I recently asked the Parts Dept;

I have lost several screws that attach the 6-wheel trucks to the frame of the 60' (Semi Scale) Madison Passenger Cars. I didn't see replacement screws listed on your parts page for these passenger scars. Do you have these screws in stock or do you have the specs where I can find replacement screws.

Their Reply;

I am sorry to say Bachmann does not have any cars to even give you the dimension of the screw.
Go onto the Ask the Bachmann Forum to see what they can suggest for you.
----------------------------
Does anyone know where I can find screws that can fit the bill? 

Thanks, John

Recently upgraded my old Williams GG-1 with the new reverse board. Works great. Then I installed a new True Blast II sound board. Works great (I am impressed with the quality sound) ..... sitting still. It only plays sounds in neutral. Not while it's running. Have I done something wrong?

Is there a way to get my GG-1 to run and chew gum at the same time. 
Or is it just made that way? 

Thanks, John

Williams Electric Trains Catalogs and Flyers Online!

I have scanned and converted all of my Williams catalogs and flyers, 53 in all so far, beginning with the 1972 advertisement in the May issue of The TTOS Bulletin and ending with the Williams 2006 catalog. It has taken some time to do but I'm sure some of you Williams fans will enjoy them. I have also included some assembly instruction sheets for some early passenger kits. These are PDFs are full size scans of B&W and color originals. Some are very large files. The 1992 Williams Passenger Car Bonanza (Foldout) PDF is 130MB so I hope you have broadband or greater connection. There are a few, 6 or so, that are cover pages and only 1MB or less. These PDFs are download only and not available for viewing online.

This collection is not complete as I have more to scan. But it may never be complete as I stopped collecting and I'm running out of space. There are still more out there that I haven't collected. When this is done they are going to the dump unless some kind collector wants to take them off my hands.

If you have items that are not on the list and would like to contribute to it please let me know on this forum. Just copy-n-paste this link into your favorite browser, download and enjoy.

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/v2ijt1t62pidc/Williams_Electric_Trains_Catalogs_%26_Flyers

JohnB (aka GovB, DaddyBee, TennesseeMan & Memphisboy) 

Planning a new layout and want to use Plasticville throughout but hit a roadblock as to dimensions. My layout software doesn't have a Plasticville 2D library.  Where can I find a list of all or some of Plasticville's structures?

Bach Man?

Thanks, JohnB

I'm starting my very first O gauge layout, after many plans, and would like some guidance as to which scale cars/trucks look good with which scale people.    In real life you see various size vehicles with various size people. But some 1:48 trains don't look right with 1:43 vehicles or 1:48/50 people.

What has been your experiences with size and scale?

All help welcome. 

Thanks, JohnB

I have a Corgi Birney Safety Car in 1:48 scale (fits on O & O-27 gauge track really well) and would like to know if would be possible to motorize it using an "E-Z Street Chassis with Motor (O Scale) E-Z Street Car" (model #O427X-AA42728CC). The motor w/chassis is found on the E-Z Streets parts page under Williams. The Birney has a distance of 2" between the axles. Can the E-Z Street chassis be adjusted to this distance after loosening the adjustment screw? Is this possible? Has anyone tried? I would have attached photos but were too big.

Thanks, John Blanton 

Dear Bach Man,

I have a collection of Williams catalogs that go back to the Williams ad from the May 1972 issue of the TTOS bulletin. I would like to share my collection with others (for a reasonable price) by scanning each catalog I have to CD (or DVD) along with the Williams/Bachmann catalogs from 2008 forward that are not presently available in PDF format online. Would Williams/Bachmann have any objections to this? I would rather know now than later.

Thanks, GovB
"Happy Rails to You"

Not sure if I'm in the right Board but, I want to make a folding 8X8 layout in the garage out of two 4X8 sheets of plywood. For my large scale trains, the heaviest being a BACH YP&U #81296 2-8-0. What would be the min. spec. for board thickness and framing assuming it will be hinged in the middle for upright storage? If you know of a "www" where I could find help that would be good too.

Thanks, GovB, "Happy Rails to You"

This Christmas I'm running my under-the-tree large scale layout with Bachmann, LGB and Kalamazoo locos , that's right, Kalamazoo. None of which are DCC. Swapping out locos & cars is becoming a drag. So, I'm considering expanding my indoor Christmas layout next year to include multiple locos (3-4) with DCC using Bachmann indoor track & manual switches (given the high cost of brass) and their DCC system w/5amp booster. I have no experience beyond the Christmas tree so I am a complete layout novice. Several questions have come to mind;

1) Has anyone had experience with this type setup?
2) Which would give me the lowest start-up cost, track power or batteries?
3) What would be the best control system to use?
4) How big of a layout could I expect to have using this idea?
5) Is there a large scale "Layouts for Dummies" manual out there? (No garden societies anywhere near me.)
6) Can Bachmann manual switches be made to work on DCC or other system??
7) Some locos aren't "happy" with Bachmann indoor curved track which would limit the number of locos I could run. Is their an economical alternative to brass track & switches or should I stick with the locos that are "happy" with it?
Loco conversion will waite untill this is nailed down.

ANY help with this would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure that there are other considerations I might have overlooked so let me know.

Merry Christmas & Thanks, GovB

Dear "Santa" Man,

Is there any possibility that Bachmann will ever produce a series of shorty Christmas passenger cars some day? They would look great with a Porter or Indy under my tree along with my Christmas freight train. The only "American" ones available are 1/29 and not sure how they would look. But, with O27, On30 and G scales already under the tree, what's one more.

Thanks, GovB

New to "O" scale and would like to know what the difference is between items described as "Scale", "Semi Scale" and others with no scale reference and why?

Thanks, GovB

I'm fairly new to G scale and have a few transformer questions. I have a MRC Power G and some track (as recommended by local hobby shop) but not sure if it has a voltage filter(?). I also have several locos (non DCC) but can only run one at a time. Am I missing something here? Can you run more than one loco at a time with one transformer? (told you I was new at this.) Or, do I have to go to DCC? And while we're at it, I've been told to stay away from transformers with pulse power. What is pulse power and why/how will it damage my engines?

Thanks GovB (stumbling in the dark) 

Dear All,

Does anyone know the history of MDC (Model Die Casting) trains? I've seen a small number of their G scale cars on eBay but can't find much at all about them anywhere. What scale was their large scale items? What kind of quality were they? Were they much of a player in the market? How long were they around? Etc....

The only catalog I have doesn't mention scale. All it says is, "MDC PRODUCTS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH OTHER MANUFACTURERS "G" SCALE & NO. 1 TRACK" and "Your New Source for LGB Compatible Products".

I'm sure this is not a new question but it's a new situation for me. Does any one have an answer to my predicament? How does one remove the offending grab iron "stump" without damaging the surrounding area? Do they make little tiny ez-outs? (I already looked inside, the holes don't go through.) I'm sure the answer is simple, but for me, a real obfuscation.

Thanks, GovB

Dear Santa (Bach Man), This is my Christmas loco and I love to watch my grandchildren as they watch it round the tree. But, every year I also wonder; Shouldn't it have a straight stack?



Like this one?



Which is not mine. Do you have a "replacement" stack you could put in my stocking for Christmas? (I'll settle for a part number and someone to call.)

Merry Christmas! and thanks, GovB

Dear Bach Man,

I as well as others are excited and happy about the new fine scale caboose but, was any thought given to a stripped-down version (sans interior & electronics)? Something that would fill the gap between it ($275) and the 1:22'ish Eight-Wheel Caboose with Center Cupola & Interior series ($55) for us poor folk?

Thanks, GovB

Here is a reefer proported to be a Bachmann on eBay. I have my doughts. I've checked my limited collection of Bachmann & LGB catalogs and found nothing. Can any one ID this reefer



Thanks, GovB 

I just bought my first On30 Christmas Set but I'm a bit confused as to what scale buildings to use with it. I put it next to a Lemax Christmas train station but somehow it just didn't look right. Any thoughts, ideas or photo examples would be a big help. I'm sure this question has been asked before but this is my first time on this board.

Thanks, GovB 

Planning on wall mounting a loop around my 11' x 22' den (top of door height) and would like ideas on eliminating/dampening the vibrations associated with my 4-6-0 with several cars as they whirl around the room. This is very important as I live in an apartment and don't want to disturb others. Also, if you have suggestions on materials, brackets and anchoring for the do-it-your-selfer it would be great also.

Thanks, GovB 

I have some Delton and LGB Reefers and would like them to match up with my Bachmann locos and rolling stock (both 1:24 & 1:20.3). Went to Kadee web site and still confused. Could someone tell me which Kadee coupler will do the trick? Or is there another answer?

Thanks, GovB