Hello,

A co-worker gave me two, lightly used Bachman HO starter sets.  From what I can gather, the set was made/sold around 1996.  The track connections are not the same as the EZ track that I have.  Any idea what it's called and if there are any adapters available?

Thanks.

Any experiences?  I've seen a couple of demos on YouTube.  Just wondering about reliability, etc..  Are their any other equivalent products out there?

Thanks.

http://www.modelrectifier.com/search/product-view.asp?ID=7614

Anyone have any issues with this set?  I bought one from a LHS two weeks ago.  I understand there is a specific track section that has to go at the end of the track, with a specific end next to the Hayes bumper.  However, there is another straight section that has a bad "spot" on it.  The trolley reaches this section then dies (light out, doesn't reverse).  Removing this section results in "somewhat" normal operation (the trolley only enters the barn about 1/3 of the way).  I checked the track with an ohm meter and could find no wiring problems.  Regardless of where along the line the bad section is inserted, the trolley does not move beyond that bad spot.

So, last Saturday I exchanged the entire set out for another one.  Same exact problem.  One bad track section.  Am I overlooking something?

Most likely, it's Megasteam: http://www.megasteam.com/

I use it in my Large and O Gauge locomotives.  It produces more smoke than than Lionel, Bachmann or Proto.

Quote from: jsmvmd on March 31, 2009, 11:25:32 AM
Our LHS carries a smoke fluid, I disremember which brand, that has at least 15 or 20 varieties from cinnamon, pine, vanilla, coal, etc.  If you are interested, I will get the mfr for you.

Jack

I am by no means an expert but I've seen some (non-train related) DC to AC inverters produce a "stepped" AC output, vs. a true sine wave.  Maybe that's what's meant by "Chopped AC".

Quote from: DominicMazoch on March 17, 2009, 10:05:20 PM
  UHMMM, cw = Chopped wave?  Did not think it = continuous wave, IE, Morse Code!

Part of my irritation stems from the fact that I'm relatively new to the hobby and I don't know what's what in the wonderful world of couplers. I have two Bachmann HO sets (three locomotives).  They both (excluding Thomas) have what I assume are knuckle couplers.  I've slowly been buying a piece of rolling stock here and there (new and used) and have been limiting myself to stock with knuckle couplers only. 

Yesterday at a new LHS, I bought box cars (three Life-Like, a Model Power and a Mantua).  They all had the "standard" (NMRA?  Hook and Horn?) couplers.  At the owner's recommendation I bought a pair of Proto 2000 Couplers.  This was for the Mantua that has chassis mounted couplers.  I also bought a 20 pack of Life Like Scene Modeler knuckle Couplers "For upgrading starter Life-Like Locos and Freight Cars" for the Life Like and Model Power box cars.  Perfect, right?

Well after spending over five minutes on the Mantua, it turned out that the hole in the knuckle coupler was much larger than on the original, so the coupler flops around too much.  With the truck-mounted Life Like couplers, they "catch" in the middle of the pivot.  I think the back of the coupler is catching on the back end of the coupler box.  In other words, the Life-Like couplers don't work on Life-like trains.

At this point, I'm not sure what to do.  Should I stick with the original couplers and "back fit" my Bachmann sets?  Would Kadee be my salvation?  Any guidance would be appreciated.
   

What the best (removable) way to do this?  Adhesive is out – I'd like to be able to change my layout if desired.  Are small Phillips head screws adequate?  The existing holes are almost certainly too small.  I assume they're intended to be pilot holes?

Thanks.

Yep, I have three 9" Straight Terminal Rerailers (two in use and one spare)

Over the past few years my six-year-old has acquired:
- Bachmann large scale locomotive with a tender and two passenger cars
- Bachmann large scale trolley
- 1950 Lionel O-gauge 4-6-4 Hudson and a few freight cars
- Lionel O-gauge Polar Express set
- Bachmann HO Digital Commander set (two DCC locomotives and rolling stock with additional used rolling stock
- Bachmann Thomas set (non DCC)

I currently have the large and HO scale sets arranged in concentric loops (my son likes to see all of them going at once).  If you can visualize:

- Large scale locomotive on a 7' x 6' loop, soon to become 7' x 7'
- Large scale trolley on a 6' x 5' loop within that, soon to become
- HO locomotives on a loop within the aforementioned 6' x 5' loop with a passing loop and two switches
- Thomas on a 47" x 38" oval, the smallest I can run

All of this is on an 8' x 8' table.  Yes, I know this is too deep but I can currently reach all four sides.  I don't see it ever being shallower than 5.5 feet with the large scale.  Obviously, this mix of scales = a scaling no go, so my ultimate plan is to run the large scale and HO scale sets on different levels and somehow sandwich the two O sets in between.

My current HO rolling stock derails on my Bachmann E-Z track switches (not sure why) and I have enough spare track to run a separate circuit, hence my desire to run the DCC locos separately. 

Quote from: RAM on February 22, 2009, 05:08:11 PM
Bachmann has a 9" Straight Terminal Rerailer with Wire for the ns E Z track systems.

Thanks.  So... how do I get power to my second set of track?  Does Bachmann sell something pre-fabed or do I need to get creative with a soldering iron?

Quote from: SteamGene on February 22, 2009, 02:02:13 PM
Properly wired, a DCC controller can handle multiple "loops" or tracks.  The DCC controller doesn't worry about the track; it worries about the locomotive number it's supposed to talk to. 
As to a decoder working on DC, that depends on the decoder. 
Gene

(I've already learned that non-DCC locos don't like DCC).

I'm currently running two loops, one non-DCC Thomas and two DCC locomotives on a separate loop.  I have enough track to run a third loop for the second DCC loco to run solo.  The problem is that a second DCC controller is pricey.  One can buy an entire non-DCC starter set (including the non-DCC controller) for less then the cost of a DCC controller alone.

Secondly, can a DCC controller run two separate loops? (i.e. with a Y-track connector in parallel or in series?  Will the DCC controller "see" them both as a single track or

Thanks.   

+1

Help me spend some money that I don't have.

Quote from: calenelson on February 20, 2009, 10:19:08 AM
Bach-man? 

Anyone? 

Every dealer I call has no idea? 

Is there a pending announcement (thought that was to come at TF09)? 

I'd love to purchase one for my Luke's 4th Birthday in March!?

cale

Thanks.  So am I tied to Bachmann-only rolling stock?

Quote from: Hunt on February 07, 2009, 09:47:29 PM
Bachmann uses their brand knuckle coupler.
E-Z Mate magnetically operated knuckle coupler

Very old stock does not have knuckle coupler.

The Great Train Expo is in town this wekend and I'm looking to pickup some inexpensive (used) rolling stock.  I know what the coupler looks like (I guess there's at least two different types).  I just don't know what it's called.  I see more Athearn than anything else.

Thanks.

Are they good places to buy "low risk" items, e. g. used rolling stock and track?  I've attended one show and found vendors prices competitive on some new items but not all.

Thanks.

Not much larger .  I still have two G (large) scale and two O scale trains that I need to get up off the floor.

Quote from: Pacific Northern on January 13, 2009, 06:49:18 PM

Quote from: Neo Fender on January 12, 2009, 09:30:35 PM
I understand there are other factors such as # of turns, radius, length of track, etc.  I have entry-level locomotives (FT-A and a GP40) and I'd like to get more rolling stock.  Just looking for a general guideline.

Thanks.

How large a layout do you plan on having when completed?