Nathan,
I checked with folks around here that have received Thomas and Percy.

All received the paper work and track clips.  Nothing missing.  Of all the sets received they were all complete.

Bummer for you and the sets received.  That sure takes the blush of the rose.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

My dealer called this afternoon to tell me his distributor received their shipment of Forney locomotives.

The dealer should have his order by this coming Tuesday.  Won't be long now till the CD&StL has its Forney on the iron.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

The 3-truck Shay I purchased in December 2006 did not include an Owner's Manual.

It is a painted unlettered version.  It came with 8 pages of documentation and the DVD. Between the documentation and the DVD information to put the unit in operation covers it all.  An Owner's Manual would have been nice but it's not really needed.

Don't know what version you have, but the painted unlettered came with four smoke stacks; straight, Hunter-Radley, Ruston, and Lima Diamond. There was also a coal load and coal spill included.

Have no idea if it will negotiate those tiny curves.  Maybe long coupled it could make it around something that tight.  Others will have to comment on that tight radius based on their actual experience.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Randy,
I have the Comic Book (Instruction Manual) that you are looking for. It's the last one I have.

You can have it.

If interested contact me at jlsclw@aol.com with your address and I'll mail it right out.

One of the "Enthusiastic Chi8ldren"

JD

From what you describe it sounds like a 1:22.5 scale Big Hauler set. Gauge is 45mm.

One of the Enthusiastic Children"

JD

vanglow,
Not a good idea.  The sudden surge of full voltage, whatever that might be, will put too much stain on the drive system gears.  It won't take long to "trash" the drive gears with this setup.

However, if you want to risk this type arrangement something in the 8-10 volt range should make the locomotive run at a fast pace.

Maybe Loco Bill or Joe Satnik will be able to give you a realistic voltage for running the train.  I'm all battery power with RC so track power is no longer a requirement.


One of the "Enthusiastic Chilcren"

JD

Igloochic
Maybe some of us here on this site can help you.

Could you give us the train set number.  The set number will be on the carton.  It will be a number something like Item No. 90049.  At least the number will have that many digits.

You may have purchased the train a year ago but it could be an older version of a Bachmann Circus train.  Once we have the item number then someone like Loco Bill or Joe Satnik should be able to answer your questions and get the train running.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

If I understand the pony truck wheels came loose from their plastic axle. The way to fix this is to use a small drop of CA on the wheel stub that goes into the axle.

Place the CA on the sxle stubs, insert the stubs in the plastic axle and set the wheel gauge. Usually pushing the wheel in tight agains the plastic axle will give the proper gauge.

It's a good idea to check any of these 10-Wheelers for these loose pony truck wheels.

For the main dirvers it's also a good idea to use Loctite 222 on the screws that attach the drivers to their axle.



This is a view of the plastic "cap" removed from a driver. Once this is removed the mounting screw can be removed, a small drop of Loctite 222 placed on the Phillips head screw threads and then replaced.  Once this is done the main drivers will stay tight on the axles.

Hope this helps.


One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

POLARITY

For those that have yet to notice, Thomas is wired to be NMRA Standard S-9 polarity compliant.

Now why did Bachmann do that? 

It will be a simple matter to reverse the power wires attached to the motor to convert to Large Scale polarity should polarity be an issue.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Yes,

Two of our club members received theirs today.  They brought them to our club's Annual Holiday Train Show so that the members could check them out.  Nice sets.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

If I understand the Bachmann DVD that deals with track, among other things, there are two track clips.

The longer clip used for straight track and a shorter clip used for curves.

Sorry, don't have a picture.  Joe Satnik will be able to answer your question with authority. 

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

To answer your question.  Code 332 brass or stainless is the most popular.  Some folks prefer code 250 since its profile is closer to scale.  Code 332 will be a taller rail and works well outside since it is not so prone to being fouled by small pieces of debris.

Type of ties really has nothing to do with the rail code.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

QuoteEnjoyed the review of the product on LSOL  !

doug c

Thanks Doug.  Seven days from delivery to publication of the review.  LSOL does try to bring Team LSOL members information in a timely manner.  And they don't guess what's inside; they look.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Joe,

QuoteDear JD,

In your blog I believe you measured the wheel "back-to-back" but reported it as the "gauge".

Thanks, It's been corrected.


One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Tony,

QuoteDid you mean:  ... Just completed an installation of RCS Basic 5, batteries, and Phoenix P5/P5T sound system.

No, I did not mean a Basic 5.  I'm still able to read and understand the printed word.

Guess you an Don don't agree on what RCS is required for the 3-Truck Shay. Don sold my fellow club member a Basic 3 for the Shay. That's what Don supplied and that's what I installed.   So far the Shay is running just fine with the Basic 3.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD