Here is my final NMRA prediction / hopes as the show is next month

HO scale
Arry
Bert
Troublesome truck 7 van
Lei
McColls cattle van
Circus cattle van


Narrow gauge
Skalroey set
Comes with skaloey , slate wagon with blue mountain quarry slate load, and brown brakevan
It would come with a loop of narrow gauge track

Exclusive Set products
Blue slate load
Brown narrow gauge brakevan


N scale
Henry
Sodor coal  wagon with coal load
Sodor scrap wagon
Mining wagon
Spikeful brakevan


 

First thing I'd try is soak all the sections in water with detergent for a couple of days, toothbrush it thoroughly, and then rinse with clean water.

If that doesn't work, Spray with isopropyl alcohol from the drugstore and let it set a while, Toothbrush it off, and then rinse with water.  I would test this method on one piece of track first to make sure it doesn't affect the plastic adversely.

One thing everyone forgets is the rail joiners. I would plan on replacing them, you'll never get them clean up inside and you'll never have good contact.  And don't forget to really clean the Underside of the rail where the joiners go.

I just picked up the 2024 Bachmann catalog.  Looking through the N-scale section, I've noticed that it's starting to look bigger than it has, bravo!  Good job!  I'm also very glad to see you're finally producing the Old-Time 4-6-0 in a few paint schemes to go with the Old Time Boxcars, Gondolas, and Water Tank Cars. Woohoo!

Buuuut...

Why is the smallest engine a 0-6-0?  What happened to the magnificent 4-4-0 engines that you used to sell in N scale?  For that matter, where did the John Brown, DeWitt Clinton, and the other truly old-time engines in HO go? For those of us wanting to model the earliest start of railroading in America we're left high and dry for the most part...

I recently bought the Durango & Silverton N-scale set and am sorely disappointed in the spare cars offering that you have.  Just the Bobber caboose?  What about a freight train for the D&S? Can't do much with a Bobber if there's no freight for it to watch over...

If it was any scale except N, I'd say visit the Kadee site.  The converter has basically anything you could have.  You might want to look for an N-scale track gauge tool from the NMRA. That should be able to tell you if the coupler is out of vertical gauge, which it sounds like it is. If that ends up being the problem you can either get rid of the coupler box and install a new one, or shim up the coupler in the box itself.

Unfortunately, The tender doesn't electrically connect to the engine. Most DCC for N-scale would go in the tender for the smaller engines like an 0-6-0. If you have some wiring experience you can try to DIY, or I'm sure you could get someone online to do it for a fee.

Chances are, the motor is fine.  Depending on from what height it was dropped, though, something may be bent or a gear came out of seat.

Bachmann needs to make a roundhouse for N-scale.  Preferably, not Thomas-themed...

I second TrainFan97.  Bachmann should definitely make an entire line of Halloween-themed merchandise in HO and N scales, if not G and O.  I know quite a few people who might actually get into modelling if this was offered in the smaller scales.

Some companies offer Streetcar track that comes in tiny-radius (6-9") dimensions.  You might want to look into that if this is still a problem for you.

On the contrary. The wye in the electrical diagram is exactly what the isolated reversing section on your railroad should look like.

You could flip the engine so it runs the way the electricity runs, or you can flip the electricity so it runs the way you want the trains to run.