Are all Bachmann Doodlebugs identical. Will the custom shell I have fit on any Doodlebug chassis?

Mr. Bach Man:
As the quality, and the price, goes up on model locomotives, modelers, or at least I, will be taking better care of them and the increased quality will make them last a lot longer. Is there a "rule of them" that states how long replacement parts will be made and sold? It seems that the demand for parts will go up as the locos last longer. As an example, I was looking for a part for an Athearn switcher, that they still offer, and the part was no longer available. I believe auto makers must make replacement parts for 10 years and look how long cars are lasting now. 

Can't resist. Listing on E-bay for a Bachmann PRR F7 shell states that someone has added hand rails and stagecoach style luggage racks on the roof.  Good laugh to start the morning.

How do you, safely, remove the shell from a doodlebug without damaging it?

Two things.

1) My K-4 runs fine but it has a shimmy that would put a belly dancer to shame. I doubt I could do anything about it but, just maybe, there is. There's a lot of play in
     the drivers. It's one of the first runs so it has some smiles on it.
2) It needs lubrication. The instruction sheet shows how the underframe comes off, but it won't budge after the two screws are removed.  Are there more holding it on?
     Any help would be appreciated.

Several years ago I purchased a Bachmann American Freedom GS4 locomotive model #50205.  Box states it's a DCC equipped locomotive w/DCC On-Board. I purchased it to upgrade my AFT Bachmann PLUS GS4. I use straight DC.  It runs great but I found that my switching operation was not friendly to backing up this loco, which I do into stations.  The wires connecting the tender to the locomotive were stiff enough to constantly derail the tender.  I though about adding more weight to the tender but it looked too difficult.  I went back to my PLUS model and it backs without a problem. The new loco, which has been run only 3 or 4 times, has been sitting in the box ever since. Although this loco has DCC on-board, it is not equipped with sound.  I am thinking about selling it. E-bay is listing two Bachmann-PLUS AFTs one for $275 buy it now and one for $299 starting bid price.  There are five DCC models listed, with sound, ranging from $247 to $319.  I can not find my exact model, 50205, on E-bay, or even on Bachmann's site, and have no idea how much to ask for it.  It's an up-grade from the PLUS models and less than the DCC models with sound.  I was thinking a fair price would be $225.  I guess the model I have has been discontinued.  Any suggestions.

I'm looking for the small Plasticville Church. I e-mailed an e-bay seller of an HO listing and he gave me the footprint of 3 3/4 X 5 38.  I Also e-mailed a seller of and O scale church. He gave me the same dimensions.     That's too big for the space I filling. Is there and N scale version?

New, undecorated box car. Oxide color right out of the box. Is there a problem with applying decals directly to the car without painting?

Will a shell from an older (yellow box) GS4 fit on a GS4 Bachmann Plus chassis?

Is Bachmann still able to repair/replace a Hogwarts locomotive?

I am not able to find the size, footprint, of the structures in this kit.  Anyone know?

Just left this on the HO board but I thought this might be a better venue.

I just did a search on e-bay for REFER cars, many came up.  Then, I tried a search for REEFER cars and a whole 'nother batch came up.   Never really noticed this before.  Is there a right & wrong way?

I just did a search on e-bay for REFER cars, many came up.  Then, I tried a search for REEFER cars and a whole 'nother batch came up.   Never really noticed this before.  Is there a right & wrong way?

Looks like an interesting train set but I worry about the quality of a 25 year old locomotive.  A post I read said the loco was made by a company named Josef (?) not Bachmann. They are selling for upwards of $100, and without a reliable loco, that's too much.  One seller on E-bay wants $150 WITHOUT the locomotive, just the tender.  Any thoughts.

There is a seller on e-Bay offering a Spectrum chassis that runs well but has no idea what shell fits on it.  Is there any way to tell by just looking?

I know this is a Bachmann site but I'm asking about an old LifeLike track cleaning caboose, item #08584.  I've looked all over, including HO Seeker, to find out what the little, turn-able, square thing is sticking out of the tank top.  What happens when it's turned? Did some kind of "key" originally came with this?  Just curious. 

Did Bachmann make BIG HAULERS in HO Scale?

At first I though it for a train to pass through,  then looked again and thought maybe it was for a truck to back into.  Can't tell if there is an opening in the rear wall for track or a truck to pass through.  Anyone know for sure?

I'm awaiting delivery of a Bachmann SD40-2 Diesel that is DCC ready.  I run straight DC.  Is there anything I must do the locomotive before I run it on DC?

Recently purchased Bachmann Auto-Train passenger cars and auto box cars.  The dome cars are easily converted to Kadee couples but the box cars are a different story.  The trucks are set back from the car end and the original horn hooks are extra long (McHenry #53 length) with the small round hole and centering spring on one side, standard vintage horn hooks.  McHenrys are too wide to adapt and body mounting won't work on the 70' cars, even on broad turns.  I'm using one of the dome cars as a conversion car with a horn hook on one end to couple with the box cars.  I'm even concerned that I may not even be able to replace the horn hooks if one of the originals break.  I've never seen horn hooks that long except Rivarossi/AHM which install completely different.  Mr. Bach Man, does Bachmann have knuckle couplers that will do the job?  Any other suggestions or do I live with the conversion set-up which is not the end of the world?  Thanks.
LIRRMAN