Track gauge is measured inside of rail to inside of rail. Based on your measurements and on the name New Bright, your train is 'G-Scale,' running on 45mm (~1.75") gauge track. Your train should run on any track made for 'g-scale.'

That track is very available, starting with the indoor only track that Bachmann sells, on up through the better quality brass track sold by Aristocraft, U.S.A. Trains, Accucraft, Train-Li and others. Some of those suppliers also provide very high end stainless steel and nickel silver track.

If you just want to expand your current set and to only run it indoors, the Bachmann track will work very well. Check the internet for pricing and availability of track. Prices vary widely.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Quote from: tlnibert on January 27, 2010, 02:18:23 PM
Mr Bachmann do you hear anything about new engines on the drawing board.
Sierra No. 3 would be a great engine for narrow guage.
Tom
Huntington WV

How can the Sierra RR #3 ". . . be a great engine for narrow gauge" when it is a standard gauge locomotive?

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Quote from: tlnibert on December 13, 2009, 02:07:47 PM
I hate to pay 5 bucks for a dimes worth of grease.
I guess I'm getting senile
Tom

Better to get the right material, than saving $5, and then paying for a new engine or rolling stock when the fishing reel grease destroys the plastics.

As TAC wrote: Fishing reel grease is for fishing reels.

PLASTIC COMPATIBLE model lubricants (not just a single viscosity and formulation of 'grease') are for models.

If the fishing reel grease company says it is good for model trains, be certain to get that guaranty in writing, including an assurance that they will pick up the bill for any damages, including both destruction of the plastics through chemical action, and / or as a result of inadequate or improper lubrication.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Quote from: TrainArts on November 17, 2009, 08:03:19 PM<snip>. . . the variability on this particular set is amazing. I see Walthers has the guts to ask $175 on this set, while I just bought it from the Ebay seller for $80. Even Trainworldonline has it for $99.

Walthers is a distributer. In fact, they are the only distributor for lots of model RR products, many of which would never see the light of day if a company like Walthers didn't exist.

Walthers sells (at wholesale prices) to most of the model RR retail dealers around the country. If they sold directly to the public at wholesale or even discounted retail prices, their dealers would seriously object.

Their retail operation should be considered the resource of last resort, useful for items that dealers won't get for you. Walthers is good for availability information and to check MSRPs, but they are not the outlet of choice for normal supply chain (meaning discounted) acquisitions.

Glad you have found what you want at good prices!

Happy RRing,

Jerry

If you bought it from a known (or even unknown) dealer, I would tell them it is in unacceptable condition and ask them to replace it. Every vendor has a duty to provide what you ordered in new, operable condition. At minimum, you should be able to get your money back. Failing that, you could offer to post the dealer's name and results of your purchase from them. That usually gets someone's attention. Also, if bought on a credit card, you might dispute the charge with them.

In addition, I would absolutely contact Bachmann service. If all of us take the attitude that we don't want to deal with making them fix their defects, they will never get the message that they need to do a better job of quality control. In that case, we all lose.

I hadn't heard that NWSL is making replacement Bachmann H0 parts, but that is possibly good news. Contacting them, telling them you are a 'customer in waiting' might help speed the process, or at least get you on their contact list.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

My 2 truck Shay is equipped with RCS radio control and internal batteries carried in the tender. Current batteries are 2 x 7.6V NiCds in series to provide 14.4V, and are rated at 2,000 mAHr. No sound in the Shay, but all lighting is fully functional via the R/C.

Run time is well in excess of 2 hours continuous, and in normal operations (like a prototype operation, not round and round) we run between 3 and 4 hours and the batteries still have power left.

The RCS system installation has the charger jack on the rear of the tender / locomotive frame. That charger jack is designed to also automatically accept the input from a battery car, so if really long runs are required (such as continuous round and round operation), a battery car could be used without permanently hooking it up.

Northwest RCS, who supplied my RCS systems and did the installation has provided battery cars in the form of loaded log cars, with the batteries in the logs. The locomotive will run off the internal batteries when running light, then the battery car is plugged in to provide extremely long run times. That allows the use of the locomotive 'stand alone' or hooked up to a log (or any other) 'load.' The continuous run time in this configuration is truly limitless.

I have not found the need for a battery car in my operation, but the connection is there without any modifications.

The latest NWRCS replacement batteries for the Shay are NiMH, with 3300 mAHr capacity. I will go to those when my current NiCds need replacing, but run time is not a prolem.

My (mostly Bachmann) F (1:20.3) scale engines are 100% R/C'd using self contained batteries. My Centennial 2-6-0 also has a sound system that automates things like chuff, air compressor, etc,. but also has real time operator controlled access to the whistle, bell and blow down. The lighting is also controlled through the shirt pocket sized R/C transmitter.

The locomotives carry 14.4 volt batteries with 1600 to 2000 mAHr. In the 2-6-0, the batteries and speaker are in the tender with the R/C receiver, Electronic Speed Control and sound system in the boiler. In the 2 truck Shay, the batteries & speaker are in the tank and the R/C components are in the boiler. I get around three hours of continuous running at moderate speeds. Lots more when switching with the Shay.

I have a Climax that is awaiting funds for conversion. It will have R/C, sound, and self-contained batteries. The Climax is close enough quarters that I will have a professional do the installation.

My layout does not have any track nor other electrical power. I do have about 6' of track on my workbench with a D.C. power supply available. This track is used for testing new acquisitions prior to putting in R/C.

I use direct acting pneumatics for turnout control. I will also use pneumatics for any animation or other control functions that I add in the future.

In my opinion, rather than being "toy-like," the R/C + battery system comes the closest to supporting true to life railroad operations in miniature.

I have looked at the possibility of doing smaller (than F) scale remote control. I think the current practical limit using off the shelf components is probably 0 scale standard gauge or, in deference to our host's products, perhaps 0n30. Having written this, I'm certain someone will immediately post a movie of an N (or Z?) scale fully remote controlled model RR using self contained motive power!!

The size and weight of the batteries, even to supply the higher currents necessary for F scale is really not a problem. Newer battery technologies should fit lots of hours of run time into a steam engine + tender or mid-sized diesel unit at relatively low cost. The necessary electronics are already small and simple from an installer and user stand point. As an example, a 75 MHz receiver with five or more conditioned servo outputs is well less than $20, and the recently released 2.4 GHz receiver / servo controls are even lower in cost. Both of these units would definitely fit into 0 scale equipment.

twofoot wrote:

"It sure is a simple way to operate to me. No messing with problematic switches, dirty track or wheels. I don't get it."

Yep, I do get it, and it rocks!!

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Jim:

I think the original poster's "BC" means "because." Us old guys have gotta keep up with the text message abbreviations!

wahoo4db: I would echo Jim Banner's excellent reply. As opposed to RC (cars? airplanes?) there is no single source that can satisfy or is that is dominant in the model RR world.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Joshua:

I truly hope you didn't "electrocute" yourself!

The most commonly and generally accepted definition of "electrocute" is "to kill by electric shock."

I hope you instead just suffered an electrical shock.

And if there is a voltage (say 230V) on a pair of wires or in a device, having something else plugged in does not decrease, nor use up part of that voltage. If you come in contact with the output terminals, the full voltage (230V) is still present and that is what your body would feel.

Pretty shocking in any event!! 

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Byron:

A suggestion to add to Kevin's excellent advice:

Test the SuperClean (or any other 'solvent' material) on an out of sight place on the bottom of the car first. Just apply a small amount of the chemical in the same manner as you plan to do on the lettering, then clean it off and inspect the surface for damage. That will help ensure that the original paint in the visible area is not damaged when trying to remove the lettering.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

All Bachmann, and most other manufacturer's large scale equipment is built offshore in batches or 'runs.' That means even the most popular equipment goes in and out of production. As Bruce wrote, the Climax has been out of production for several years now. Same with earlier versions of the Shays, the Heisler, various versions of the 4-4-0s, 2-6-0s, and the 2-8-0 Connies, etc.

The Climax is a really good engine, and it seems that there are always folks looking for one or asking that it be re-run. I would suggest you grab it while the grabbing is good!

Jerry (Happy owner of a Bachmann Climax)

Quote from: mudzuks on May 26, 2009, 02:59:07 AM
On the more serious side here for a little money, a low power cell freq jammer could be installed in the cab. <snip>

Technically that is possible, but jamming any cellphone or in anyway interfering with or listening to a call is against federal law. That's one reason why there is an ongoing presence of illegally obtained cellphones in prisons and jails where prisoners are not allowed to have cellphones.

My company is currently developing a system to locate and report illicit cellphones, with the target market being prisons and other places where there is a security issue caused by cellphone use. Still, we can legally only report a cellphone's use and its location. We can not legally interfere with the call.

Jerry

GG:

Excellent staging, pictures, and posting of a contemporaneous model subject!!

In the 1:1 world, I am personally outraged that any RR employee responsible for the safety of his passengers is not able to understand and observe the rules surrounding his actions and duties. Unfortunately, the guy in the front often dies as a result of his indifferent attention to his duties, thus suffering the ultimate punishment, but escaping the vision of the carnage he was responsible for.

As to 'jward's' response, the point about using cell phones to enhance radio systems is well made. In fact, it would seem that cell phones might supplant dedicated railroad company radio based communications sometime in the future. It is also easy to envision a cell phone system that could 'see' whether the communications are / were to and from an 'approved' source, or to the operator's wife, or, worse yet, to a couple of interested teenaged railfans. The technology also exists to limit the call capability to selected recipients.

Happy RRing,
Jerry

Quote from: SteamGene on March 24, 2009, 12:58:56 PM
Without going to the Internet, where was/is the Tidewater Southern located?
Gene

The Tidewater Southern ran between Stockton & Turlock, California. That area is nominally termed "Central California."

One interesting fact is that large ocean-going ships navigate through the San Francisco Bay, then up the Sacramento River to Stockton without the use of locks. When docked in Stockton, they are basically at 'tidewater' level, and thus the railroad's name.

The TS was both an electric interurban and freight operation. Quite a bit of the trackage is still in existence, now owned and operated by the Union Pacific.

There are several historical support groups including those folks who follow the Western Pacific, a previous owner of the TS.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Not certain if you care, but the Caspar South Fork & Eastern RR and it's Mallets were standard gauge.

The Bachmann 2-6-6-2 Mallet is a narrow gauge locomotive. It is 1:20.3 (15mm=1 foot) scale, running on 45mm gauge track, making it 3' narrow gauge.

The Aristocraft Vandy tender is a fairly large mainline unit, appropriate for more modern (relatively speaking), large mainline locomotives.

Neither of these items is the best starting place for the CSF&E Mallet locomotives.

I do think the CSF&E locomotives would be excellent targets to build in 1:20.3 standard gauge. The model track gauge would be 70.6mm (2.78"). Plastic tie strips for 1:20.3 standard gauge are available, so the trackage could be built without having to handlay everything. Using 1:20.3 scale would provide a great visual display for a public layout!

I live in Boonville and might be interested in helping with a Mendocino County based public layout, especially one that focuses on the North Coast logging RRs and Lumber Schooners. My email address is navarro (at) pacific.net. Drop me a message.

Happy RRing,

Jerry