After seeing a nice shelf layout at a show this weekend, my wife and I are really leaning toward On30 instead of HO for the little shelf logging layout I am planning to build this winter.  Just bought the Cass Scenic 3 truck Climax w/DCC and sound.  Love it, runs nice and smooth with excellent sounds in DCC mode.  Would love to swap it for an On30 Climax with the electric style headlights, unlettered but with the red and white trim work and sound/dcc.  I might just put all my HO stuff sans a few keepsake items up for sale online and take the plunge!  I will use proper narrow gauge track and not HO track however.  Mike

How about some HO versions of the "camp" cars that Bachmann did in On30?   They could be sold seperatly or in a compelte set.   Bachmann has done the motive power, has a logging flat car and car if you want to haul the tourists.  But we need some proper camp cars for the loggers, affordable skelleton style log cars.  The flats are nice, a bit over priced IMHO for what you get.   Rivarossi used to do a nice plastic one, Kaydee still does but also higher priced and a kit that many modelers might not care to attempt.  The Skel log cars plus the bobber caboose would make the perfect train for the Shay or Climax engines!   How about structures, a nice small sawmill designed to put next to a log pond, one that would fit the average home layout and not the huge variety.  How about an unloading "jill poke" to go next to the track and some skidding donkeys to put at the log loading area and out in the woods.   Logging is the prefect small layout prototype when money is tight in the train budget.  Most logging RR's had only a couple of engines, a small sawmill and a few log skels or disconnect style trucks to haul the logs.   A small back woods engine house that is long enough to house the 3 truck Shay or Climax would also be an awsome add on sale.   Bachmann could offer a whole logging series that doesnt require the modeler to deal with craftsman style kits that make up the bulk of the logging theme buildings on the market that work on a small layout.  HO versions of all the logging items in the On30 line up would be a good start.  Walthers did a sawmill series, but it was more modern and took quite a large layout to deal with the size of the structures.   How about it Bachmann?

Started playing with the CV's on my DCC/Sound equipted Climax.  To get your headlight to spool up and down with the generator function(F5 button), you need to change CV's 49 and 50 to a value of 15.  After this mod you need to have the generator running to get the headlight on via the headlight button or F0 on your controler.  I set my master sound (CV 128) to a value of 25.  The fast chuffing gets annoying if its to loud.  I find this setting excellent for home layout use, at a club or modular meet in a show enviroment, a louder setting might be needed to hear the sounds.   This sound is about perfect, espicaly in idle, step near the engine and you can hear the pumps working and other boiler related sounds, step away and they fade into the background noise just like they should.   Operation is smoothing out the more I run it around my small loop of track.   I have not played with the LED compensation yet to see if it improves the spool up and down of the headlight as the generator comes up to speed.   This model exceedes any brass model so far in detail as well as out of the box running with just a simple lubrication job.  Still havent decided on what road name she will wear as mine is a painted/striped but unlettered version.   I love the whistle, reminds me of the whistle on the "19" in Emperor of the North.   Mike

I am giving a nice Bravo to Bachmann on the beautifull new Climax engines.  Almost totaly diecast metal, drive system is as close to prototype as can be done in HO, much closer than any of the PFM brass ones I have.  But being so, it does take more upkeep than the average steam engine.  All those many bearings and gears require grease and oil to keep them turning easy for the small motor hidden in the firebox to turn.  Mine was essentialy dry as a bone and was really stiff out of the box, but after a proper backshopping for lubrication, most of this was gone.  I suspect the rest will "bed in" like a real engine with some run time.  As soon as I figure out the CV to turn the damn sound down to a level that doesnt blow the ears out, I plan to put a good solid hour in each direction pulling 1 Kaydee disconnect log car and caboose.  Just a light load to allow the gears to wear in and bearings to smooth out.   Bachmann has to be applauded for doing the trucks the way they should be done and not with just worm gears.  Any closer would need a larger model and live steam in the boiler.  Only long term will tell if Bachmann solved the gear and line shaft splitting issues, but I suspect they have upgraded the drive parts from the previous model, it only makes good business sense!   There will be duds, espicaly in a highly mechanical model with lots of moving parts.  If your mail ordering, test it right away and keep all the boxes, if buying at the LHS like I did, test it before you leave the store.   Saves grief later at home.   Time to go run some trains!     Cheers   Mike and Michele T

I remember seeing a deluxe starter set that came with a PRR K4 locomotive and a few passenger cars, along with a transformer and track.  Try to track one down to add to my collection, but I cant remember what Bachmann called the set?   Anybody have an older catalog that can refresh my memory?   Thanks in advance.   Mike

Changing over the dim headlight bulb in your DCC ready K4 is very simple evening project.  You need 1 Miniatronics 3mm Yelglow LED lamps and a 470ohm resistor.   I removed the light bulb from the front PC board with my soldering iron and replaced it with the LED.  I then cut the black wire back in the firebox area that feeds that board and spliced in the 470 ohm resistor into that line.  If you position the LED in the same basic spot that the light bulb was, the boiler shell will go right back on the chassis without any issues.  Now you can enjoy a much brighter headlight in both DC and DCC mode.   If your going to be running just DCC only, I would suggest a 1K ohm resistor instead of the 470, that way if someone bumps or runs the track voltage on the high side, the LED will be ok.  I run on both analog and DCC and find the 470ohm works fine with DCC track voltage set at 12vt.   Cheers   Mike

I have always hoped that Bachmann would produce a follow up model to the PRR K4 locomotive.  A nice small freight engine would be an excellent seller to the small and large layout crowd.  Any one of the numerious H class 2-8-0's would be perfect and they already have the basic drive system.   One of the L class Mikados would also be a welcome addition in plastic at an affordable price.  All we have now are high priced brass,  high priced BLI/PCM engines with sound, hard to fine blueline series engines or bidding wars for old Bowser kit engines for those willing to build and detail them.  I for one would sign up for a couple H8 or H9 class consolidations if produced at an affordable price point with good detail, on par with the current K4 model and with the same running qualities.  The K4 is of a lone wolf in the Bachmann product line, while Bachmann could put the PRR name on some of the other steamers, none have the proper Belpair boiler that screams PRR without ever looking at the name on the tender.  How about it?  How many would sign up for a PRR prototype 2-8-0 in the DCC/Onboard series with running qualities and detail on par with the K4 and NKP Berks produced currently?   I need about 4-5 of them for my PRR layout personaly.    Mike

I am in the market for a K4 engine, years ago I had one of early spectrum engines and was disappointed in the pulling power and poor headlight output.  Are the current runs any better, ie what upgrades have Bachmann done to the Pennsy engine since the first ones.  Obviously sound/dcc is one, but I am more concerned with pulling ablities and a decently bright headlight when compared to the first runs. Thanks in advance.  Mike

My vote for dream motive power to see in On30 goes as follows, EBT 2-8-2's, Westside 3 truck shay, Westside #2 Heisler ( an excellent choice instead of some unknown prototype) and the Unitah 2-6-6-2 Tank Mallet.    Small power is nice, but how about some larger prototypes like the Shay and the 2-8-2's of the EBT. I really wonder if the 2-8-2 isnt on the book for future production, seeing all the EBT rolling stock that has been made over the years.   Cheers  Mike

I went ahead and preordered my 3 truck Climax tonight at the LHS, getting the Cass Scenic #9 as my wife and I plan to head to Cass the first year the Climax goes into operation, hopefully in the next couple years as they are making good progress.  I do hope that Bachmann has taken a very hard look at the drive system and made the necessary improvements over the previous 2 truck design.  Although I am more that capable of upgrading the drive with NWSL parts if it came to that.  For the price, one would hope the drive system would be metal/diecast/brass, rather than engineering plastic.  Hopefully more details come to light about the new Climax as we approach the estimated release date in a couple months.  Anybody else here taking the chance and ordering up one of the new Climaxes for thier logging line?    Cheers   Mike and Michele T

I am in the process of chop nosing a Bachmann GP7.  Not the easiest task, I ended up having to break the headlight lenses out, they are glued in!  I managed to pry loose all the cab window glass without breaking it.  The hand rails were almost glued in with the paint.  They must be putting the rails on when the paint is wet.  I used the headlight and front cab windows from an Athearn GP38-2 cab.  I filed it very thin in the headlight/numberboard area, filled off the headlight casting on the front so I can replace it with an early EMD casting.  Once the glue dries good, I will file the squared off newer EMD headlight/numberboard set up to the contour of the GP7's roof.  I got the idea on modeling the rounded headlight from another model forum.  I really wish Bachmann would do a low nose version along with high nose units in more modern road names.  Lots of short lines are still running these workhorses to this very day.  But glueing in parts that could be just a press fit, makes custom painting a real pain in the arse.  I will get some pics tomorrow of my progress so far.  The final result will be a GP7u painted for the Central Railroad of Indianapolis road number 1750.   Mike

Anybody put sound in your Bachmann GP7's yet?  I am planning to put sound in mine when I low nose them and repaint them.   For those that dont know the fuel tank is dimpled inside to be drilled for sound, and the fuel tank is cast to accept a round speaker.  Mike

Hey Mr Bachmann, is it possible to get a spare fuel tank cover for the GP7 diesel?  I am building a custom low nose unit that had the air tanks on the roof and a full length fuel tank.  I need a second fuel tank piece so I can splice them together to extend the tank and eliminate the air tanks down there.   Thanks  Mike

I am preparing to start a new layout over the winter months.  I am restricted to a 4x8 layout size due to room size and constraints.  I found a track plan I am happy with using Bachmann's Ez Track.  I plan to use DCC turnouts for the whole layout and control it with a Dynamis system.  I am a lone operator, I will run one around the ouside loop and then switch over to the smaller engine for in the inside loop.   I have several steam engines, 1 is a Bachmann NKP Berkshire that is getting a Tsunami installed along with working mars light, other 2 are older PFM Brass imports that will get a Tsunami soon.  I am hoping to not repower the brass, they both pull less than 1amp at full stall and are as quiet running as the new Bachmann.  Both have genuine Pittman DC70x motors in them.  One is a Berkshire and the other is a USRA Mikado that I redetailed to NKP 587 as she was in 1954 with mars light and flying numberboards.  Havent decided on the exact industres for each siding yet.   The idea is to get a general feel of the NKP around the Tipton/Kokomo area in 1954.  Probably set the season in mid fall with the trees ablaze in colors and a crisp nip in the autum air.   Here is the track plan I found.  I may modify the sidings slightly as I progress.  Right now I am in the aquiring phase, will hopefully get the benchwork up soon.  Havent deceided on what style benchwork yet, looking for cheap and lightweight.  I also cannot get a full 4x8 sheet of anything from the hall to the train room.   Hall and doorway is to narrow.   

I would love to see Bachmann rerun the old style Reading 2-8-0 with the huge Whooten firebox as well as the 2-8-2 with elesco feedwater header and vanderbilt tender.  Yes I know its just the Consoldation with a trailing truck, but with the feedwater heater overhanging the headlight, it had a nice compact/chunky freight engine look.  But this time put a good plus series drive system under them.  They looked great back when I was a kid, still look good to me, but suffer in the drive performance area.   If I can find a like new B&O Mikado that runs still,  I will pick it up for the sentimental value.  Hope we see some more reissues of old favorites with better drives in them as well as some great new items in 2010.   Happy Holidays. 

I love how smooth and quiet my new NKP 759 Berkshire runs, she is a bit slippery in the traction dept, wont pull much as a Berkshire should.  I had the top off and upgraded the main headlight to a Minitronics yelglow golden white LED instead of the yellow one.  This is a total plug and play swap out.  Just shorten the LED leads like the Bachmann one and plug the wires back on.  Have the tender already connected and a test track handy to see if you have the polarity correct, if not just reverse the wires.  I removed the Mars light LED and just tucked it away off to the side as I plan to make the mars functional on my engine.  The LEDs just plug into a tube inside the boiler front.  Boiler removal is a snap!  remove the lead pilot truck, remove the 1 screw under it.  Then remove the 2 screws on either side of the trailing truck that go up into the firebox.   When I pull the boiler shell again to install the working mars light, I will look into additional weight if possible and report back.  I did also go thru and lightly oil all the bearings as both pilot and trailing trucks were squeaking after a short test run.   Excellent engine for the money, I hope Bachmann does a Spectrum version next time around with full sound and working mars light.  The Tsunami does both of those things.   Cheers   Mike

In this day and age, you would think for the few extra dollers spread out over the hundreds of models produced, Bachmann could put decent and proper lighting in thier engines.  I am talking about nice bright LED headlights, no dim yellow ones.  Proper flashing Mars lights in the NKP Berkshire and GS4 Daylight engines.  Come on Bachmann, get with the 21st century.  I can buy a Richmond controls circuit that works on plain old DC power, but why should I?  I and most any other modeler would be glad to pay a couple extra dollers for a proper lighting set up that doesnt need aftermarket modification to look and operate properly.  Take the NKP Berk for example, you didnt ever seperate the two light LEDs to allow those putting sound/DCC upgrades that have a Mars light function to operate unless the modeler modifies the light board.   Are your product engineeers that out of touch with the modeling community?   It cant be that hard for your chinese factorys to produce a simple electronic circuit to make the mars light function and include it on every model that should have one.  That would be every dual headlight F unit, the NKP Berkshire that has the Mars light and the GS4 Daylight, along with any other upcoming model that might use it.   Your compitition did this on thier first runs of thier E units (Proto 2K), granted it was a poor effect, but they made the effort.   The engine looks great, lets take the next step with proper lighting from the factory, it cant be that hard.   For now I spend my $$ with other compaies to upgrade the lighting to what it should be from Bachmann

How about a deluxe version of the NKP Berkshire with a diffrerent number, like 779, but this time included a nice sound decoder and make the Mars light flash like it should.  That would make an excellent model for the the 2010 xmas season.  I plan to upgrade my NKP Berkshire I just ordered tonight to make the Mars light work correctly, but no sound for now.  Putting an old Ibenlite circuit in the engine. 

I would like to see Bachmann make some logging camp cars, log cars that are not just flat cars and a logging caboose similar to what they are doing in On30.  Espicaly the camp cars, they would be really nice for the HO logging folks.    Mike

I want to see the civil war era 4-4-0s redone with a proper in locomotive drive train, I know it can be done, we have Z scale and beautifull N scale engines, so I know the motor technology is there.  A good running pre 1900 locomotive is despiratly needed.  Espicaly one that is detailed like the post 1900 Richmond 4-4-0 you do now.   A new model of the Casey Jones Rodgers ten wheeler would be another excellent model to see out again.  The old one is beautifull, but with huge flanges and warp drive speed range, it takes quite an effort to make it run on a nice turn of the century layout with proper code rail.  While Athearn/Roundhouse has a couple of models out, they are almost crude compared to even the old AHM/Rivarossi Casey Jones engine.  Take the Richmond 4-4-0's detail and apply it to a proper pre 1900 model.   That whole era of modeling is neglected and wide open to selling product if it was made.  Smaller rolling stock, light weight rail, often just laid on the dirt, wood burning engines or small coal burning.  No automobiles or roads like a more modern layout.  There are loads of kits still on the market for that era, but lacking a good engine to pull it.  Not looking for arguments, but discussion of what could be done with pre 1900 modeling if the models were there to buy.