Well, depending just what you want to do, really inexpensive "Hawthorne" type cars are always floating around on ebay, and they make a great base for the much more true to life passenger car kits available from Deerfield River Laser.  Check this out if you're not familiar and give it some thought.  Not connected in any way, just a satisfied customer-I've built about 15 of their kits and really like them.  Check here:   https://www.deerfieldriverlaser.com/ 

I've looked at the Haskell as well-it's the closest I've seen to possibly building the Prairie I've always dreamed of.  I keep hoping Bachmann will be able to modify one of their existing On30/HO Spectrum steam locomotive drive trains to come up with a reasonable Maine-style Prairie.  I think using part of the On30 2-6-6-2 would make a great start-my copy of that long articulated loco has been running on my layout for a long time and is still very reliable-a smooth quiet runner that would make a fantastic running base for a 2-6-2.  The closest I've come to the look of a Maine-style outside frame Prairie is my modified Bachmann Outside Frame 4-4-0 created by the late great Alan Carroll who replaced the stock cab with one from a 2-4-4-2 or 2-6-6-2 to give it that Maine-style hunkered down look.  I believe in Bachmann and think they could deliver a credible locomotive, if only they could sell enough to make it worth the effort and financial investment.  I know I'm good for at least 3...........

I started this several years ago and it didn't help, but here goes again......
Sing it with me now... "All I want for Christmas is a 2-6-2  a 2-6-2  a 2-6-2" With any luck the Bach Man is out there........also dreaming of Maine 2-foot Prairies.  Merry Christmas to you all.  John Tumolo  [email protected]

I know it may sound dumb, but are you sure you have the final piece of track connected properly?  If you have it reversed, the trolley will not auto reverse at the end of track.  The "break" in the track must be on opposite sides at each end of the run.  Don't ask me how I know this...........

Tom-Never a silly question-Yes, all my trolleys run fine when placed on my regular layout-interior lights light, directional headlights light, I can run them very slow or as fast as they will go, depending on how I turn the controller.  There is no controller for the trolley set, just a plug-in power source and a dial on the car barn that determines the length of time the trolley "dwells" in the station or at end of track.  I even connected a regular power pack to the car barn to see if that would help, but apparently there is something in the car barn that will not allow the speed to change, no matter where you set the controls on the power pack.  That's why I wondered if there was some kind of internal control that could be accessed in order to change speeds.  The set is really nice, and I hate to not use it. 

Tom:  When I said they run slow, I mean REALLY slow-almost stalled.  I also wouldn't run trolleys (or anything else, for that matter) "fast", that's why I'm wondering if there's a problem with my "car barn" from where the power emanates. 

Question-Is there any way to increase the speed/power of the trolley sets?  Mine runs awful slow, and only works with the car that came with the set.  I also have a "Hershey" trolley that runs just fine on my On30 layout, but barely moves on the trolley set.  The controller dial only changes the duration of the stop at each end, it has nothing to do with speed.  Ideas?

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.