Cyborg1

The seller says it was run outside; looks more like it was left outside! I think we'll see a MTH Bigboy in the near future that will be new with warranty and priced sanely! Joe

Well some lucky bidder won this Bigboy that does not run, has no sound, no smoke, no box, no instructions and that may have parts missing; all for the price of $971.00 + $38.33 shipping for a grand total of $1009.33. Oh, and by the way, it's non-returnable! LOL! Joe

Didn't know that problems with the bodies were starting to emerge. With as many heavyweight cars that Aristo produced over the years I guess it makes sense that those molds are getting wore out. I did know about the glued roofs. They did however make improvements in the performance of those cars in subsequent years. I think that if Generation Next wants to re-establish the Aristo line the best thing they could possibly do is correct any and all problems that they know exists with the former Aristo line. It's amazing that once you establish a reputation of quality, quality control, and good customer service the flexibility that gives a company.

That guy from Australia is also on Ebay. I think that at almost $2600 with shipping that he is going to have them for awhile, lol. RLD Hobbies has a good price on Pennsy sets for under $800. The Aristo Heavyweights are a good-looking car and always sold well. Aristocraft produced many heavyweight runs with each run better than the previous run it replaced. Maybe we will see some future runs that will include UP sets with Polk's Generation Next ?? Joe

Also just noticed a new series all about tunnels by Kevin Strong in Garden Railways Magazine. Part I of the series starts in the Dec. Issue. Joe

I applaud the Canadian Pacific for doing that! Thanks for posting that Chuck. Gotta' put a smile on young and old alike!! Joe

You're welcome! Glad you got to those pics. I know you didn't want to pile soil up against your garage ( and I don't blame you } that is why I wanted you to see how a wood framework with screen was used to construct a tunnel. You could get really close to the garage doing something like that and not have soil up against your garage. Just another idea to consider or maybe lead to other ideas. Yeah! With the weather headed your way I think a tunnel is the least of your worries!!! LOL! Joe

Ray, The item # for the Harley-Davidson Dash-8 is 70-2032-1 Joe

Hi Ray! In your documentation pages of MTH locomotives produced, I didn't see the Harley Davidson Dash-8 listed or shown. Joe

Well, first off I would not use emery paper to clean your track. It is too coarse and abrasive; it scratches the track. Suggestion is to use a Scotch Brite scrubbing pad. Many people use the pads by putting them on a dry-wall pole sander and just walk around and clean their track. Some mount the pads to their rolling stock and let the car doing the cleaning. There are other methods that people use to clean their track but the main point here is not to use the emery paper. Also, if your rolling stock has plastic wheels you might want to slowly replace them with metal wheels; that will help in keeping the track cleaner longer. As for cleaning the track that is inside the tunnel, that should not be a problem. My suggestion is that the tunnel be no more than six feet maximum length. At that length you should just about be able to reach the center of the tunnel from both ends. So, cleaning the track with the pole sander or other means won't pose any problems. However, as Ray stated, any long tunnel will require an access point or points to clear derailments, maintenance, etc.

That is the reason I mentioned that particular thread; it shows exactly how he built his concrete mountain with a lot of really good pictures. Keep trying to sign up! Joe

Suggestion: How about concrete mountains?? Check this out. Go to Mylargescale.com and look under the forum "Gardening and Landscaping". Pay particular attention to the thread "A New Mountain". There are a couple of other threads that will add to the one just mentioned. With your limited space and garage issue maybe something along this line might help?? Joe

I don't think you are being too picky at all. When a sellers discription doesn't match the pics, then common sense dictates some questions be asked. After all, you are talking about a locomotive and not a piece of rolling stock. Clearly that loco was more than test run. I don't care for people who quibble or play games with words; I think using the term "mis-leading" is being very kind. Check out the same sellers' discription of a Triplex he is selling! Joe

Bob, Your frustration with OSI has been echoed by others on various forums. Apparently it is supposed to be a very good product as well as one in demand. It's a situation that is hard to figure out or understand?? Joe

Hi Mike! Just wanted to let you know that SideTrack Hobbies in Leonardtown, MD. (301-475-8985) has a Erie Triplex listed for $899.00. It's the M70-3022-1 bluish-gray Russian Iron one. Joe

Hello Neil! Try Trainworld in New York. They have them listed as Bachmann #88999 (Die-cast Shay power trucks with ball bearings, one pair) for $215.99. However, in their June advertisement in Garden Railways magazine they have them listed for $203.99. I'd call and give them that price first and see what they say! They do ship internationally. ph: 1-800-541-7010 Joe

WOW! Now that really is Christmas in July!!! Joe

Appreciate you getting back and letting us know what the problem was and that you resolved the issue. Enjoy that new engine!

Sounds like a logical explanation for the term "end scatter shield". Probably exactly what they are. As far as how well the Accurcraft hoppers mate with the MDC/Piko hoppers, I too would think they would match-up pretty good. Main differences are that the Accucraft hoppers will be much more detailed, much more expensive, and much more fragile than the MDC/Piko hoppers. Joe

I would say the Aristo Mallet is close to the C&O pictured. The most obvious difference is that the C&O is a 2-6-6-2 while the Aristo mallets are 2-8-8-2. Personally, I really like the Aristo Mallets. Joe

I can understand you being a little disappointed and upset especially with a new engine! But rest assured you aren't the only person this has happened to; it had been a chronic problem with Bachmann for many years. Apparently their gears were made with the wrong type of plastic that would become brittle and just crack and break apart irregardless if used much or not. My suggestion is to follow Kevin's advice. First check the gear. If that is the problem order the correct gear from NWSL and then you'll be good to go! Joe

Joe, good call on checking those drive gears! I think there is a high probability in that his engine does have the plastic gears and Bachmann is known to have had issues with their drive gears cracking and breaking. (However, in their latest produced engines they have gone to metal gears.) The poster stated that the motor was making sounds but did not move. So it must be getting power? He also stated that while the engine was a little stiff, it would roll on the track while being pushed lightly. I think I would be checking those gears first before going to much further. Joe

Yes, they are listed in the estore. Joe

Jerry, Accucraft says you can pre-order them with or without "End Scatter Shields". What is a "End Scatter Shield" on a hopper?? Joe

Just wanted to pass along that I read on another forum that the pre-order price is in effect until Feb.28,2014. That is $250.00 for a smooth-sided streamlined passenger car and $1,425.00 for the six car set. As of Mar.1, 2014 there will be a 20% increase to $300.00 far a smooth-sided streamlined passenger car and $1,710.00 for the six car set. Anyway, there's about a month to decide if anyone was thinking of acquiring these cars. Personally, I've never pre-ordered anything; so I'm not sure exactly how that works? Apparently you just tell an Accucraft Dealer what you want and there is no advance payment? I guess you pay whenever the dealer receives it. I would think you would need to specify the roadname but I'm not sure of that either. I'll have to check this out.