Thanks for the reply but this doesn't fit my engine.

Adding to what Jeff said, if you ever decide to go with DCC the empty smoke unit cavity makes a nice place to stick a hardwired "N" or "Z" scale decoder. Just be sure it's rated for at least 1 amp and it will work just fine in an HO loco.

Len

On the USRA 0-6-0s are do the tender trucks have 33" or 36" wheels? I'd like to upgrade them to metal.

I've got several of those USRA 0-6-0s. The smoke units on them are easy to remove as they sit in a cavity in the chassis just below the smokestack. Loosen the screws holding the frame halves together just enough to get a small screwdriver in there and the smoke unit pops right out. On the ones I have it wasn't actually wired to anything, and worked off of small electrical contacts against the frame halves making it very easy to remove.

Maybe a pipe dream, but I'd love to see Bachmann announce Edward in both N and G scale next year.
I don't collect G scale due to space, aside from a Bachmann Thomas and 1994 Lionel James, but would preorder an Edward immediately.

Maybe a wild suggestion, but after N scale Edward, I think Oliver should be next. Having both Scruffy and Toad in the range is like having Henrietta without Toby or Annie and Clarabel without Thomas.

Also, I love the Talyllyn I just got (maybe we can get a 2024 blue livery too). Please plan on doing Dolgoch, Edward Thomas, etc. I'd also like to see the Talyllyn's bogie coaches too!

This is a split frame design. Everything is sandwiched between two frame halves and to work on it you need to separate them. There should be a screw and T nut on each end of the frame. Lay the locomotive on its side with the body off, them unscrew the screws and lift the frame off. Be aware that the frame halves are separated by a plastic spacer washer and be careful not to lose it. You should be able to remove any and all components of the drive now.

I had the same question! Now that I added Talyllyn to my Skarloey engines, running them on N Scale track is bothering me!
That same Peco starter set is available on Trainworld here in the States too. I was worried if the radius might be too tight, but I assume all the Bachmann Skarloey engines work fine on your layout.

Hi there, complete neophyte here looking to get back into the hobby. 

I love the steam locomotives, but I'm reluctant to buy one with a smoke unit for safety/cleanliness issues.  Anyone have any recommendations for a steam locomotive with no smoke unit or at least a switch to turn it off? 

I liked the festive color of the Bachmann 50402 HO Smoky Mountain USRA 0-6-0 Steam Locomotive w/Tender #99 or USRA 0-6-0 w/ Smoke & Slope Tender - North Pole & Southern® #25. 

Any guidance is appreciated!

Hi. I have acquired a HO Bachmann GP30 new in the box from 1990 (4 wheels per truck). When I first put in on the layout it had a clicking sound. So I am thinking some with the gears but I can't get the motor out of the frame to inspect the gears.
I have remove the 'motor retainer' still the motor will not leave the chassis. Any older railroaders out there who know the secret?

Jim   

My approach was to take a benchmark locomotive, run it at top speed over a timed course to calculate its speed in scale mph, figure out where I wanted top speed to be as a percentage of that (i.e.100 mph actual versus 50 mph desired + 50%) then adjust cvs 5 and 6 to that percentage. Test run to see how it performs, then make any adjustments from there. Once that was done, I'd do the same to the rest of the fleet, and tweak them so they ran at exactly the same speed as the benchmark loco. I run diesels mostly, so speed matching is necessary to run consists. For steam, unless you intend to doublehead them it's not as critical that they perform exactly alike.