Micro-mark is having a %15 off sale until 1-25-13.Go ahead and order one at that price now and when it arrives they will ship it to you.You will not be charged until shipped.I backordered the S2,S4&RS3 at reduced price and have since received all three.I have had the F7 backordered since 8-11-12.Hopefully Bachmann will be able to ship these soon.

Your points are well taken,and to an extent I would have to agree with your reasoning.I was just thinking that since Bachmann has decided to venture into the world of articulation they might capitalize on the popularity of a living,breathing Big Boy.But then I'm not the one who has to pay for the tooling.I have the EM1 and am very satisfied with it.I have two 2-6-6-2s which run good,however the chuff sounds like someone knocking two sticks together.So it's not that I need a Big Boy for my layout.But if Bachmann decides to produce them,I would purchase one. 

Hi Mr Bachmann.If Union Pacific succeeds with their plan to restore and operate Big Boy #4014,is there any chance Bachmann could be persuaded to produce an HO scale Spectrum version with tsunami sound?Or even a sound value version?If so I'm sure I would not be the only one who would be buying.

Mr. Bach-mann,I have one of your superb HO motorized turntables.Now I need an ez track roundhouse to go with it.Your mission,should you choose to accept it is to construct a single stall with front,back,roof,floor with attached ez track and one side wall I can slide up to and attach to turntable.Then construct an add on stall to slide up to turntable and match first stall.Then construct third stall with opposite side wall,thus completing a three stall roundhouse,with option of adding other add on stalls.I do not believe this to be an impossible mission.What do you say Mr. Bach-mann?Will you accept this mission and provide this loyal customer a means of using my turntable to store my Bachmann locomotives under cover?Thanks again for providing this forum which allows us to make request for new products.This message will not,repeat not self destruct.

I believe my 4-8-4J came with the tender already attached,and in the foam package.As for the others,I use a small screwdriver and carefully pop the plugs out to store them without modifing the package.This method works good for me.As for the 2-8-0s that came with train sets I purchased,I wrap them in bubble wrap I recieved with UPS boxes sent to me,similar to what Jim does.Again this works for me.

I would like to see Bachmann do an N&W A 2-6-6-4,either spectrum or standard,with soundtraxx.The only ones I've seen are the ones BLI did.

That's sounds like quite a ride.According to this book I have,Doyle McCormack was the engineer.I guess he would know better than anyone what that engine was capable of.It also says there was even a band playing in one of the cars.Sounds like that was a very enjoyable trip.I don't know how fast the 611 ever got on the trip I rode,but I don't think it was 90.

True,but what a nice way to celebrate NATIONAL TRAIN DAY.Afterall,whoever thought that anyone would actually build a brand new steam engine for the sole purpose of operating fan trips?And yet,that's exactly what they did in England.You make a good point ABC.Steam pulling AMTRAK may never happen.But with the right people in the right places who want to make it happen,anything could happen.Im just glad N.S. is again wanting to return steam to their mainline.

I wonder how many tickets AMTRAK would sell if they would sometimes run steam.They could still use diesels for HEP & protection,but put steam on the point.I don't think 4501 could attain the speed required by AMTRAK for the CRESCENT,but I could see 844 on the SUNSET,4449 on the STARLIGHT,3751 on the CHIEF.I am not familiar with 2926,but it sounds like one of S.F.'s HUGE 4-8-4.Once while northbound on the CRESCENT at TUSCALOOSA,AL.,both diesels shut down.When the southbound arrived they put one of theirs on our point.We did not get very far.Finally N.S. sent a freight diesel to rescue us.We arrived in ANNISTON,AL,with four diesels and three hours late.I could not help but think that if we had 611 or 1218 or some other big,heavy steam engine on the point that would not have happenned.

Wow!Thats quite a list.I guess that shows one advantage of being a member of a local chapter.My cousin was a member of "HEART OF DIXIE" back in the 80s,and she mentioned riding the cab once between BIRM,AL & CHAT,TN(I think it was #2716,but I'm not sure).A cab ride in just one of those engines would make any steam fan happy.I rode behind 610,611&1218(of those three,1218 was my favorite for it's size & power),and I'm looking forward to riding behind 4501.And as you can tell by the replys,so is napa15.So what about ebtnut?Of the ones you listed,is there one you consider to be your favorite?And if so,why?Do you know why 2716 was Bill's favorite engine?

While visiting Strasburg,PA last year I purchased a VHS video entitled "THE MAJESTIC MIKADO"(copyright 1986).It has footage of 4501 working for the K&T(as#12) & hauling 650 ton coal trains through 20 degree curves & up 3.5% grades.In 1948 K&T needed more power so they purchased 4501 from the dead line at Southern`s shops in Princeton,Ind.In 1964 Paul Merriman traveled to Stearns,KY and did indeed pay $5000.00(plus $2000.00 for spare parts)for #12(4501).Two years later he leased it to the Southern and on Sept 5 1966 she pulled 11 cars & 700 pasengers on a round trip from Richmond,VA to Keysville,VA.The video also shows an excursion sponsored by the "Old Dominion" chapter of the NRHS on Aug 10th&11th 1985 repeating that same trip that started it all in 1966.Perhaps ebtnut recalls these trips also.One very good book I have & would suggest reading is "Steam`s Camelot"(copyright 2000 TLC publishing).It talks about all the steam engines used by the SR/NS for their steam excursion program.

Thanks ebtnut for the link to tvrm.I will be checking it for future info.Also thanks to napa15 for sharing your memories of 4501.While I never got to ride behind her I do remember when I was about 10 climbing up into the cab with my dad to look around while the crew was eating lunch.They were using paper plates and when they had finished they opened the firebox doors and threw in their trash.I will never forget seeing firsthand the awsome energy that drives a steam locomotive.Perhaps next year many people will be talking about their experience of riding behind 4501,myself included.Thanks again for the replys.

I understand NS & TVRM are planning to run 4501 on steam excursions again.Anyone have any info concerning when & where these excursions will run?An HO spectrum version of 4501 would be nice.

After buying a Bachmann set with GP-40 at a good price, I installed an NCE DA-SR decoder for about $20.00.I thought the installation was simple and I am pleased with the results.