So for the next HO Scale engine, the general consensus is that the next engine should be Hiro or Whiff. Hiro should be the next big tender engine for HO Scale after Flying Scotsman, but if we have to get another smaller engine first, Whiff would be a great choice, as he appeared in both model and CGI. Whiff would also raise demand to bring Scruff to HO Scale as well, so as to complete the Waste Dump duo. A wagon with a new trash bag load should be made specifically for an engine like Whiff. Hiro would 95% be a new tooling, but at least Bachmann can recycle Rebecca's wheels for him, but would be configured differently. He's one of the most popular characters to originate from the CGI series, plus a potential repaint would include Hiro in his patchwork livery.

I have a dcc ready s-4. How can I tell what decoder to get to convert to dcc? No sound. 8 pin, 9 pin?

I have a 96201 Gandy Dancer where the motor has gone bad (just smoked while running, now dead). The motor/gear box part is G96211 but Bachmann does not make or provide them anymore. The gearbox appears easy to disassemble so the motor only can be replaced, anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

I don't know if Bachmann Trains will make Duke the Lost Engine in HOn30/OO9 scale since Kato trains has made Duke using their tooling for the Ffestiniog Small England Class. (Except that model was only available in Japan I do believe) I think that Bachmann Trains should make a HOn30/OO9 scale model of Duke from scratch.

By all means, you haven't hijacked this thread, I've basically hijacked it myself from my original thoughts.

Currently I have an L shape layout (excuse the deficiency in the drawing, didn't want to take too much time trying to make it accurate) where I was looking into a helix (as I call it) to go from the shelf to the base level (table).Understand that the slope would take the entire L shape starting from top of the L to the bottom end of the L.  A sloping bridge in both directions I believe would provide that +/- 2% slope.  In the prior hijacked drawing, the track on the outer edges would be the bridges either rising or dropping (except for the left side track, after the switch, doesn't show the dash line for a bridge).  It would still allow my layout to be modified when new thoughts come into my imagination.

To bring this somewhat back to the original topic, one can note that with the additional "shelf" space additional industries can be added and from my point of view, an additional 4-lane highway could be imagined.  I thought about a mountain grade, but the mountain would remove the number of industries that could be placed.  So, in my imagination, the bridge concept took shape, and industries can be placed close to the bridge and smaller stores, shops, parking lots, etc., could be placed underneath the sloping bridge. All without it looking congested as in the video.

I'm back. Had a few personal life issues so I stepped away for a while. However I'm back modelling and I have thoughts.

For HO my ideas haven't really faulted. I'd still love Stephen, given that Scotsman was announced I'm gonna guess the next newly tooled Loco However will likely be a tank engine. Something cheaper and easier to make. Possibly Nia or Whiff. Maybe engines like Charlie will crop up again in discussions since the New Show is coming out. Lastly some new Figure packs

For Narrow gauge again my opinion hasn't really faulted. I still want Duncan (preferably based on series 4 if I could choose, I'd definitely prefer that too some horrid hybrid between Douglas and his model on screen) I'd still be happy for Luke, Millie or Victor too. We need something new announced since we nearly have everything that has been announced released now. Rolling stock, definitely the 4 plank wagon, Brown Brake-van and maybe some flat wagons with loads or something. Could have one with the Bike the thin controller rides, or a bell.

Now to N scale which I have alot to say about. For the engine, I think its established now Duck or Edward are pretty safe bets, maybe an outside chance of Rosie with the new show featuring her alot in the marketing plus they can reuse the tooling for Lavinder Rosie so it's probably less expensive to make. I have the most to say about the rolling stock future predictions. I think its extremely safe to bet on a bunch of recolours for the 7 plank wagon, 12 ton van and tankers (hopefully newly tooled). I can definitely see the fun fair vans being added, I hope the coal wagon with load is also added. Always been a favorite of mine. I also think its extremely safe to bet the red express coaches will be added too (which those look incredible btw) The red coaches and museum coaches seem like safe bets as well. However I've been thinking alot about how Bachmann seem to utilise newly tooled items in the range. Whenever something is released thats newly tooled we usually get 3 or 4 variations of said item. 3 tankers, 3 vans so on. So I feel like unless its a character or Bachmann can make good use of the tooling by reusing it I worry about the chances of some items. I think my main safest bet for new tooling (after the Brake-van and red/museum brake coach) is probably the Mail Car, theres been 4 variations of it in the HO range, Sodor Mail, red Mail Car, Green Mail car and the lobster van. Theres other possibilities for it awswell, they could reuse it for Topham Circus or make Brown variations or even take the lobster logo off the lobster van and just release it as a cream mail car or something. The cattle wagons may stand a chance along with the salt vans however I'm less sure given the Salt van only has the cream and sodor salt variations (along with TT5) same for the cattle wagon really.

I'd love to suggest more but I know Bachmann of 2026 is different from Bachmann 2009 where they would make a new tooling to release one item then not touch it again for years. Unfortunately I feel like if Bachmann are limited with the amount they can reuse wagon tooling they might not do it, particularly in today's world of Tarrifs, price changes and other financial factors to think about. I hope Bachmann can expand the N scale range more. I don't want it to become too reliant on existing tooling like large scale

Yes i did, i try to make different sections of track look different.

Oh! New Thread? Cool.

So I'd personally like to see more of a lean towards more model era stuff going forward. I'm not expecting things like Stepney to be announced anytime soon (despite being thrilled if that were to happen), but instances of bringing in engines that appeared in BOTH the Model and CGI Eras, so engines like Diesel 10, Whiff and Harvey, different variations of existing rolling stock like a mail car with the 'Sodor Mail' emblem alongside the current CGI emblem being used. We're already getting this in G Scale with the Tidmouth Milk Tanker. I'm also interested in seeing characters that utilise existing toolings, such as Splatter and Dodge, Smudger, Proteus, etc.

I'd hope to see stuff like this in the future, but whether it happens remains to be seen. I see no harm in looking into options that aren't solely CGI based.

Did I see this right? DId you model a muddy spot in the tracks? That is a detail most people overlook.