Hi folks,

I'm working on an HO scale display layout. I'd like to add a back and forth trolley to the scene. We've already got the track in place so I'm looking for recommendations or suggestions for a trolley to use. I like the look of the PCC trolley and see the sound value ones out there are pretty reasonably priced. But I am looking for some experience with these things and recommendations.

Also- does anyone have experience with an automatic back and forth circuit like the ones made by dallee?

Dear Bachmann,

It is exciting to see parts of the old Aristocraft 1/29 line being produced under your name!  Thanks for reviving this model. I hope this sparks some more interest in g scale!

Thanks!

I was looking at the drawings for the forthcoming Bachmann 4-6-0 and it appears the center drivers have flanges now? Is that just for the artwork or did that change so that the center drivers are now flanged?  Just curious, and I guess we won't know until they show up.

Hi all,

I've got an old trolley (Hershey paint job) and the motor seems to have a dead spot on it.  If I manually advance the rotor, with voltage applied, it runs smoothly.  Applying more voltage does not cause the motor to jump. Looking in, I can see some blue arcing.   I got this unit at auction and from the wheel condition, it appears to have been run a little.

Is there anything I can do to remedy or is my best bet to order a new motor block assembly from Bachmann?

Thanks,

Mark

Hi folks,

I just picked up a used bachmann streetcar. This is one of the four wheel streetcars, not a Peter Wit.  I tested the motor and it was a little noisy so I opened the gearbox and saw the old white grease was pretty much gone.  I added some LGB gear grease, and then the motor wouldn't turn.  After some further inspection, the motor appears to have a bad sector. Also, I noted that during the testing (with a 1 amp LGB power supply) that the motor would run at a high speed and then start to do what I can only describe as 'rpm drift'.  It appears this design just isn't really that beefy.  Looking online, the spare part replacement is an entire chassis. Has the motor been upgraded or will it be the same?

Thanks for any feedback,

Mark

I ordered an anniversary chassis for my son's Big Hauler last November and it arrived and was soon installed.  Then I noticed that the engineer's side main rod was actually the fireman's side!  I sent a note to Bachmann's service group along with my invoice number.  A couple of days later, a complete set of valve gear showed up at my mailbox.  

Thank you, Bachmann trains, for the fast and prompt service!

Mark Oles

Hello Bachmann and board members,

I have a brand new GP-38-2 that was purchased this past Saturday that suddenly stopped running.  The lights still come on, but I do not hear any motor trying to turn.  

How do I remove the shell to determine if a wire fell off or if the motor seized?  I discovered that the dynamic brake blister is removable revealing a PCB board.  

The road name is New England Central, road number 3848.  I am using a Tech II Locomotion 1500 power supply, and other locomotives (including other Bachmann) run fine.  I have a short train (5 cars) behind this locomotive.

This is my son's locomotive (he's and I was running it at about 25% of full power.  Nice and slow.  Maybe it was too slow? Anyway, I'd like to see if it is possible to check before sending it in for repair.

Advice?

Thanks,

Mark

Hi Bachmann!

I recently purchased a new, old stock Night Before Christmas set.  I am going to save it and give it to my son for Christmas.  I gave the locomotive a once over, and everything works great.  The engine ran very nice and smooth. 

However, I am curious to find out if I can fit the newest anniversary drive train/chassis to the old big hauler boiler?  I may elect to upgrade this locomotive if that is the case to take advantage of the metal gears and better pony truck design.  Do all the mounting holes line up for Anniversary vs Big Hauler?

Dear Bachmann,

Do the replacement anniversary drives come with metal gears?

Should a new nickname be give the new updated big hauler to differentiate it from the 2000 Anniversary edition? 

Annie 2.0 is too modern sounding, I think. 
This locomotive is more than 20 years old, wasn't it first introduced in the late 80s? 

My suggestion:
I like the idea of keeping with a female name, but starting with the letter B.  So my suggestion is the new 4-6-0 should be called a "Betty". 

Thoughts?

Dear Bachmann,
Have the new, updgraded Annies been released?  When do you expect them to be available?

Bachmann,
I looked in your online store but don't see that you sell the balloon stack for your Spectrum 4-4-0.  I'd like to know how much one costs or if I can use the Big Hauler smoke stack in place of the straight diamond stack.  I'm willing to trade it, too.

Thanks,

Hey all you Thomas fans,

If Bachmann made a Large Scale Henry,  how close is his prototype locomotive to the 'crimson' locomotive that pulled the Hogwarts express in the Harry Potter movie series?  Other than the fact that they are both 4-6-0s (or 2-3-0s for you Continentals out there), is there any other similarity?

My big hauler lost her bell.  I am curious if the Anniversary 4-6-0 bell will fit where the 'standard' 4-6-0 bell goes.  Both are available in the on line store, and I want to know which one I should order.  Personally, I like the look of the Anniversary bell.  Also, it looks like they both have clappers and make a little 'ding' when you ring them.  Can anyone confirm these replacement parts both will ding? 

Thanks,

Mark

I recieved a bachmann Plus 4-6-0 a number of years as a birthday present.  It saw some use and eventually, I overloaded it and it stripped a gear.  Since I had a number of other priorities, I didn't bother sending it to Bachmann for repair/replacement.  But I did put it back in the box and put it in to deep storage. 

Fast forward, I have a 3 year old who likes to push my freight cars around the track.  I've gotten him some cheaper G scale train sets that are really not great toys.  I was chatting with a friend about getting him a locomotive at the upcoming ECLSTS.  My buddy suggested that I get him a scratch and dent 0-4-0 and take the motor out.  That's when I remembered the broken Big Hauler.  So, Thursday night,  I opened up the old BH and removed the busted gear.  Put it all back together and viola! Instant push train. 

We spent the whole weekend pushing that old big hauler around the basement.  Hate to say it, but I think the engine ran better and sounded better than it had when it was a motorized unit!! I didn't do any long term damage so with a new gear, this engine could run again.  Thanks, Bachmann!

Hi Bachmann,

I noted about a week ago that the Percy sets had arrived at the warehouse.  Have these started shipping to retailers?

Thanks,

Mark

Hi Bachmann,

I have a couple of questions about the upcoming large scale Thomas and Percy:
Is there an expected arrival date for these? 
Will the sets and separate sale items be available at the same time?
Will the locomotives have the DCC / aristo plug and play socket?

Thanks,
Mark

Hey Bachmann,

Here's a change for you.

Is the Dogfish Head IPA Reefer for their 60 Minute IPA or their 90 Minute IPA.  Just wondering.  The engineer likes both flavors, but prefers that 90 minute if given a choice.  Maybe you should have the brewery load up a reefer of each and forward to Philly so you can judge for yourself.

Edit:  I thought I recalled seeing an On30 version, and looked through the pictures, and whammy! there's a test shot of the IPA reefer, and 90 minute.   Is the artwork for both models the same?

Mark

Dear Bachmann,

Thanks for making an affordable product!! Because of the relatively low cost of the 1:22.5 product line, I am able to custom paint cars for my nephews Sean and Liam.  I attached some pics below,

Sean:


Liam:


For development of this project, see this thread:
http://www.mylargescale.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=50060

I am impressed that these models are offered painted, unlettered and with metal wheels. 

Thanks,

Mark

Hi Bach-man,

When do you expect the Olive and Russia Iron 4-4-0 to be in stock?  I'm putting together my list, and in checking it twice, I am making sure it'd be available in time!

Thanks,

Santa Mark