I checked when I got home, and the wheels do not turn without power, so I think I have a version #2 of the engine. By the way, if something does happen and it needs maintenance, do they put in parts from the new mechanism or they have a pile of parts from version #2s to use? Are they interchangable?

Thanks for all the replies. I have seen the posted website for years, but enver thought I would be getting a Big Hauler. I was hoping that we might have purchased a later version, but it pulls well now without noise. As long as it can haul its own 4 cars without stripping gears, I will be happy. When I finally get my garden laid out, it will be completely grade free... which will also prolong the life of the engine.

Thanks again.

Okay, I bet you guys get this type of question a lot. My wife and I fell in love with a Big Hauler train set at a train show, and am interested in finding out more about it.

It is a passenger set in the maroon Rio Grande scheme. It has the 4-6-0 with plastic side rods and no bulge on the underside of the engine. It has smoke and sound and a funnel stack, as opposted to a straight stack. I got it with 4 passenger cars, including a baggage car, a combine, a coach, and an observation car. Two were in individual boxes, and two came with the original set. But, the boxes were not labeled so I cannot be sure which cars were for the original set and which were add on. I think the observation was an add-on.

Also included were 16 curved tracks, 12 straights, two manual turnouts, and a powerpack. Also an instruction manual, smoke fluid, track connectors, the power attachment clip, and the hook and loop couplers (all the equipment had knuckle couplers. We paid $125 for the lot, which I think was a good deal. It runs great.

Can someone tell me what version of the engine we have mechanically (in case ever need to repair it), the train set's original identification number (it did not come in the original box), and the year or years it might have been produced?

Thanks, and sorry the post was so long!