I may be overstepping boundaries here, but have y'all thought about putting N-scale motors in the "Early Locomotives" in HO and putting Z-scale motors in the N-scale shells? That way you just have to sharpen molding details. I think the technology is already here...

Thank You

I'm pretty sure that the locomotive address is retained in the decoder in the locomotive.

Hi bbmiroku,

The 19th Century 4-6-0 in N scale is filling the place in the line that the 4-4-0 American used to be in. We moved away from the 4-4-0 because it was older, less detailed tooling, and because we wanted to upgrade from the existing tender-drive motor to one that is inside the boiler, and add DCC Sound. The 4-4-0 is too small for these upgrades, but we may be able to bring it back someday if the technology advances.

We don't have immediate plans for Durango and Silverton freight cars in N scale, or bringing back the early steam locomotives in HO scale. But it's something we can consider for a future introduction.

Does anyone know the part number of the small piece of track that comes with turnout part number 44859.

The NG7 range has certainly caused some excitement in the UK and also Australia, NZ, etc. 7mm scale Narrow Gauge has been around for several decades but until recently locos and rolling stock had to be scratch built or from kits - some being body kits for commercial OO/HO chassis. Recently Lionheart introduced the first 7mm scale RTR of a British NG loco for Lynton & Barnstaple Manning Wardle 2-6-2Ts and the Bachmann NG7 Quarry Hunslets are the second RTR introduction in this genre. A small-scale producer is about to release a 3rd for the Corris Railway No.3.

All of these RTR locos are for 16.5mm gauge track. The L&B and Quarry Hunslet prototype locos were (a nominal) 2ft gauge and there is a significant number of modellers who are having them converted to the 'correct' 14mm gauge. There is a specialist supplier doing this as a service. The Corris was 2ft 3ins so 16.5mm gauge is near enough correct.

I've had the opportunity to review a NG7 Alice and wagons for the Narrow Gauge & Industrial Review magazine, and they are very fine models indeed.

John

Dear Croppers,
We do make several ten wheelers, but none resemble the 382.
Have fun!
the Bach-man

Not only is Stanley's unpainted sample going to be shown off in the August Trainworld Stream, but they're also going to show the fully painted samples of the HO Scale figures. Those finally came in, and were teased tonight.

Sir Handel's unpainted sample might be next, or the Narrow Gauge Gondola. Maybe Sir Topham Hatt's Car fully painted.

Additionally, at some point, Bachmann will eventually run out of cgi options for Thomas and friends characters, and that Mattel will have to let Bachmann make non cgi characters, including stepney, Boco, and Duke. This includes narrow gauge engines as well.

Mattel can't stop Bachmann from making non cgi characters forever. Right?