Can someone tell me what "wired for station sounds" MEANS on the bottom of my new, old, Williams PRR Betsy Ross domed observation car?  I ASSUME it means that there once was a sound unit, sold separately, that could be plugged into the car (I see the electrical connection through the dome windows).  IF SO, what was it called and does anyone know where I can buy one?

It is now 6 or 7 weeks since I posted this question.  Would SOMEONE from Williams who KNOWS about this issue kindly respond?

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Gee, I really thought that someone from the Company monitors these questions and RESPONDS to the people who BUY their products!


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Can the Bachmann, or some other knowledgeable kind soul, please tell me how to adjust the height of the couplers on my two semi-scale GG-1s (I have one in green, model 3001 and one in Tuscan, model 41799).

Out of the box, the couplers are at least 1/3 too high for mating with Lionel passenger cars.

I do NOT want to take anything apart until I have confidence that I know what I am doing!

Thanks,
Arthur

Can someone measure and tell me the dimensions of the two fire truck door openings in the Product Code: 45610 Plasticville Fire Station.  I want to be able to back two of my own trucks into the station.  The trucks that come with the station are CHEESY and can be kept!

Which model is PRR GG-1 ROAD NUMBER 4935?

Mr. Bachman,

I bought a Blinking Bridge, item # 46221, new and factory sealed less than a year ago.  It worked fine for 2-3 months, then stopped blinking.  I have checked the electrical contacts and they appear to be fine.

How long is this kind of product warranteed by Bachmann and do I need to mail it back?

I must say, if you read my messages of about 6 months ago, I am VERY disappointed with the quality of Bachmann products in general!

Arthur

I decided to get into HO railroading last November after thinking about it for many years.  Now that I was retired, I figured I had the time to do it right.  UNFORTUNATELY, I did minimal research.  I was torn between Bachmann EZ track and Life-Like Power-Loc track (I wanted a "built-in" roadbed).  I ended up speaking with the Bachmann VP who invented the EZ track and made a MAJOR investment in the stuff.

I am regretting this decision every time I run my trains.  Besides other problems, as described below, they are NOT so "EZ."  Sometimes it takes quite a bit of manipulation to get the two electrical links aligned properly over both rails.

I have constant derailments.  I have replaced with steel wheels all the old wheels on the "vintage" cars I bought and on new cars with plastic wheels. 

A knowledgeable friend suggested that I run my fingers over the track joints.  MANY are VERY ROUGH. 

QUESTION 1 - Do I need to sand/file each of these ends?  If so, I would SCREAM!

I just removed a TOPIC because the engine in question has been returned to Bachmann for replacement (I hope) or repair (I hope not).  It is a SPECTRUM engine.  Isn't this TOP OF THE Bachmann LINE?  It arrived NIB with one set of wheels NOT turning.  Poor thing could NOT pull itself!

I have bought a total of SIX NIB Bachmann engines.  I sold one NIB because I had too many.  All are DCC.  One of my early buys (Western Maryland GP40 #60337) makes a LOT of noise.  For mechanical things, this is NOT a good sign.  Nor is it a sign of quality control and quality manufacture.

Question 2 - Do others have similar experience or have I been unlucky?

I decided to go with DCC so I could operate more than one train simultaneously.  I bought the Bachmann controller #44902 that can handle up to 9 engines at the same time.  EXCEPT, if you read the papers with it, you learn that more than three at a time will cause a loss of performance.  So much for truth in advertising.

Then, when I went to connect my switch tracks (turn outs?) to the power pack, I discovered that it has NO AC output for accessories.

Question 3 - Is this a design defect, or is this an INTENTIONAL design deficit to force the owner to buy a second power pack just for accessories?

I also bought a Bachmann grade automatic crossing with double gates #44579.  I have observed a number of derailments just after the cars pass the gate.  I watched closely and see that many cars are too light and are thrown off the track by the weight sensitive gate lowering mechanism.  I have downloaded the NMRA weight chart and will try to adjust all my cars, but I see no way to add weight to some cars without making them UGLY.

Question 4 - Is there any way to adjust the spring load of the crossing gate to obviate this problem?

I bought a Bachmann blinking bridge, item #46221.  It includes a trestle set.  The box says "works with all HO trains."  To my chagrin, I discovered that the trestle set does NOT fit Bachmann EZ track.  A Bachmann VP (the only people I can reach since Customer Support NEVER returns phone calls or emails) told me that this is an OLD model.  Again, so much for truth in advertising.  Fortunately, it DOES link with EZ track, but I can figure NO way to affix the bridge to the track.  The bridge keeps working loose.

Question 5 - Anyone have any suggestions short of permanently gluing a section of EZ track to each end of the bridge?  Is there a way to pinch the electrical connectors TIGHTLY over the rails?

All in all, I am VERY frustrated.  This is NOT a good way to begin a hobby.  If I could without losing a LOT of money, I think I would sell it all and go back to my old Lionel 0 gauge trains!

If the Bach Man is reading this, I am VERY sorry that I invested around $1,000 in Bachmann products!  This is NOT a good reputation for your company.  WAY too many problems with way too many different Bachmann products!

Anyone have any words of consolation or advice?