Jim

I must stress that the 85s I have now, run ok except for flickering lights..I'm assuming that's the new copper on copper sliding contacts combined with averagely clean track where older models don't seem to be affected. That said, should newer designs have built-in performance issues? Shouldn't "advancements" enhance the experience, not make things more difficult? Jim

I've been putting up with this poor running for a couple of weeks now. I've already sent one 40 141 back due to its inability to run in one direction. The issue for me now is that I'm going to have to carry out the soldering of wires to the pickup work around. I can't send this one back as I soldered small blobs on the speaker connections on the pcb to wire in a speaker. The class 85s had the same type of power pickup too. I sent one back due to poor running too. I was quite cress fallen when I took the top off and saw the same set up on the 40. I have no problem soldering but on a brand new product costing £90? If I'd read this thread before I'd put the speaker in, I'd've sent this second loco back asking for a refund. I wonder how much Bachmann have saved in production costs verses replacements and people not buying products due to reputation? I hope the company will not be retro-fitting older models with this ill-thought out and tried method of power collection? I support, like most if us here, this small industry, but that doesn't mean that the companies can just take us for granted. I will be thinking twice before buying a new design of loco from Bachmann until the company demonstrates that it's products work from the box. Jim

Hmmmmmmmmm, Sometimes I wish I didn't read this forum.. This particular thread has just cost me £45! I was quite taken by the Hornby blue-grey Gresley when it was released, it but had no knowledge on how to run it. Well now this thread has given me the excuse..... Jim

Yep, I've just belled them, and they're defo show prices......sod it! It's always the same, if you find you're self looking at an engine trying to justify the purchase, just bloody buy it! Jim

Hmmmmmm, Their website shows them full price. I wonder if its just a show price? I have bought both blue/yellow ones at Folkestone and Peterborough at £64 each. I'll give 'um a bell tomorrow.

Hi, You can sync the chuffs with speed and acceleration by changing the values of cv 57 and 58. Cv57 being the starting speed and once you've synced the chuffs you alter cv58 to sync the acceleration to the chuffs. It's a lot of playing arround but interesting. When you get it sorted out it really makes a difference. Jim

Hi, The Allington is still going strong but I don't think there's much else. The connection with Reeds paper mill is still there but not used and all the cement sidings arround Halling have been disconnected. I remember the Allington siding from 1975. I saw my first Crompton there unloading. One school holiday morning I had the horror of seeing my first blue box on wheels, an ED! what a strange thing I thought it was with none of the spluttering of the cromptons. I remember one day going down to the ground frame there and trying to pull the levers!!!!! The siding is controlled by Maidstone West box now or could be Aylesford-I should know really! Jim

Hi, The thing with sound is, I don't get caught making "train sounds" anymore! Jim

Just think, Now the fastest domestic traction in the UK travels over the metals where the little old HAPs and EPBs used to bimble along!

I've just ordered the bachimann all-blue 2EPB from Hattons. My punters can slum it in second class! Cheers, Jim

Brilliant! That's cleared something up! Ive just remembered around the summer of '78 or '79 putting my push bike onto a HAP at Beltring but remember EPBs going past the Allington quarry siding. So, it seemed for the industrial half of the line it was second only but the posh end of the line first was provided by the HAPs! Jim

Hi, As a lad in the mid 70s in the Maidstone area, I used to watch two-car, all blue EMU stock bimble between Strood, Maidstone West and Paddock Wood. For the life of me, I cannot recall whether the units were 2HAPs or 2EPBs on the off peak services. The Maidstone East to Victoria route ran 2HAPs on Sundays but the West line ran two cars all week, and still does, all be it class 466 Networkers! Can anyone help? Cheers, Jim