What you need is Bachmann's EZ Mate LONG Center Shank coupler-their #78024.  Anything less will foul against the front and rear foot plates.  If you can't find the Bachmann couplers, you can use Kadee #146-they also come with the draft gear boxes, should you need them. 

We took a lot of photos this past weekend at the Amherst Railroad Society and since the files are too big for this site, I'm including the On30 Facebook spot where they were posted.  Great to see and talk to Bachmann while there.  Click on this:

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10231084098983260&set=pcb.2375463569329796

John Tumolo

Fully agree-they are great to work with and while you may think $80 is too much to pay, just check with your local hobby shop to see what they charge-oh, wait-they've gone out of business 'cause you never supported them. 

If you haven't attacked it with a screwdriver as of yet, the best way to remove the Bachmann passenger car roofs is to gently squeeze the side of the roof-you can normally "pop" the tabs free of the side and just lift away, one side at a time.  Use a screwdriver only as a last resort, as you will surely scratch the paint.  John Tumolo

Ok, gang-this just showed up on the On30modeler Facebook site-if a modeler can do this with Bachmann's On30 2-6-6-2, why can't Bachmann, using the molds and parts they have already created, come up with something like this?  Copy and paste this link for photos of what's been created:
 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/On30MODELER/permalink/2343007355908751/

Sing along with me: "All I want for Christmas is a 2-6-2, a 2-6-2, a 2-6-2"

Merry Christmas to you all and to our long suffering friends at Bachmann!

John Tumolo

Ok, gang-I've been asking for YEARS and I shall continue to do so-we truly need a Maine-style Prairie.  With all of the HO mechanisms available to Bachmann, it shouldn't be that difficult.  A model of WW&F's #6 would be ideal, but there are a bunch of different ones that ran on the SR&RL that would do. 

Well, once again Mr. Lane and company have done a great favor for all of us On30 fans and provided us with our own publication.  My favorite piece this year is the article by the Master Tinkerer Allen Littlefield who channeled the late great Alan Carroll and created a beautiful rendition of WW&F #8.  I'm fortunate that I had a similar thought several years ago and amassed the bits and pieces needed to do the same.  Finding the time to actually do it is another story, but seeing this article has worked to get my butt in gear and start planning again. I do need to find the fluted domes, but that should be fairly simple.  I love this hobby!

Quote from: Terry Toenges on August 25, 2023, 03:49:55 PMI would think that if On30 folks don't like to post on Bachmann's On30 forum, then Bachmann could figure that no one is interested in On30 any longer and abandon it.
I would think the On30 crowd would want to keep the On30 stuff coming from Bachmann.
The infinite number of forums aren't the ones that are actually producing the equipment.

Terry-My point EXACTLY.  We need to show Bachmann that we are serious about this end of the hobby, and a lack of participation tells them we just don't care.  We've got to talk this up!

Ok, On30 fans-Bachmann hasn't forgotten us-they just announced a new 3-bay hopper to be released in 2024, based on the EBT 3-bays, lettered for EBT and two of the railroads that purchased them from EBT-WP&YR and Durango & Silverton, along with an oxide red unlettered version.  They even thought about what the cars were used for-the EBT has a coal load, as does the oxide red version.  The others are carrying ballast, which is what they actually did.  Obviously, SOMEONE at Bachmann has remembered On30, and I would like to think our friend Lee Riley is smiling down on us.........check this announcement  https://resources.bachmanntrains.com/NMRA2023/NMRA2023.pdf

Fred-I purchased the SR&RL version when it was first released several years ago, and it's always been a favorite.  A few naysayers griped about the width, but overall, I think most liked the construction and the overall look.  John Tumolo

Ok, fellow modelers-let's not allow this valuable resource to go away.  Please tell all of your On30 friends to start using this forum more often-at least check in once a week.  Believe it or not, Bachmann does monitor this page, and any LEGITIMATE questions/concerns/ideas are read.  This is the only way we all have to keep Bachmann in the loop and to let them see we all really DO care about what they are thinking/planning/doing for On30.  We sadly no longer have our #1 advocate Lee Riley around to lobby for us, but any and all ideas we post on this site will assuredly be read by Bachmann.  It's a shame that this resource isn't being actively campaigned-since it came back online, there's only one page of questions/comments.  I don't want this spot to turn into a place to gripe, I want to see it used for positive activity for our beloved On30.  There are plenty of other places to vent your spleen.  Sorry if THIS whole post sounds like a rant-I just want the hobby that's been an important part of my life for over 20 years now to keep going with the support of the one company that cared enough to get me started.   

Steve-For what it's worth, I had a similar problem with the Bachmann 2-4-4-2.  It was resolved by purchasing a new transformer made by MRC.  It seems that those of us Luddites that refuse to use DCC need a bit more oomph that the standard power pack that came with the Bachmann train set years ago.  I settled on MRC Tech7 Ampac 760 power pack, and have been well satisfied with how it performs and how it makes my equipment run.  When I purchased my trench loco, I had no problems at all.  It did take a leap of faith, as a new power pack was around $100.00, and that's a lot to spend if it's not necessary.  Check with your local hobby shop or find one online.  I suggest the hobby shop, as they will surely be more help than a faceless internet store, IMHO.  Good luck! 

Just a thought-Have you looked at the Banta wood cabs for the Bachmann 2-6-0?  I have used several different cabs from him, and they are really well thought out and fit really well.  Here's his information and best of luck.  

Banta Modelworks
802-258-3869 (Voice) 800-653-8214 (Orders)
E-mail: billbwks@sover.net
www.bantamodelworks.com

 Here's an update-I went ahead and purchased a new MRC power pack and another 2-4-4-2 and I'm happy to report that it all works.  I did try hooking up a "stock" power pack and had the same results as before, so apparently it WAS a power problem.  The new locomotive needed a bit of tweaking to get it to run-apparently when the bottom plate as attached, the gears weren't properly aligned.  I only had to unscrew the plate and move everything back into place.   Looks like the "tool man" was right all along.......................

At the risk of sounding like Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor, do I need MORE POWER?  The "stock" Bachmann power pack that came with the On30 set is rated at 15 volts DC, 18 volts AC.  As I am still a Luddite and only use DC power, would the addition of something like a TECH 7 AMPAC 760 POWER PACK from MRC that claims 23 volts DC be to my advantage in getting the Bachmann locomotives to move a bit faster?  I'm still pondering my problem with the Bachmann 2-4-4-2 that barely crawled when full power was applied from the Bachmann power pack, and I'm curious if the upgrade to 23 available volts would have helped, or would the additional power just cook the motor?  Any ideas?  I don't mind going to my local hobby shop and plunking down $100.00 if it's going to be the improvement I think it's going to be, but to spent the money again for another 2-4-4-2 AND a new power pack just to find I'm still in the same boat is going to be, as my friends in Maine are want to say, a pisser.  Thoughts?   

John Tumolo   Britcarfan@aol.com