Right from the get-go he was degrading and evil in his emails, when I tried to explain my case stating that it was to honor the passing of My Father on this Valentine's Day as this was one of his favorite engines and I wished to display it with a picture of My Dad in front of the REAL 142, he was cold and heartless and showed no emotion towards my Family AT ALL and I IMPLORE all of you out there, no matter how reasonable the price may be nor how tempting, or anything,
DO NOT BUY FROM THIS GUY!!!  There's no 'favorites' here with this amount of heartless evil.  That should be his new title...The Heartlessly Evil Spot!!
So, now I'm on the hunt for a new one.  One question about 83212; Susquehanna 2-8-2 #142.
Some pictures show the tender with spaced out lettering while some show letters pushed together.  Which item number as the spaced out lettering?  If it IS 83212 how can I be sure that I am getting the spaced out lettering, once I find it?

Pacific Northwest...
It wasn't a case of having anything wrong with the engine, its that I never got it!  He switched the engine with a different one destined for a customer in FL.  I called that person and we were just gonna swap.  His WIFE goes ahead and contacts The Favorite Spot to tell him (ray) about the mix up and instructs us to send it back to him...what a waste of time.  So, I concur.  I had the wrong item sent me (that was supposed to go to FL) wrapped up on my table and told my family NOT to touch it...I would be away for the weekend.  I get back and My SISTER sends the wrong item to its intended buyer in FL.  NOW, they have over $1000.00 worth of engines (2) and I got nothing.  They had mine and sent it back to Ray.  They 'claim' to have sent the duplicate back to Ray as well but I cannot confirm that.  So, I opened up a case against Ray stating that I did NOT receive the engine nor a refund.  That S.O.B. won't give me either.  I told Ebay that if I did not receive the engine by the 25th I would contact them back and FORCE them to FORCE Ray to deliver.  I have done all that is necessary (thanks everyone) to get this item in my hands through Ebay and the seller and at this point I am so furious I am thinking about pursuing a small claim and file a legal dispute.  I am out $127.00, he switches the order and he DOESN'T deliver!! 

For Pacific Northwest-->
The two previous posts hit the nail on the head EXACTLY!  richg and Johnson Bar Jeff.
THAT is the EXACT Ebay seller from TX that I do NOT wish to deal with any longer. 

For richg --> 
I would have no idea what is wrong with the engine if there ever was...I never got it!!  I paid $127.00 for it which WAS a very resonable price for it and it never got delivered.  Its a very lengthy story and one that I'd rather not go into here. 

If any of you would like to know, send me a PM or email me directly and I'll relay the whole sorrid tale.  Quite depressing as well. 
For OldTimer -->  I have contacted a few of the retailers in this months Model RRer mag but came up short.  I shall continue my quest this weekend.
Thanks to all!!

I recently got BURNED on an auction gone TERRIBLY wrong trying to get one of these things on Ebay and I would like to know if there is someone or someplace selling a brand new in box and plastic wrapped 2-8-2 Susquehanna Mikado for around $100.00 or so.  I have searched just about every hobby store site in Model RRer magazine and keep coming up short.

If ANYONE out there has a brand new one they are looking to get rid of, PLEASE let me know INSTANTLY!!!  Time is an important factor here...
Also, if anyone knows of a shop that I missed that they KNOW they have one in stock, again please let me know.
I should point out that I will NOT be dealing with ANY TX sites or people.  Rather large and vague but I cannot take any chances.  That's where the seller I wish to NOT deal with is at.
Ebay is ALSO out of the question.  ACTUAL people and ACUTAL stores only.  Thanks

I have a similar question, one that was kind of touched upon here.  I primarily use E-Z track for my holiday display and other occasions.  I am planning on putting an extended layout up this year on a more permanent basis in my garage.  I need a LOT more track to accomplish what I wish to do.  My plan is to include two bridges (one for the outgoing track and the other for the inbound track on a dogbone setup) that are 3 feet in length each.  Only problem is one is mfg by Atlas.  Its has the curved chord bridge in the center span ("18) and two truss bridges at either end ("9 each).  I also have a single "9 plate girder bridge from Model Power (I think) and need to get three more bridges to equal the "36 of the large one. 

My problem is this...how do I attach EZ-Track to these bridges?  I tried cutting a small segment of flex track and slipping it in with the metal rail joiners to the EZ-Track on both sides and then to the single snap track for the bridge track but when a loco hit the bridge, the loco just stopped.  What am I doing wrong here?    Would it be feasible to break off or cut the clip on the end of the EZ-Track and cut underneath the track so it sits butt up against the bridge lead track?  What else can I do?

Is there a way to intensify the headlight on an Erie 2-10-0? Also, I attempted loosening the pilot truck screw to make it a bit more flexible on turns but it keeps derailing, especially on frogs and rail joints.  Is there a way to make it a bit heavier so it will stay on the rails?

Other than those two little items, Bachmann has a SUPERB product with their Russian Decapod line!!