Bachmann is what got me into it too.  The big stuff was just easier for my young son to get set on track.  We started with an affordable Big Hauler and then I fell in love with the Shay ands its detail. Was hooked after that. 

Hard to imagine that old. Or I guess I'm getting old. Thanks.

So the Bachmann model of each, are they both about the same physical size (length, width and height)?

Hey Bill, I have a 440 SPC which I dont see in the list. Would it have been in the 2001 or 2006 batch?

I have one of the Connies from before the C19 was released.  I freely admit that I'm not the most knowledgable on trains so I'm trying to learn what the real difference between them from a real world, not just the model perspective. Are they the same size, time era, etc? 

Don't disagree but personally I'm tired of throw away everything. At least in the old days stuff was made durable and to last. Now stuff is made cheap and the answer is usually sorry it's a China thing so just throw away the $500 train engine or as you suggest learn to jerry rig things.  Very sad state of affairs IMHO but what we have to deal with until americans revolt against this cheap China crap and insist factories be brought back home. We were able to kick butt in WWII because we had factory capability.  Now we would have to rely on China and hope we are not in a ******* match with them or their friends. Thank goodness some smart companies like Apple are starting to at least bring some manufacturing home.

Whew, now that I got that off my chest, what was the question?

Today I was just finishing up my 'new' Climax which I had decided to upgrade from the 'old' one I did have. I took a look at the power pickups to decide if I wanted any 'extra' parts for the future and noticed how the newer one had what appears to be a roller wheel on the plunger tip.  Not sure if it will be any better, but looks better.  But it appears if it goes, there are no replacement parts for it.  Hopefully it's because they don't die.  I had seen that plunger part and heard the stories, which is part of why I opened the truck bottom to check things out. Glad I didn't buy that part you got. Parts really seems to be an issue unless you happened to just stock up when they first came out and guessed right on what you might need.

Not an expert by any means, but I have read about some using magnetic reed switches with the magnets glued to the driveshafts. Everything I have read about the factory switches on both the Climax and Shay have indicated the are pretty worthless.  Which is why I just default to the sound board simulated at least  on the Phoenix cards.

Kevin, over past year or so I've been looking ahold pics, etc of various logging enterprises and seems to me like I've seen 2 truck Shays with more logging cars than 10-12. Same for minning cars. Not that I can remember the pic but seems like a fare number more. Now I'm curious and will be more observant on it in future as a matter of curiosity.

Great pics.  Thanks.  As I said, it is just a learning and curiosity thing for me.  I made my decision based on what I wanted and price.  The ams were just too expensive to get the number I wanted.  They also appear to be of a newer era.  I going for the very late 1800's to early 1900's.

The side dump and skeleton log ones are the ones I got. 9 of the log and 3 of the side, so far. But just to clarify, these are technically the 1:24, right?  Not that it matters as the are already bought and the AMS are out of my price pocket.

Bill, I was not attempting or even realizing it was a old dead horse that had been beaten.  As I said "out of curiosity". I know it is in the past.  I even said "all worked out".  I'm just trying to understand not ruffel feathers.  I apologize to any one whom I offended.  Not my intention or mode.

My other curiosity is why not make 1:20.3 log and mine cars.  I guess that's for Accucraft.

So out of curiosity, I checked my second version Shay and its couplers lineup with the log/mining cars.  So why is that different than the Climax?  I totally understand the scale thing, but I guess I don't understand then why do they not produce the correct type of rolling stock then to match?  I mean aren't the Shay, Climax and Heisler all pretty much mining/logging engines?  So why produce freight cars and not these?  They would be much less expensive to mold and make than a loco.  Just doesn't really jive to me.

If it is historically primarily been a logging and mining engine, shouldn't you either make 1.20.3 mining/logging stock or have it set for their height.  They weren't really freight engines.  Not trying to be difficult but it just seems odd to me.  But y'all did include the drop couplers so all worked out after the change.

I understand that glue can be messy.  But how were they installed at the factory?  Are there any other options?  They won't stay by just pushing them back in as the vibration or picking them up will cause them to fall out and probably get lost then.