Hey,
Thanks for posting this.  Those trolleys look great painted up in the German cities paint. 

Thanks!  The upgrades announced should make this a bargain for large scale steam locomotives. 

Dear Bachmann,
Have the new, updgraded Annies been released?  When do you expect them to be available?

Didn't even think about that!  You're right.  They would be perfect.  Well, time will tell.

I'm still holding out hope that Bachmann will offer their Big Hauler in a Strasburg Railroad scheme.  Passenger train would be good.  Even letter the engine #475.  Not too far off, wagon top boiler, backhead all the way to the back of the cab.  Yeah, other than that, it is completely wrong, but hey a big O gauge company did a SRR set with aUSRA 0-8-0 posing as 475.   Offer a combination baggage car and an observation car, both are realistic for the line. 

Hey Bear,

I saw the two Big Hauler stacks, but didn't notice the one for the 3 truck shay.  I'm wondering if the Big Hauler stack would fit. 

Interesting.  Thanks, guys.  I was thinking about possible cross marketing potential. 

Bachmann,
I looked in your online store but don't see that you sell the balloon stack for your Spectrum 4-4-0.  I'd like to know how much one costs or if I can use the Big Hauler smoke stack in place of the straight diamond stack.  I'm willing to trade it, too.

Thanks,

Hey all you Thomas fans,

If Bachmann made a Large Scale Henry,  how close is his prototype locomotive to the 'crimson' locomotive that pulled the Hogwarts express in the Harry Potter movie series?  Other than the fact that they are both 4-6-0s (or 2-3-0s for you Continentals out there), is there any other similarity?

If Henry is made in large scale (and hey, Bachmann has been making a 4-6-0 in large scale since what? 1988?), that would be interesting.  Looking at the HO scale version,  I can see how they'd make it work with the 4' diameter curves.  It'll be tight, but I think they could make it happen.   

Toby would make a good addition, too.

This is the year that Bachmann makes an Annie in Strasburg Railroad paint.  475, anyone?

Mr. Billings, are you on the aristo board, too? 

I don't know if Tidmouth Sheds in G-scale (as a kit) would really be that expensive.  Considering that it would just be plastic, no electronics,  perhaps it wouldn't be too hard on the wallet.  Maybe I should build one out of legos...

Just for fun,  here's a pic of the 54" turntable.  The 3 year old is the one who really wants this to be tidmouth!!


Another view, just for fun..

BillingsRR,

The Aristo pacific is about 36 inches long.  I am building a turntable for my garden railroad and at 54",  I expect that everything will be able to fit on and turn.  The largest locomotive I've got right now is an aristo 2-8-8-2 with a vanderbilt tender, and that's about 43 inches long. 

For the LS offerings:

I would think that Gordon would be considered, but I do agree, no chance it will work on 4' diameter curves.  Not without some really interesting engineering.   Perhaps if the product line is well developed, the larger locomotives could be made.  And if they make a Gordon, could a Hank (K4) or a Spencer (Silver Link, Mallard, etc) be far behind?   

Nah, smaller engines: Edward, Toby,

I was surprised to see Emily's cars.  So far, it is my understanding these are not offered in the US.  Emily is an interesting locomotive.  Isn't she a Crampton locomotive?

I'd like to see some of the structures from the Island of Sodor offered as kits.   The run through stations would be perfect for my railroad.   Tidmouth sheds would also be cool, since I could adapt it for my railroad needs.  Maybe Cranky the crane?  We have the wooden one with the magnet, but a larger version would add a fun twist. 

Jason,
Based on Misty Island Adventure,  you need a 3 truck Climax named Ferdinand.  Bachmann just re-released the climax, so you're all set.

Wow, what a surprise to see Larry O sitting in front of a plate of cookies!

Great pictures, looks like you guys had a lot of fun!