any news on new Bachmann products is the Bachmann website?

Back when the 4-6-0s and 2-10-2s  were announced, but not out yet, I usede the 'Photos' to keep up on progress.  I can't find any mention of a "new" 4-4-0 in the Spectrum line.

How come?

AMAZING... It's been more than two months since I saw a new Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0 in Magazines, on the Brooklyn site and a few other places.  But on the Bachmann site- ZERO.

Almost as amazing is that no one else has asked about the first ever mass-produced Ten-wheeler in N-scale history!!??                     
Don't they notify you anymore? 

Interesting stat:When the Heavy mountain was announced, I read about it first on the ATLAS Forum!

JEEZ!

I saw that Bachmann is finally doing the BLW 4-6-0.  Other than a really low production Euro model years ago, this is the First N Scale Ten-wheeler ever!!!  When will we see it?  I believe I saw a November 2010 release date for the model.

I've done this before... when the 2-10-2s came out.  But here it is again.

I just looked at the Spectrum Rogers 4-4-0 blurb on this site.  According to Bachmann, one of the salient features of this nifty little American is its "Walschaert Valve Gear".  Which was always very rare on a 4-4-0 and totally non-existent on ones by Bachmann.  The very beautiful Spectrum 4-4-0 models- all versions- have Stephenson gear, as do almost 100% of all 4-4-0s.  The only exceptions I can recall are the modern Americans of the FRISCO and also those of the C. & I.M.  Now... on to the 2-10-2s...

All but one version of the Spectrum 2-10-2 have Southern Valve Gear(-and all the original USRA 2-10-2s- light and heavy- did arrive with the Southern gear...).  The one variety in the Bachmann catalog with valve gear we all can recognize is the Seaboard Air Line version.  And it is advertised as having... you guessed it... "Walschaert Valve Gear"!  And the first thing we recognize is that link on the crosshead that simply isn't there on a Southern-equipped version.  But, upon closer scrutiny, we see that this isn't a Walschaert setup either; it's a Baker!   

I am guessing that a member of the Jonas Walschaert family- I've never heard of a 'Jonas Walschaert', but all those 1880-type guys had names like that- is employed at Bachmann and they are somehow collecting royalties. 

So.  I am volunteering for the position of 'Vice-president- Valve Gear' of this Bachmann outfit...  I promise to have the entire tawdry valve gear scandal resolved by Q4, 2010.

Sincerely,

Joe 'I know it all' Gideon

Bach Man!  You  guys make TRAINS!  Back when the 2-10-2 arrived, I noticed that the catalog blurb indicated a variety of valve gear, depending upon the prototype: Either Southern gear or Walschaert gear.  None of the 2-10-2s has Walschaert V.G.  All are equipped with Southern gear, except  for the S.A.L. version- which has a Baker V.G.  Similar- but definitely different- and in their day- competing products.
I guess I (sorta...)understand how that could happen- but a year later the phantom Walschaert gear showed up on your Spectrum 4-4-0.  Not even close, folks.  The 4-4-0s- all of 'em- have Stephenson gear, located between the frame rails(-and therefore ALMOST invisible).  Walschaert gear, while not exactly a modern valve gear(-it was used on the 1860s-70s Mason Bogies-), didn't really appear on many locos until after the turn of the century.  Probably 85% of the steamers- and 95% of the larger steamers-  made after 1900 had either Walschaert or Baker gear.  The largest use of Southern gear was on the USRA 2-10-2s and on the Southern Railway's engines.  The major spotting difference is the lack of the forward link(-the vertical rod that is connected to the crosshead)on the Southern. This function was handled by one of the two links located at the valve gear hanger. The Baker gear had an upside-down 'V'- or 'U'- shaped link at the hanger. 

I used to wonder why little things like this seemed to rattle the cages of certain poor saps... As I recall, 'rivet counters' rings a bell... But you really should correct these items.  Bachmann has pretty-well shed its image of being makers of mediocre toy trains... so it would seem to me to be in its better interest to appear as if it knew what it was, uh... doing.

...two, three, four, fi...   

So, Bach-man... I griped about this before- in HO. 

I just received a pair of the new "N" Heavy 4-8-2 Mountains...  Absolutely lovely!  The diecast boilers/superstructures make ALL the difference! I bought an undec. and an I.C.R.R..

Now... my HO Heavy Mountain, my Illinois Central version, is numbered as #2981.  Now,  anyone who knows anything about the I.C (ask Lanny!)knows that the 2900s were 2-10-2s.  Always!  I griped about this to you and to corporate years ago!  So, imagine my surprise when I unwrapped my new "N" scale Heavy Mountain, and found it to be numbered as- you guessed it- 2981! 

Now this company of yours has gone to great lengths, extraordinary lengths, to make the new Bachmann products as as accurate as any out there... I mean... I'm a FAN!  Now... my HO railroad has a 2-10-2- a new Proto 2000- numbered 2937... a proper 2-10-2 number.  And a Heavy 4-8-2 Mountain...#2981.  The text is also quite large- about 40% too large.  But you really missed the boat on the "N" scale mountain.  A clean slate and you blew it!  Those I.C. 4-8-2s should be numbered in the 2500s, but you could get away with 2400s or even 2600s.  So pleeeeeeeeeaase.. Mister Bach-mann...  Make these bee-yoo-ti-ful new steam locomotives correct!  It absolutely is no easier to make 'em incorrectly!!

AM I CORRECT IN thinking that Bachmann is going to release an NKP/Kanawha/just-like-everyone else's Berkshire??  I tell myself that, no... it simply can't be, that the people at Bachmann are at least as sharp as I am in realizing that LIFE-LIKE- OR WALTHERS- OR WHOMEVER- HAS BEEN FIRE-SAILING, GIVING AWAY AND LEAVING ABANDONED AT GOODWILL, THE LAST 2-3 THOUSAND NKP/C&O/VIGINIAN 2-8-4S THEY MADE... Please tell me that they didn't waste all that effort.  What?... is brand name that important to model railroaders?  ('Ahm a Bachmann man, muhself... Paw had 'em and I remember that Maw liked 'em...' Don't Lahf Lahk mean, 'Found on tracks DEa...NO?') Never mind.  They couldn't have done that.  I had made a suggestion thaT maybe the A-1 2-8-4, the EARLY Superpower Berk might make a good candidate... This thing's going to cost about the same as the old(-and beautiful!) PFM brass versions on eBay- which, by the way, they can't give away!

C'mon, Guys! 

I'll be SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO disappointed!

Greetin's, Man...

Some time ago, I wrote to you expressing my displeasure at the unavailability of anything but Southern gear on the undec. versions of the USRA Light 2-10-2. Indeed, on ANY version except for the two S.A.L.s  While you guys evidently did not hear me, the guys over at Walthers evidently did.  Voila!  Any kind o' valve gear you might want or need in their new (...and gorgeous!)2-10-2.

So, fess up, Man.  What the hecksa deal?  It's a packaging issue!!! Stick black boiler on frame with little chinga-thing; stick black tender in box.  Stick engine in box.  Mail to ME.  This is not hard stuff.  Hell- charge ten bucks extra if it'll make you feel good.  What it WOULD do is sell a pile o' 2-10-2s... unless all those freelance guys have bought Heavies...

Sheesh!

Question:  The (prototype) Ma & Pa 4-4-0s, as well as most other 4-4-0s have their side rods OUTSIDE of the main rods.  It looks funny- but I looked at plans and photos of the Ma & Pa engines on the 'net and in a 1965 M.R., as well as other 4-4-0s on my  roster- a PFM V. & T. Modern Reno, an Alco brass model of one of these same engines (#6) and a brass S.P. E23 by Fujiyama... ALL run the side rods OUTSIDE of the main rod.  The Spectrum models have the main rods configured convetionally- Main rod outside... I believe it would be easy to move the rod- hopefully, it wouldn't cause the crankpins to back out.