Hi everybody,  I recently purchased one of the new old time 2-8-0's based on the old MDC castings but much improved.  I'll be happy to provide my experience on that to anyone interested.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Surfing Horrizon's Roundhouse site today I found a listing for an old time 4-6-2 (whatever that means) that looks suspiously (sp) like a USRA pacific from the color representation they show.  the delivery date advertised is Oct 08.  the really odd thing in the description is this statement.  "" based on a classic "Genesis" (emphasis (sp) mine) model with modern upgrades, upgraded drive mechanism.  Since Horrizon owns both Athearn & Roundhouse, could it be that the Athearn Genesis 4-6-2 is being rereleased with upgrades?  I have no idea but there it is.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Paul

HI MR BACHMANN.  WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF BACHMANN OFFERING THE DECAPOD TENDER SEPERATELY?   I NEED TWO FOR MY BACHMANN CONSOLIDATIONS TO FIT ON A 65 FT TURNTABLE.                                                                                                   

Greetings & salutations from snowy Colorado.  I'm a long time reader but totaly inept on the computer.  So here goes: I'm 69 years old,modeling in HO though no layout yet, the name of the layout will be the Aimless Mountain RR, a freelance based on the Colorado Midland.  One of the reasons for this choice was that the Midland used ten wheelers as road power & the only appropriate slide valve steamers are Bachmann's excellent versions.  However, they did use consolidations as helpers.  Are you listening MR B? there's a subtle message here.  lol  I really love this site, & want to thank you all for the informative,  helpful ,& entertaining, posts.  Special thanks to Sheldon, Gene, Jim Banner, Hunt, Rich C, Lanny, & many others. I do have a question for any of you rodders, current or otherwise.  Most of you are aware, I'm sure, that reciprocating engines lose three percent of their power per thousand feet of altitude. that amounts to 15 % here in Denver & a whopping 30% on Tennessee or Hagerman passes.  My question is, how would a steam engine be affected at the same altitudes?























































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