How in the good Lord's name do you amass over 8,000 pieces of rolling stock that is 90% dedicated to an individual rail line? Jeez!

I have to agree with NM...I buy tons of stuff from the Favoritespot..he's about the best price around when it comes to Bachmann. The owner is superb and is great to work with!
B

Union, photobucket is the best way, it's fairly simple too! If you run into any snags just send me a PM.
Best,
Bal

I was wondering about this myself! Great question!

hehe...the bug has already got him, I feel safe to say! =)

Anyrail is your key to your dreams! =) Seriously, download the free version and give it a go..you won't be sorry at all!
Bal

Anyrail, anyrail..best money I've spent in the railroad modeling hobby.
Bal

Bachmann EZ commander system. Hands down. The ease of running more than one engine is great. You can pull a lot more than what is inlcuded in the starter set be it no hills involved. I'll have to look at my vids on youtube or FB and see I think I got a 27 car pull with one engine and 4 engine consist stacked up. That is one powered engine, 3 dummy engines(with no motor) and 27 cars behind the powered engine, and it ran great!
I've seen some awesome 4x8 layouts though, but I just wanted a bigger layout. 1st and most important..do so2me heavy research...you will thank yourself later for it! Trust me. =)
I really don't know what kind of trains you will be running, but if you are going to add turnouts and such really do your homework this will play a very important role in which cars you use and how well they travel over the switches to avoid derailments. I won't go into too much detail here and bore everyone who already knows this stuff but if you want shoot me a message and I will make you a list to look out for and what to avoid if you are wanting to expand out from the basic set.
Ah, good ole inclines...gotta love em, but they can be murder if you dont' do your homework as well. If you want you can look in the Show Us your Layout thread and see where I started and where I am now and how it occured in a very short amount of time.
But seriously shoot me a message if you want, I want you to get the mostof your money and don't waste on 'certain' things in the beginning like I did. =)
Best,
Bal

sorry for your injury GG hope it mends quickly! Nice layout. I LOVE anyrail.
Uncbob, if you didnt tweak that photograph you have a very nice layout with some AWESOME looking greens! LOVE it!

this thread should help you out FMac!
Bal

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,22137.msg175788.html#msg175788

here is one for the switches.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bachmann-HO-Scale-Train-E-Z-Track-System-10-Green-Switch-Extension-Wire-44598-/190789641532?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item2c6bf2e53c

and the power terminals
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bachmann-HO-Scale-Train-E-Z-Track-System-10-Red-Terminal-Extension-Wire-44498-/360579801331?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item53f43b20f3

I think this is what you're talking about isn't it? The parts number is listed in the description a little further down.

Hope this helps! Sorry for the delay was responding first on the ipad and was away from home.

Best,
Bal

You can get a 8 access block connector at radio shak real cheap. Give me aces and I will post a link to a previous question just like the one you asked.

Uhmm I'm pretty sure they do already.

Someone had a video of this/these in action?

very nice vids all, and nice steamer, Jonathan!
Well, I've been a little busy, but a good busy...layout is expanding and here is the history I worked up for it and some other stuff to go along with it. Yeppers, all turnouts are 4, 5, and 6's!

Shaleford Rail – Line Terminal and Yard - A Brief History
   William 'Hank' Stark, a self-made millionaire in the oil, land, and stock market saw another opportunity to enhance his wealth in 1998. A lover of mountains, Hank got a board of investors together and ventured into the railroad industry in one of the most unlikely of places. Seeing a need for the lower area of Colorado, Hank aggressively sought the best deals and bartered to keep the long history of the American railroads alive. He bought the town of Shaleford, Colorado and then began work on laying the rails that would serve his new railroad and repair facilities. During this time Hank also met with several of the CEO's and Presidents of the long time rail industries and made some truly amazing deals; one in particular was with the Illinois Central line before the eventual buyout from Canadian National. During Hank's early years his favorite place to spend the summer was in the Deep South in Mississippi with his Uncle, Mark Stillwater, a life-long railroad worker. Many days, both mornings and evenings Hank spent down at the Illinois Central Gulf repair yards in McComb, MS. This time spent love never died, and even after Hank's uncle has passed his love for trains never stopped. Hanks's big negotiating factor enabled the Shaleford line to offer a very unique twist. This twist won the hearts of many CEO's and Presidents of old rail lines. His bargaining chip allowed those engines, and rolling stock bought to keep the original company and small road names on both its rolling stock and engines and to be brought back up to full operating capacity along with a fully restored paint job on everything that Shaleford Rail purchased.
   In 2000 Shaleford Rail was officially born and their first freight manifest headed North to meet with the Union Pacific line in northern Colorado. News spread fast and the many of Hank's investor's owned other business's as well and seeing the potential in his new found venture many of Hank's investors expanded their operations and opened up new facilities in the tall peaks of Shaleford, Colorado to add to their profitable businesses
   Within three years the line and repair facilities flourished beyond Hank's meager expectations.  A new diesel repair shop was built and a transfer table was installed to cut expenses and the demand for in route diesel repairs. The car shops were Hank's big money maker but soon the word spread about the well repaired and restored diesel engines his shops produced. 2005 showed another increase in revenue and expansion. A turntable and round house was also installed along with a multi-million dollar deal with General Electric.
   A plastics plant and cement factory became part of Shaleford's fold along with a refurbished shale rock supply plant. In 2014 Shaleford Rail will see its first true new engine. In partnership with General Electric, Shaleford Rail will receive a General Electric AC6000, and what makes this new engine truly unique is that it will be the only engine in its small fleet to sport its own Shaleford Rail Logo.
   Nestled in the southwest corner of Colorado, Shaleford is set in an open box canyon, and boasted a mere 850 residents in 1998. With Shaleford Rail now calling Shaleford home the small town's population grew to over 2,500 by 2012, and it doesn't seem to be slowing down. Although the city is growing many people commute to Shaleford from other small towns such as Telluride and Mist Valley.
   2010 also saw the introduction of Shaleford's own train museum with a 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam locomotive and caboose on static display. Another great hot spot in Shaleford is the Shaleford Rail Diner. This multi-purpose diner sits on the northwest end of the town and incorporates an old style passenger car and a modern Amtrack passenger car as its main eating facilities. The diner is open 24 hours a day with the Amtrak car remaining open and the old passenger car closing at 9PM. Blending the old style railroad with the new this diner is loved by all who work, live, and visit the now bustling town of Shaleford, Colorado.
   Shaleford Rail, the vision of William Stark has met with great success. The Shaleford Rail line merges the West's Union Pacific line and Southwest Sante Fe lines, thus cutting costs in shipping and delivery time of much of western part of the countries needs. It's roster of engines is constantly growing along with its rolling stock. Many of the town's residents wait anxiously and wonder what has Hank's got up his sleeve next for the town.





Anywho, I'm having fun, and designing the Shaleford logo was a bit of extra fun as well!
The curves are 26" and 22", tables are 5'x8' with a total of 4. Layout done with Anyrail.

Bal