Count me in as well, that was a great commercial! Thanks for sharing Mike.

Bill

Mickey,

My dark side dismal that I would love to see is the Alco RSD15  I love the brutish look of this monster for its day.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALCO_RSD-15

Keep on playing with Trains!

Cheers & Beers,

Bill

Good to hear from you Joe!  We model railroaders indeed can make our own rules. Sometimes I think the real railroads are jealous of us. 

You need more locos, I know I do

All the best!

Bill

Hi James,

I could not agree with you more about having more engines than you should, I certainly do especially in my wife's opinion.  I still like every one that I have and have a wife that supports me fully in spite of her opinion.  I am 83 years old now and still have engines I bought when I was 7 years old.  They are in HO scale tho. Bachmann hooked me when they first came out with the 4-6-0 Big Hauler, and USA Trains hooked me with their GP-7.

Cheers, Bill

Hi Ted,
Thanks for your post, I tend to agree with you with respect to Ebay, seems especially true with steam.  Swap meets and members of local clubs are the best source, but all too often have very little for sale in our scale. I have seen some nice layouts in the Las Vegas area!

Cheers, Bill

Hi Norman,

Please keep us informed as you do this kitbash!!  Very interesting Loco!!


Loco Bill

With the production of Bachmann large scale Diesels I am wondering if any of you run diesel and steam  or just diesel or still steam only?

In my own case I do run both diesel and steam.  I keep them separated, since my steam is all narrow gauge.  The diesels I run are all 1st generation units GP-9, RS-3, FA, PA, and F3 units. 

So far I have not been into the all the late model GE and EMD units on the market.  My son also run a mix the same way I do except he is in the mid range of diesel like Sd40-2. 

The market seems to be changing and has become more diesel oriented.  What do you think Bachmann should produce more narrow gauge, modern steam, more early diesel, more mid range diesel, or more late model modern diesel?

Jump in and let the group know what you run and what you would like to see in the way of motive power.

Be Safe,

Loco Bill

My experience with parts is that they will try to help even with unlisted parts. They did for once. Many times they could not help and were honest about it.  I always thanked them even when I didn't like the answer. A little thanks goes a long way!

Bill

Just saw this:

Save 35% on Parts Orders of $15 or More!
Time for some maintenance on your railroad or trains?

Starting today, June 14th through June 18th, use promo code 35NOW to take advantage of 35% off all orders of $15 or more placed through the Bachmann Parts Store, and get those long-awaited projects completed.
Make sure to use the coupon code:
35NOW

Great time to get parts. 

Bill

Case,
If you want to represent older era ties you can use a razor saw and drag it over the ties you cut to distress them.  There are some good paints at the craft store that are close to a creosote color or you can paint them a lighter grey to represent older tie.

Check this out for premade display cases:

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=g+scale+model+train+display+case

And this for premade RR ties:

https://www.google.com/search?q=g+scale+wooden+rr+ties+for+sale&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=APwXEdfVMPud7vn89ReQCn8fVIL8gDp4sA%3A1686259769366&ei=OUiCZPbvFbyvqtsP8vuQ2Ao&oq=G+scale+Wooden+RR+ties&gs_lcp=Cgxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAQARgAMgUIIRCgATIFCCEQqwIyBQghEKsCMggIIRAWEB4QHToKCAAQRxDWBBCwAzoECCMQJzoFCAAQgAQ6BggAEB4QDzoICAAQCBAeEA86CAgAEIoFEIYDOggIABAWEB4QDzoGCAAQFhAeOgoIIRAWEB4QDxAdSgQIQRgAUNseWPSEAWDhoAFoAXABeACAAYABiAHOCJIBAzEuOZgBAKABAcABAcgBBg&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Maybe when you get done you could post a picture.

Cheers & Beers
Bill

 

Paul,

I was looking at the parts available for the 38 Ton Shay for a repair I am doing for a friend and noticed the headlight housing is available as is the LED. You might have to make a lens, but one can be made with clear styrene using a side cutter and filing it to shape.

https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69_629&products_id=9949

Check it out, might work.

Bill

The first run of the Climax did not have gear problems.  As Mickey points out it did have a problem with the drive shaft if one truck was moving at a slightly different speed than the other.  When that happened the driveshaft would bind up and cause erratic operation. The slip driveshaft solved that problem.

Bill

Hi Victor,

Saw your post over on MLS and you could do it with the Trackside version of the Revolution R/C system, as well, but it would be expensive and but not require receivers to be installed in the tenders. Also jumping back and forth to move the single controller to the correct frequency can be confusing. It would also require a pretty good power supply.

Keeping things as simple as possible I would recommend any used(or new 2 amp transformer and power supply or better one for each loop.  Even a 2 amp HO version.  With each loop separate if one goes down at least you could run the other two. I would even recommend getting a fourth as a standby if you were to go this way. 

Take care, Bill

 

Hey Mike, 

Locomotives are shopped for many reasons, while you are skilled at making parts, perhaps the boys at the engine house decided to weld on a solid step! .

When I was actively volunteering at the Colorado RR Museum I noticed many instances where shop crews made repairs as best they could.  Some of it was pretty rough actually.  Sometime we even had to make a replacement for a replaced part  

If all else fails.....

Bill

Hi Paul,

That is a tough one.  There is no hope Bachmann will restock Forney parts. I suggest you post on mylargescale.com, If you do Facebook there is a sale group there.  I always set up a saved search and get email alerts on Ebay.  Another option is to try to find a headlight in parts that is not from the forney and use it on your forney creating a unique forney. 

Wish I had better ideas!!

Good luck,

Loco Bill Canelos