In general, for derailments, the solution is run the train as slowly as you can, and watch. Also, take the figure 8 apart and build a straight track in the direction of the derailment. What happens? it might give you an idea.

I like the Bmann steam detail and performance, enough that I would look at anything the locos aught on, rather than the loco itself. Especially, if it is only catching on 2 of 30 turnouts. Can the switch covers be sanded down a bit? 

Richard
I can't help with the returns question, but first lets be sure what you have.
This website should help you identify the track and the packaging should indicate the track and and scale (size). I like N scale all year round, but set up O scale for Christmas. Hope this helps get you started.
http://modeltrains.about.com/od/modelrailroadtrains/a/scales.htm

It's all in fun. At least as far as I'm concerned. I can't take it more seriously, than "waahhh, I want a new toy now". I appreciate the updates. Considering that my start up pages include here, 2 major etailers, trainboard abd my ebay saved searches that includes "berkshire", just so I get 1 of these, I say it's all fun. Not an obsession at all... why would u thi k that

Fred
welcome back to the hobby! I hope you find the hobby more interesting and fun than some of the thread responses. I Can't speak directly to your 80s vintage locos, but I can say, that when I started in N, 8 years ago, I boughy a few older locos and had a lot of work getting them to run quietly and smoothly. The newer Bachmann, Kato, Atlas, FVM, Fleischmann and a few other brands run really well. Spookshow.Net is a great reference, for what runs how.
I dont know your financial situation, but if it was me, Id buy a loop of eztrack, or unitrack to test the loco. Its the cheaper investment and will allow you to focus on the loco performance. From there, you can decide your next step

As far as I know, ebay is the only source. The good news is you have the power car, so you should be safe buying the others, if they come available

Look wierd to who? Enjoy! As to constantly cleaning track, it is more likely a function of the pickup characteristics of your specific HO locos than the track. I have locos that will run through anything and locos that find every patch of dirt. For the amount of track you are planning, so far, wiping it down with 91% alcohol from the drug stire will be quick and easy

EzMates will mate with any knuckle coupler. Here is a good start on the different types Of couples. The 2 main styles are Rapido and knuckle. Rapido only mates w rapido. All knuckle couplers will mate with rach other yo varying degrees. I would keep the train set you bought as is and going forward I'd focus on locos and cars with knuckle coulplers http://www.nscaledivision.com/information_on_couplers.htm

Also bmann does make a graduated trestle pn 42523, but I am not sure it would fit on the 30 deg figure.

Also, which loco do you have, so we can check the incline performance

The short answer on compatabilty is no, but.... With some creativity you can make a conversion piece, by modifying track ends. What you envision around the crt is called a reverse loop. And it will need some wiring. Best you google n scale reverse loop for wiring info. While it isnt complicated, it is very well described. I run a bunch of loops in small spaces. There will be a space issue if you want to stick to the fig 8 and add this track as the turnouts aren't tight enough to fit without making the loop to big for the table. Kato and Tomix make tighter turnouts, but the software I use doesnt include them. For simply running though you could easily make something that stretched 1/2 of the figure 8 to be the loop around the crt. You could also skip the figure 8 an have 2 concentric loops, so you would end up with 4 tracks on the shelf. The outer loop could be bachmann, which is fine. The inner loop Kato or Tomix, as they make smaller radii.

Addicting no... well a bit... umm a lot

As to the shallow grade, try to keep it at 2 percent or less. There are myriad reasons, but simply put, the higher the grade, the shorter the train and some locos are better on grades than others

Quote from: DougInCal on January 26, 2015, 10:19:34 PM
I ordered the 30 degree crossover, and a pack of various connectors.  To get 8 of the .875 I would have had to order several packs.  So...I'll see if I can cobble together these and maybe it will work.

Thanks for the help.

I played with the smaller pieces. Multiple combinations will come close. The track should be forgiving enough. The closest was 1.875 on one approach a 0.75 and 0.875 on the other approach.

As much as I'm a cult follower of Bachmann Steamers, I also am a cult follower of another ballasted track brand. This 30 deg crossover has me thinking about some small space ideas. Please post how it works out.

Theory aside. I designed a few options in rrtrack 5

1) to use 90 deg you need 24x57ish
2) if you use a 30 deg x it will fit using 8 sections of 0.875" straights.

Ron
i use a program called rrtrack 5 to plan my layouts. It has a cost, but it has saved me more than its cost, in extra track buys. It would have saved me more, if I didnt go nuts buying up O scale track called realtrax, on ebay, when I first started out. The pile of track I need to sell off, because I found ways to use larger radii and overbought before I was planning is as big as the track I use on my 11 x16 5 loop and a trolley layout.

But back to your topic. With software, you can create the other layout in eztrack. You may not get the exact same layout, but its a start.  As to finding layouts that folks have taken the time to document, in the detail you are hoping for... I am doubtful you will find many. Eztrack is fine track. Many start with it and by the time they are building the layout they would docume nt, they have moved to track that they ballast, or another companies preballasted track that is right or wrong, more popular.

I have one last suggestion. Let this topic go and see if you get more ideas, but start a HAPPY topic called "show us your eztrack layout". It might attract more folks than the current topic name.

I won't mention the thread, but around 8:30 AM a forumite posts a question. At 2PM, before anyone can say "Gee, I haven't seen that. Since your set is new, Bachmann will help you", Yardmaster posted a solution. That is truly standing behind the products>
Thanks

Quote from: skipgear on October 22, 2014, 03:18:59 AM
The problem is Bachmann moved the traction tired driver to the middle driver on the loco. There are a lot of things you can do to this loco to improve it. Most have been mentioned here. Moving the traction tired axle to the rearmost (#3) position will do the most for the performance of the loco. A good spectrum style tender helps a lot as well as weight. Remove the pilot and trailing trucks as they don't belong on the loco to begin with and they are nothing but headaches. They don't track well and add drag to the loco.

I wish Bachmann would "spectrumize" this loco although we would probably loose a great cheap loco to tinker with in the process.

Bullfrog snot will cause you more problems than it solves if you don't put the spectrum tender on the back. The loco suffers from poor pickup out of the box and snotting additional drivers exacerbates the problem. Moving the TT driver to the back puts it at the CG of the loco and leaves 2 other sets of drivers for electrical pickup.

The loco below will pull 15 cars up a 2% grade without slipping. I have one with weight added that can pull close to 30 cars.

Here is what it can look like....

Tony
Where did you hide the motor (or is it just camera angle) and here's hoping I can get that little guy hanging out the window of one of the locos I send you.