I recently read the post from The Bachmann about the replacement gears for some of the geared products. First, let me say that this is good that they are doing this,and while it has been alot of trouble for some,it shows me that Bachmann still cares about it's customers(world wide) and it shows me they DO listen to what we have to say concerning there products even if it takes awhile. Another thing is, They are still intrested in narrow gauge, and we should all be thankful for that! In the last  15yrs, they have put out products that I didn't think we would ever see but I am glad we have! Anyone??
  As for the rod engines, I must say that not one of mine has been faulty so far ,and for the most part, what I hear  from people here and elsewhere,we have been happy with those.
  So with that, Thank you Bachmann for what you have given us already, and hopefully much more to come!    Dwayne Calloway

I would like to see a larger shay,one big enough to pull logs in mountainous terrain. The one we have now looks almost to little to even pull trains at Disney world! I ain't holdin' my breath though...

 I was wondering if Bachmann has thought about longer frieght cars? The new "shorties" are wonderfully neat little cars, BUT... Alot of narrow gauge railroads had cars in the 30ft or longer catogory. The D&RGW,EBT, ET&NWC, S.P. as well as many others. This is a large market on it's own,compared to the shorter stuff.
   I am well aware that this is On30, but Grant Line has kits to bring some of these locomotives to On3, and many on here, have been asking about D&RGW locomotives as well as other "large" (that's funny to me) engines to be produced in the future. (forgot the WP&Y in Alaska) Even my "large" Tweetsie ten wheelers are dwarfed sitting beside standard gauge coal hoppers !!  I was just testing the water as to what others out there would like to see for furture releases. And just for the record, ET&WNC no. 12 sitting next to engine 190 at Tweetsie Railroad, is a really good comparison of what a large narrow gauge engine REALLY is! 190 is HUGE compared to "little" no.12!! 190 is the Yukon Queen from the WP&Y. Just sayin'

         Dwayne Calloway

  I have several 4-6-0s  for my ET&WNC.  There are a few simple thing to do to make these more durable:

       The windows just pop back in,use a small drop of non-smearing glue at the corners to fix them from falling out.
    Two small drops of acc glue for the cowcatcher will fix that problem.
   
      My "crew" are as follows: Engineer is "seated with no legs! The fireman is glued to the tender decking so he won't fall between the rails and get his legs cut off!!

      Along with the extra details added ,and a light coat of weathering(the ET&WNC) kept there locomotives very cleen even during the depression, I am returned back to 1940 on my way back to Boone,N.C..  Have fun!    Dwayne Calloway

Charlii,   Again using Johnny Graybeal's book, Little information is avalible, but the few records that exist in the early days it was most likely red with yellow letters. (page 98) "along the ET&WNC, Freight cars ,part B" and around 1910, 205 was yellow with black lettering. There is a photo of this, but these colors are "suggested" with no solid proof. There is no information in the records before the twenties. Hope that helps.   
                            Dwayne Calloway

Royce,     In his book,"Along the ET&WNC" by Johnny Graybeal, A wonderful series of books covering the equipment and depots, He states that caboose #205,the four wheel bobber and caboose 503 an eight wheeled contraption, were retired in July of 1934. 205 saw alot of service before it was retired. The eight wheeled 505 and 506 were built 1926 and 1927. The 505 still exists somewhere but it's location remains a secret. Hmmmm.......  Hope that helps!!   Dwayne

That caboose in On30 would be nice!  The ten wheeler is a sweet locomotive, but unless you scratchbuild, all we have "so far" are small cars and smaller cars! Yes , the caboose is small too, but it does have a prototype, and would look great at the end of a train of "longer" cars.    Just sayin'.    Dwayne Calloway

EBTBOB,

          My question was mainly about the kits. Do they have the board and batten siding or tongue and groove siding? The ET&WNC had several with the board and batten siding and they had one that was redone with tongue and groove. I also purchased one of the caboose kits from Deerfield for the ET&WNC 505 and it is a wonderfully fun kit to build and looks great!        Dwayne Calloway

EBTBOB,
         I don't know for sure, but I think the inside color was a light green. I remember reading this some where a while back. Maybe someone else can respond on this.  Also, The EBT coaches that Deerfield offers are supposed to be like those on the ET&WNC that were purchased from the same B,RB& L. Do you know anything about these?       Dwayne Calloway

Well,  Back to scratch building.....

Bill, 

     This is the idea I was going for. The ET&WNC had some pretty cool hoppers,(these are done in kit form from Wiseman but they are 2ft too short and not tall enough) Thus they do not look right. The boxcars they had were a little long for narrow gauge,32ft. Not counting the 36ft boxcars they had, but the shorter one would be great to have and the longer ones could be easily kitbashed from those.
    Bachmann has done the ten wheeler in several road numbers already for the ET&WNC but all of the cars they have now are way too small. The hopper at 28ft,and the shorter boxcars would be great and could be used by many who "Freelance" there railroad.  In later years, The ET&WNC only used one caboose, the 505 so you would not need as many of these as you would the boxcars or hoppers,loaded and unloaded.  There has been alot of feedback here on this topic and I hope Bachmann is listening!!    D. Calloway

Bill,  The roof Idea is a good one! Even scratchbuilding would be easier if we had other roof styles to work from. They offer the frames seperately ,the roofs would be nice too.    Dwayne Calloway

One other thing comes to mind...  Structures.  Water tanks, small shantys,20's and 30's era folks and houses,Boston,Revere Beach& Lynn coaches.These went everywhere and were sold to various railroads across the country and could be easily used by many freelance modelers. Bachmann really gave On30 a shot in the arm with there products and has made it at least somewhat affordable. All of the ideas mentioned by everyone here are great ideas!  They are ideas that are affordable in these rough economic times!  I hope Bachmann is listening....     D. Calloway

One thing I have noticed is the amount of people who "freelance" a railroad so as not to be tied to a certain prototype. Many cars or "rolling stock" would fit these wonderfully! Flats with loads,M .O.W equipment. Even poor ,run down, railroads sometimes had to pick up overturned equipment.  Speeders(these have been done else where) but a powered one would be neat! Many options here for not alot of money and equipment that is sorely needed.  What say ye , Mr. Bachmann?                   Dwayne Calloway

Great ideas already!!  Here is a few  more:  Hoppers, 32ft boxcar(ET&WNC) the 36ft cars could be easily kit-bashed from those, EBT stuff went in many different directions, a "big hook" 0n30 style,  Updated flats with better detail,  A passenger coach with rounded windows. Any other ideas??....        D. Calloway