Could you ask Lee and the boys if they could add the Virginia and Truckee Railroad to the schemes available on the GE 44 ton locomotive? The reconstruction is using a nicely painted yellw 44 tonner  with lettering for the Virginia and Truckee. This locomotive will be around after the reconstruction from Virginia City to Carson City is completed.

Thought you all might be interested in the mimimum recommended radius for the Bachmann outside frame consolidation. It is listed at a radius of 197 feet. That's 49.25 inches in 1/4 inch scale.  the usual 22 inches works out to 88 foot radius.
Take your hats off to the engineering staff at Bachmann for this capability.  The ET&WNC 4-6-0 is listed at 253 feet or 63.25 inch radius.  These are Baldwin factory figures 

Okay, Dustin got his. Lee and staff: How about a nice set of ET&WNC passenger varnish to go with the fine locomotive?

The Tweetsie had the finest narrow gauge varnish in North or South America. It was sold to Central America when the Tweetsie gace up regular passenger service. Later cars came from the BR&L for war use.
These were 45 foot cars. 
Other options are a set of D&RGW Shavano/San Juan Passenger cars

In the world of real business, selection of the product to build is difficult. The new 4-4-0 seems like the wrong thing to some people but  it is a very viable product for two reasons: The prototype is a real 30 inch gauge locomotive and the intended layout has sharp curves and most likely is small. I'll bet that Harold  Minky has plans for it already. I know I'll have a pair.

I have stated before that while a K-37 is a nice narrow gauge beast, our smaller layouts cannot operate it.  Our British counterparts know that the small narrow gauge lines in the UK had some interesting and unique locomotives built for them and the rolling stock was much smaller to operate on these lines. I am getting ready to re-do my layout with broader curves to add On3 to the layout.  I will be using 44" radius for the On3, 36 for the On30. The decision was based on operational problems using 24" radius on the present layout. I will also hand lay the track to use "6 and #8 switches.

The Baldwin prototype is a natural. The North American market was dominated by Baldwin and ALCO with the Central and South American market shared by European and those US manufacturers, not to mention the African narrow gauges. This leads us to the possibilty that maybe Lee will surprise us with  a nice Garrett based on the South African 2 foot units now in use on the Welsh Highland Railway.

On the other hand, it isn't too much of a stretch to place the new 4-4-0 in a setting based on a Maine or Southern prototype. I think it will look good hauling across the California coast range with a string of varnish. Sure, they never had one but look at the opportunity to do something unique.

Look at the possibilities before complaining

Those reading Model Railroader should turn to page 17 of the July issue and look at the PECO ad. It is a scale 48' (12 inches) with pit.

Here's an opportunity for Bachmann to do a currently operating 3 foot gauge locomotive for On30. C&C #9 is the sole surviving  locomotive of its type. On another topic, a picture of #9 was shown with a snowplow attached. The restoration is fantastic, well worth a trip to Colorado.

This is a perfect chance for Bachmann to do a true spectrum version of the C&S mogul with a few versions, normal pilot, snowplow with curtains in the cab and the later and chunkier tender that most C&S moguls used after 1920. Come on, Bachmann, give us a mogul like the large scale Annie with all the detail upgrades. Besides, the larger tender will house DCC and sound.....

I've noticed that my roof vent on my Berkshire is open. Is this the normal position?

I finally got my 2008 On30 Annual. Nice.

There are projects for every level of skill. The best one (actually 2) Is a 4-6-0 conversion using a Thomas HO 4-6-0 frame and mechanism for power. Very slick. I'm getting another 2-6-0 for the necessary boiler and cab parts. The article is on page 75 of the annual.

On page 44 or so is a nice modification of the 2-6-0 by Jim Wlkes, simple but the results are very nice.

I'm not waiting for the 4-6-0 to be made by Bachmann as they already make the components to build either a nice F&CC or RGS/SP/NCO/PC 4-6-0.
Dusten, you'd better learn how to kit bash as that's the only way you'll get an On30 4-6-0 anytime soon. This is an easy kit bash.

Mr. Bachmann

Any comment on a train set marked "Keystone" with Bachmann cars, track and power pack? I'd sure like to see the 2-6-2 available under the Bachmann name.

Mr. Bachmann,

Are there any plans to improve the PCC or Birney power trains like the nice system on the new Peter Witt Car?

This would be very nice for those of s with traction on our minds.

The acquisition of Williams by Bachmann is actually welcome news. I have older Williams steamers, brass, and they run well but I was wondering if any of those older models may be revived by Bachmann. Will Bachmann extend it's EZ track to O-gauge?  The Williams Passenger cars were very nice. Will those be continued? All questions of which direction Bachmann will go.

Now Mr. Bachmann will have to build another display layout to go with the Thomas and G-scale.

Mr. Bachmann:
As long as everyone else asks for their favorite stuff, How about an A_B set of Western Pacfic FT's in either the original colors or the Zephyr silver-orange- black. Either version will do. The WP was one of the earilest operators of the FT along with the Santa Fe.

Just picked up a GE 25 ton industrial diesel kit. Assembled it last night and it is a gem. Not much pulling power up a grade, just two Bachmann cars but it is cute. The body kit is $29 and the motor is $60 or so with the wheelss attached. Very smooth. It is worth a good look.

It has not problems with PECO turnouts nor my home made Atlas conversions.

It is a natural for kit bashing and the like.

My principle reason for modeling in On30 is to just fool around and see what I can do. The seriousness of my other modeling is not present here. I can take a Bachmann locomotive and make anything i want. The idea of a 2-6-6-2 in On30 is really not valid.  30 inch gauge isn't big and the locomotives were never big. On3 is where the larger locomotives belong. The difference in layout sizes isn't great. The prototypes with tight radius in three foot gauges are out there, The Silverton Railroad had one curve on a 3.5% grade that was about 15 inches in 1/4 inch scale.

As much as I would like a company like Bachmann to produce  a good 4-4-0, part of the appeal is to build one out of scrap parts that looks acceptible and all. Sound is nice, but that can be added to any well-planned model 

Use the John Allen philosophy: the railroad is yours and it operates the way you want it to. It has equipment that you want that looks the way you think it should.  I think my own railroad would be cool with one of those South African Garretts rollong through the California redwoods. A pair of Bachmann HO 2-6-2s would make a good start for a mechanism.

I wouldn't worry about which sound system is better, just make sure the locomotives run well to start and add what you really want.