Just received this from Bachmann: https://mail.aol.com/d/folders/1/messages/AB-GzjIOgMOrZwfvpQGSWBByQLo and it's a great reminder that all of the "O" scale Plasticville buildings are absolutly perfect for our On30 layouts.  Yes, you will need to add clear plastic behind the windows so it appears that there is glass in there, but size-wise they work, and if you don't have the time, or desire or will to build buildings out of wood kits and the like, these buildings with a minimum amount of finessing fit the bill.  Add a bit of weathering, and if you're like me, you can get back to what you really want to be doing-running trains.   

John again-Just an update-Got to talk to the Bachmen at Pittsburgh, and learned a few things-first off, they haven't forgotten us On30 Types.  The truth is, their real profit/money comes from HO more than anything else, so while it's their fault we all fell in love with On30, they must pay more attention to the money makers.  They are coming out with several things for us-a tank car to be used as a track cleaning car-one in silver (just begging to be lettered in SOCONY)and three other colors/lettering schemes-black unlettered,Durango and Silverton and White Pass & Yukon Route.  There is a three bay hopper coming in 2025 lettered for EBT that I know folks are chomping at the bit for.  To keep things on the humorous side, they have animated a stock car with either reindeer, cattle or horses bobbing in and out of the windows. The 14 ton Heisler is also back, this time with metal gears to alleviate running problems of the past. Also on display was the new British release by Bachmann- On30/NG7 WOW!  This engine needs to come over here for our layouts-it's really well done.   It was great talking to the guys and finding that while we are a small part of the overall company, we are not forgotten.  Thanks, Bachmann!

Hey, folks-just got the great news-Bachmann will be in Pittsburgh for the convention!  Like it or not, they are the reason most of us fell in love with On30-visit their stand/display and THANK THEM!!!!!!!  They need to know we support any efforts they put forth for our end of this great hobby. 

John

Got an odd one here-I won a bid for what was supposed to be a Holiday Streetcar set, but all I got was the streetcar and the car barn.  The streetcar runs fine on my layout, and I'd like to know if I can just add sections of flex-track to the piece of track within the car barn.  Will I be making a mistake, or will this work?  Is there a special piece at "end of track" that is needed to make the car stop and reverse?  Can I use a regular Bachmann power pack like the nice metal ones that came with the on30 sets?  Have I become an externally helical threaded fastener capable of being tightened or released by a twisting force to the head?  Just asking...........

WOW!  I had no idea this was part of Bachmann parts-I could have used a bunch of the passenger car chassis and roofs for 10 of the Deerfield River Laser passenger car conversions I've built over the years.  If you don't know about these kits, check this out-not affiliated, just a very happy modeler.  http://www.deerfieldriverlaser.com/MaineCarsSides.html

What you need is Bachmann's EZ Mate LONG Center Shank coupler-their #78024.  Anything less will foul against the front and rear foot plates.  If you can't find the Bachmann couplers, you can use Kadee #146-they also come with the draft gear boxes, should you need them. 

We took a lot of photos this past weekend at the Amherst Railroad Society and since the files are too big for this site, I'm including the On30 Facebook spot where they were posted.  Great to see and talk to Bachmann while there.  Click on this:

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10231084098983260&set=pcb.2375463569329796

John Tumolo

Fully agree-they are great to work with and while you may think $80 is too much to pay, just check with your local hobby shop to see what they charge-oh, wait-they've gone out of business 'cause you never supported them. 

If you haven't attacked it with a screwdriver as of yet, the best way to remove the Bachmann passenger car roofs is to gently squeeze the side of the roof-you can normally "pop" the tabs free of the side and just lift away, one side at a time.  Use a screwdriver only as a last resort, as you will surely scratch the paint.  John Tumolo

Ok, gang-this just showed up on the On30modeler Facebook site-if a modeler can do this with Bachmann's On30 2-6-6-2, why can't Bachmann, using the molds and parts they have already created, come up with something like this?  Copy and paste this link for photos of what's been created:
 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/On30MODELER/permalink/2343007355908751/

Sing along with me: "All I want for Christmas is a 2-6-2, a 2-6-2, a 2-6-2"

Merry Christmas to you all and to our long suffering friends at Bachmann!

John Tumolo

Ok, gang-I've been asking for YEARS and I shall continue to do so-we truly need a Maine-style Prairie.  With all of the HO mechanisms available to Bachmann, it shouldn't be that difficult.  A model of WW&F's #6 would be ideal, but there are a bunch of different ones that ran on the SR&RL that would do. 

Well, once again Mr. Lane and company have done a great favor for all of us On30 fans and provided us with our own publication.  My favorite piece this year is the article by the Master Tinkerer Allen Littlefield who channeled the late great Alan Carroll and created a beautiful rendition of WW&F #8.  I'm fortunate that I had a similar thought several years ago and amassed the bits and pieces needed to do the same.  Finding the time to actually do it is another story, but seeing this article has worked to get my butt in gear and start planning again. I do need to find the fluted domes, but that should be fairly simple.  I love this hobby!

Quote from: Terry Toenges on August 25, 2023, 03:49:55 PMI would think that if On30 folks don't like to post on Bachmann's On30 forum, then Bachmann could figure that no one is interested in On30 any longer and abandon it.
I would think the On30 crowd would want to keep the On30 stuff coming from Bachmann.
The infinite number of forums aren't the ones that are actually producing the equipment.

Terry-My point EXACTLY.  We need to show Bachmann that we are serious about this end of the hobby, and a lack of participation tells them we just don't care.  We've got to talk this up!

Ok, On30 fans-Bachmann hasn't forgotten us-they just announced a new 3-bay hopper to be released in 2024, based on the EBT 3-bays, lettered for EBT and two of the railroads that purchased them from EBT-WP&YR and Durango & Silverton, along with an oxide red unlettered version.  They even thought about what the cars were used for-the EBT has a coal load, as does the oxide red version.  The others are carrying ballast, which is what they actually did.  Obviously, SOMEONE at Bachmann has remembered On30, and I would like to think our friend Lee Riley is smiling down on us.........check this announcement  https://resources.bachmanntrains.com/NMRA2023/NMRA2023.pdf

Fred-I purchased the SR&RL version when it was first released several years ago, and it's always been a favorite.  A few naysayers griped about the width, but overall, I think most liked the construction and the overall look.  John Tumolo