Believe I'd check Kato. I'm not 100% positive, but I believe Kato makes the car our friend is looking for. Check the Kato website, and a sincere thanks to Bachmann for allowing us to exchange this information.

Quick note on smoke, and this is a strictkly personal perspective. Smoke= dirty track. The residue from the smoke desends rather quickly to the rails and remains there. There is always a need to keep your track clean, but using smoke simply means you'll be performing that task more often.

Have to agree with the crew. A good plastic cement is what you need. You can obtain it from the same source you got the Walther's kits from.

Happens every so often here in Montgomery Al. The switchers (MP15's) come and go, and it's not too unusual to see one in a freight, behind the normal road power. Not an everyday sight for sure, but you will see it from time to time.

The first thing to remember, and it's been mentioned is, it's your railroad. OK, the 40 ft boxcars you reference, the ones without roof walks, would represent "modernized" cars, modified after Federal regulations mandated the removal of the roof walkways. In terms of historical accuracy, they'd be a stretch as steam/diesel transition rolling stock. Do you use them with steam? That's your call, and that's why it's your railroad.

By definition, a Bachmann Spectrum engine is a good one.

Greetings Tac, IMHO. $100.00 for the locomotive is pretty reasonable.  Go for it.

I've had generally good results with Bachmann locomotives. In my mind at least,  we need to keep in mind that Bachmann builds locomotives at two quality levels. First the standard Bachmann engine. Generally, pretty good looking, fair pullers, not bad little engines. Enter Bachmann "Spectrum" locomotives. Steam,diesel, electric, these are great locomotives. I have two steamers.(Excursion service) and four Spectrum diesels. Great performers. They pull well, I can MU them with other engines, even those of other manufacturers. In short, great engines.

Due to space limitations, I've been "locked" into 18 radius for years. Rivarossi, IHC, Con-Cor, and Rapido cars,all scale 85 ft ,handle these well. Yes, there is overhang, but I guess I've learned to live with it. OTH, if you can utilize 22 radius or larger, that's the way to go.

Great show!! Thoroughly enjoyed it. I've long maintained that the public in general is terribly ignorant concerning railroads.Shows like this, can go a long way toward increasing the public's knowlege of railroads. Believe that would benefit us all.

Welcome back to the wonderful world of HO. Being retired now for about three years, I have come to appreciate our hobby even more. I'm going to leave the "technical" stuff to those more qualified than I am to advise you. I agree with the advice concerning nickel silver track. It's more prototypical in appearence, and far easier to keep clean than brass.

What you're going to discover, if you haven't already, is the amazing detail that now  goes into most locomotives and rolling stock.To be certain, the prices have increased, but basically, there is ample value in the HO marketplace. It's very enjoyable to simply browse, the wide variety of locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories available to us.

Once again, glad you're back. Believe you'll be glad as well.

Phil

For what we pay for Proto equipment, the "coupling" should be a little more durable.

Seems to me a place such as you describe, won't be in business too long. Whatever happened to "the customer is always right"? With internet competition, and the economy, many would argue,(not me) that the hobby shop is a dying item. People with the attitude you describe, will make that happen all that much sooner. I'm personally sorry this happened to you. This is a great hobby, with some of the finest, friendly, most helpfull folks you'll ever find. Don't give up on us.

Two words re: locomotive lubrication. Lightly-Sparingly. 2-8-0 Spectrum is a great little locomotive.

Love that SP "Black Widow" paint scheme. Great looking unit, thanks for sharing!!