My Wife and my Trains

This is one of those things I love about my wife.
While she has no real interest in my train layout(s) she is supportive of my love for it and she helps me with things regarding the theme of the railroad.

For instance, I was discussing with her how I wanted to add Wisteria (a native tree here in GA) to the layout and how I thought I could model it. She was quick to point out that while my idea for modeling it was good, I had already discussed with her having a corn field in one area of the layout and Wisteria is not in bloom when ears of corn are (around here, Wisteria is early spring, corn early summer).

These are the little things that I don't think of that remind me how fortunate I am and how glad I am to have her to bounce things off. Even when she doesn't know that she helped me.

The solution then came to me.

Since my intent now is to model Wallibus, Tarnable, Fitch and Whosaton individually as modules, I will now do each one as a different time of season as well, more fun and more options!

Now to decide which Fitch is, I think I'll go with late Spring early Summer.

Bachmann ON30 Gearbox Problems are being addressed!

Wow, Bachmann Trains has been getting beat up over the last several years for having a major problem with the gears in most of their ON30 locomotives, well the geared ones at least.

The 5 models below almost always came brand new out of the box with at least one gear cracked or split.

1. Shay
2. Climax
3. Davenport
4. Rail Truck
5. Rail Bus

People have complained and posted all sorts of hatred towards Bachmann for allowing defective products to continue to be sold. And the worst part was, if you wanted it fixed, you had to send the entire engine back, not just the broken part. 

So a couple of guys over on the RailRoad Line Forums (www.railroad-line.com) started a petition which I gladly signed and figured we would never hear anything of it again.

Well low and behold, on April 2nd, they responded with a letter stating the problems were being addressed.

Here is a copy of the letter.

Starting June 1st, you can contact Bachmann to request FREE new gears for your Shay, Climax, Davenport, Railbus or Rail Truck.

I know I will be requesting a new set for my Railbus as it is currently running front wheel drive only (and that has a bit of a hitch to it) after a managed to glue one of the gears back together. The rear set was too badly gone. I'll request a new set for my Shay as well.

Good Job Bachmann, you have made a lot of friends with this!