Someone has posted on the Atlas N scale forum that later runs of the Bachmann SD45 have the fireman's side blower duct along the walkway added. It was omitted on the intial run and for that reason many modelers decided not to buy.

If it was later added, y'all really need to let folks know by posting a photo of the revised model. 

In engineering terms as understood in the steam era, the "engine" was comprised of the frame, cylinders, rods, and drivers. The power to operate the engine was provided by the boiler, which was comprised of the boiler and firebox. A steam locomotive has an external combustion engine, that is the combustion to provide energy takes place outside the engine itself.

Where specifically did you see it was cancelled rather than postponed?? Bachmann said they had no motors available that would fit and were awaiting a smaller motor to become available. The Russian Decapod is a very small boilered locomotive.

Other than the three steam locomotives sitting in the Roanoke scrap yard, there hasn't been a steam locomotive in a scrap yard in many years. Remember, it was over 50 years ago that the railroads converted to Diesel power. Yes, there are numerous unrestored steam locomotives about, but in private collections, in city parks, and at museums and tourist railroads.

After a near fatal mishap on the Gettysburg Railroad a few years ago, the FRA adopted much more stringent regulations regarding boilers, although tourist engines may now operate 1432 days between class repairs. The bad news, those class repairs now approach $1 million per locomotive.

There was an unrestored but supposedly operable Alaska RR US Army type 2-8-0 for sale on eBay last week with an opening minimum bid of $415,000. Got that kind of money?? This is one of those "private collection" engines.

When Bachmann announced the PRR K4s as its first Spectrum Model in HO and then followed with a train of PRR protoype passenger cars based on the P70 coach and subsequently announced that Spectrum models would also be made in N scale,  I thought "Oh good, finally we can make a decent PRR passenger train." Bachmann has disappointed N scale PRR modelers on both counts and I've never understood why. 

The major railroad in New England was the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co., better known as "the New Haven". The Grand Trunk(sp) Western went no further East than Detroit, MI. The Grand Trunk was the actual name of the portion of the Canadian National  line in the USA that ran from Montreal to Portland, ME. CNR also owned the Central Vermont, from New London, CT., to Rouses Point, NY.

The Canadian Pacific also operated across Maine and down to Wells River, VT, where it connected with the B&M. The spelling is Aroostook for the BAR.

There were also many shortlines like the Naragansett Pier, Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington, Grafton & Upton, Sanford & Eastern, Belfast & Moosehead Lake, and St. Johnsbury & Lamoille County.

36 footers still represented between 10 and 15 percent of the total boxcar fleet in 1950. More than half were owned by Canadian roads, though.

You asked several questions about the prototype that were not answered. As to the time it takes to "heat up" a steam lcomotive from a dead cold start - no less than four hours up to 12 hours. For this reason, most roundhouses had access to steam lines that charged the boiler with steam at the same time as a fire was built. Without this, building too hot a fire could cause great differences in the metal temperature at various parts in the boiler, causing leaks or metal fatigue.

Most locomotives required water every 25 miles when working a heavy train, and coal every 100  miles. Since early steam locomotives usually could run no more than 100 miles without requiring mechanical repairs, divisions were 100 miles long. A few railrads, NYC, PRR, B&O and a few others, had scoops under the tender and long track pans, permitting trains to scoop water into the tender at speed, eliminating the need to stop every 25 miles for water. Others put humongous 16 wheel tenders behind their steam locomotives.

One used to figure maximum speed as the driver diameter in inches, but the N&W "J" had 70 inch drivers and could do over 100 MPH. OTOH, most Shays had 36 inch drivers and topped out at 15 MPH.

Since when is Lou-uh-vul the capital of Kentucky? When I went to school, admittedly a long time ago, the capital of Kentucky was Frankfort. BTW, Lou-uh-vul is how the folks at the L&N Railroad headquarters pronounced it. 

Lot of good information here:

http://therailwire.net/smf/index.php?board=13.0

1. Take the train off the track.
2. Turn on the power to the track to maximum speed
3. Short out the power by placing s metal screwdriver on both terminal of the power pack for an instant. You should get a spark. If your power pack has a light, it should go on or off. (some go on with a short, some are on and go off)
4. If that worked, do the same with the track. If 3 worked and 4 didn't you have a bad connection. If neither worked, your power pack is not working.
5. If both worked, put the locomotive back on the track. Does it have a headlight? Does it light?

If it doesn't work, electricity is not getting from the wheels to the motor. The reason could vary by locomotive type and with the same type. best get a friend or dealer to look at it. It might be a 2 second fix. Have them show you what they did in case you have the same problem again.

You will often have difficulty finding any ready-to-run models of locomotives and cars for commuter authorities. Since commuter service is very much a money-losing operation, the authorities view licensing fees as a source of revenue to reduce their deficits. The fees are high enough to discourage sales of such items to modelers, so most manufacturers simply do not make models.

I strongly suggest Neolube, which is available from P-B-L or Micro-Mark. It is actually finely powdered graphite suspended in an alcohol solution, so it leaves a fine coating of graphite on the rods. Rather than chipping, it does tend to get polished with wear, but more can be applied. It is a lubricant, but it is also electrically conductive, so be careful abut using it on rim-insulated wheels.

I don't have any "trains". I have about 35 locomotives, of which 5 are Bachmann (the only one I use is the Spectrum 2-8-0), and 300+ freight cars, of which three are Bachmann. I have one passenger car, made by Sekesui (Kato) for Con-Cor. All of these are N scale.

The original poster does not say what scale the Amfleet cars are, nor who made them, and if Bachmann, whether they are new or old production (they're different cars). While an 18" radius should be adequate for the old production N scale cars, the new ones supposedly require 19". Remember, this is in N scale.  If the cars are HO, they probably require 36 to 40 inch radius curves.