I was about to express a concern with a new post, but I'll tie it to this one instead.
    I agree Bachmann could have made a more concentrated effort to keep the On30 movement going strong.
    My concern is when I stopped by my local hobby shop about 4 weeks ago, I saw no new On30 products at all. I expressed my concern to the owner and he told me "The On30 stuff did not have a price point worth carrying any longer." I also note that the 2 Hobby Lobby's in my area do not have any On30 sets either. 
    We continued with a discussion as to the statement he made to me 6 years ago that On30 is the fastest growing section in the hobby. He now claims the large scale and O scale ( mostly due to Lionel having the Polar Express contract ) are growing faster. He also thought the Christmas village era was fading, and people are now going more to the train under the tree type of layout for Christmas.
     Bachmann is by far the leader in the On30 movement their products are excellent and their prices can't compare. With this comes the awsome responsibility to keep the interest high while keeping the prices under control. I also understand the bad economy, I just became unemployed a couple weeks ago myself. I don't run DCC nor do I really want to pay for it.
    Any other opinions on this soon to be hot topic?

        Enjoy,
        Barry

    adari,
  Try going to your local Home Depot, Menards, Lowes, or lumber yard,
& look at the stair raillings, patio railling, etc. I believe you can come mighty close to the look you are seeking.

       Good luck
              Barry

   Treno,
   Just for clarification, the auto reversing track is only extra curves & lengths for the trolley sets.
   The auto reverser is for reversing the flow of electicity at that specific point each & every time the motive power passes it.
   I hope this helps & I hope this explains to alot of others who don't use trolleys or reversers just don't know the specific applications.
   Don't forget, "the only stupid question, is the one that isn't asked" as several people can learn from another's quetions.

           Barry

   Hamish,
  That's OK, we'll call that a fat finger mistake as the "b" & "n" are next to each other on the key board.
   
  The trolley can run on any HO track.
  Now if we could get Bachmann to make a On30 "Gandy Dancer" AKA
hand car that would be too cool.

     Barry

  PURPLE WHAT THE HECK !!!
  Next year just make it PINK, so the other grand daughter can take that one to her room & put on her book shelf before I get to read it.
  Being a Packer fan I didn't mind the green & gold of the last couple years.
This is the only complaint I could find in four issues, so everyone had to hear it.
   Great Magazine!  Keep up the good work.

         Much Appreciated,

                        Barry



 

    Too bad the Amtrak will be disrupted until clean-up is done. Maybe they can work something out to run on the other side of the Mighty Mississip.
    I recall 20 years ago or so a freight train derailed near the same erea, butter was floating around for a couple months.
   
      Barry

  Hey WGL,
         Thanks for the info. I got busy & forgot to go last week while they were in my Home Town. First one I missed in 4 years. I like to take the grandkids. Free concert is OK, folk music is always good around Christmas.
   Please remember to take a food donation or they also accept Cash.
The food all goes to your local food banks, who can always use the help this time of year.

         Barry

        Hey Bach-man,
    Thanks for the reply. I'm glad you'll be alot closer to home. I was just hoping to finally meet you. Some day I'll get to a show you will be at.
   This Show has alot of layouts & displays. I may take my Granddaughters
2 1/2 & 4 yrs. with.

   Enjoy,
           Barry

    I was wondering if the Bach-man was going to be at Trainfest in Milwaukee, Wi. next weekend, Nov. 8 & 9 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM both days.
or will someone else be manning the bachmann booth again this year?
   Anyone else going can take advantage of the $1 off coupon available here:       http://trainfest.com/         Other info also can be looked -up from there too.
   Hope to see you there,

        Barry

  Hey, All,

    I have found a viable alternative to S guage, it's called On30.
One advantage is the more realistic looking 2 rails, another would be the
smaller foot print or space needed for track.
    I use On30 for a Christmas Village layout, these bldgs. , D-56, Lemax,
etc, are approx. 1/64 scale. I hope I didn't confuse you more.

         Barry

Hey Mark,
   If your interested in getting rid of them, I might be able to take them off your hands. Contact me offline.

    Barry

   Hey all,
        It looks like the long awaited new 100+ page book has arrived.
    The previous books were:
"Bachmann's EZ track system" book was copyright 1995 has over 20
layouts. The "Book II" has another 6-8 layouts was copyright 1998.
Book II came with some expansion kits.
      I'll have to call before I go to my hobby shop that has all the books.
The price of gas can be a real detrement to purchasing railroad items.

          Enjoy,
                  Barry

    Hey Jim,
    Welcome to my He!!.
Well the 1st thing to do, after unwrapping the prize, is to dump the coal load & put on the rails & load the wood. This alone is a 50% improvement to the looks, thank-you Bachmann for putting this in the pkg. for us.
   Now can I get you to sell some wood loads for few Moguls I have.
   My american runs just a tick slower than my Moguls, but I never run my locos very fast, so it is not a problem for me. I do just love the looks of these beauties. I will be shopping for several more of them. This puts new meaning to "Buy Americans".
     Enjoy Barry

        A few years ago my wife & I took a Cruise to Canada over the canada day weekend. We got off the ship to shop & sight see, many shops were closed but the ones that stayed open for us made out like bandits.
       I also remember when the ship went to leave a Kilt laden man playing
Amazing Grace on the bag pipes. That was the coolest rendition of one of my favorite  songs I've ever heard.

            Barry

    I have noticed a new 3rail "Administrator" seemed to appear when
Williams did. I don't believe this to be a coincidence.
    There will always be only one 5 Star General to this branch of service,
The Bach-man.
       
         Keep up the good work Gents,
                Barry