Bachmann train catalog 2011 overview

 Forgive me for the time skip guys, but I wanted to skip a couple of years towards more modern day Bachmann. 

We've seen the company's catalog start to expand with more ready to run DCC trains, a nice selection of train sets, and Thomas and Friends always being featured in the catalog. By this time Spectrum was starting to slowly go away, but that didn't mean Bachmann didn't still release really nice, really detailed engines. 

So what did Bachmann's 2011 catalog have in store? 

Knapford station and the roundhouse are two welcome additions to the Thomas line. It's not my cup of tea, but I do appreciate Bachmann giving Thomas the tank engine fans the chance to remake their own sodar island with these two accessories. 

I also do have a soft spot for the Thomas deluxe set, which not only gives you Thomas but also Bertie the Bus, Harold the Helicopter, and Sir Topham hat. 

One other set I'd like to point out in this section is the Thomas holiday special. Soft spot for Christmas train sets aside, I got a wooden train of Thomas with his snow plow for Christmas, so it's nice to see it here carrying some fright cars and wearing a red Santa hat. 

Before the Grand Canyon set Bachmann revealed in their 2026 catalog, they had Durango & Silverton. 

I really did like this set. I'm a fan of the 2-8-0 steam engine, and this set does look like an nice little passenger train that will take you on a quick but unforgettable tour of the mountains. 

The Civil War Union and Confederate sets were a favorite of mine as well as I am a bit of a history buff and just found these sets to be neat. 

The Santa Special feels like Bachmann's "Santa Flyer" from many catalogs ago done right. The 0-6-0 Christmas scheme is simple but doesn't over do it, and gondola full of presents is something I wish Bachmann would bring back from a set (fact that their small enough to get lost or be a chocking hazard aside) and I love me a good hot coco tanker. 

Royal Gorge and Empire builder were two sets that I had a soft spot for. I'm a fan of diesel passenger sets as much as steam, and I wouldn't mind getting this set and building onto it with more passenger cars and swapping the dummy B unit for a powered one. 

A shame Bachmann didn't have the smooth observer cars when these sets were out. 

Alongside having Thomas in HO, Bachmann also had Thomas the Tank engine stuff in G scale as well. 

Durango & Silverton also got a G scale freight and passenger train set in this catalog as well as the HO scale one. Nothing against the smaller scale one, but I do like the passenger cars on the G scale one. 

Speaking of nice passenger cars, come on Bachmann. You'll offer us the Night Before Christmas express each year without fail but not the White Christmas Express? 

Not to make the set out as the next best thing since sliced bread, but just looking at it really puts me in a mood for Christmas. The wooden log tanker is a nice change up from coal, and I love the details on the passenger cars which have frost and Christmas reefs on them. 

Anther 2 sets I'd like to see Bachmann bring in to make their G-scale selection a bit more interesting? The Prospector and Lumberjack. 

As I mentioned earlier in the blog, Bachmann wasn't quite done with the spectrum line yet. It was slowly becoming less and less of a thing, but in 2011 Bachmann still offered some spectrum line stuff to purchase, including three Dynamis sound commander sets: 

The Acela Express set has become a staple in Bachmann train catalogs since 2011 and I can see why. It is a nice looking set, and a bit of a big deal for Bachmann to make an HO scale set of an modern day Amtrack train. 

I know you have enough HO scale sets Bachmann, but can the Cavalier come back? I'm a big fan of the J-class Norfolk and Western steam engine, and would love to see a train set of it with either the heavyweight or smooth passenger cars. 

Yes I know it's becoming a run theme of me asking Bachmann to remake/re-release train sets in these blogs but come on Bachmann the "Home for the Holidays" set is gorgeous! 

Final Thoughts: 

Like the 2007 catalog, this catalog was one that I looked at a lot, so it has a soft spot in my heart. That and it did have a lot of nice train sets in here, some I wish I got myself. 

Leading up to the more modern day catalogs should be interesting as Bachmann was really stepping up their game back then, and is continuing to do so now. I am a bit bitter about how the William's line is going, but I'll save that for a separate blog entry...

What is the Fairplex Garden Railroad?

 It's been a while since I've talked about a train exabit that one could visit, and with the weather getting nice out, why not visit a garden railroad. One of the largest garden railroads in America. 

What is the Fairplex Garden Railroad

Photo curtesy of http://fgrr.org/index.php/history/

One of the oldest and largest garden railroads in America can be found in Pomona, California at the LA County Fair. First established in 1924 before making a move to it's current location in 1935, 

According to it's about section page, most of the equipment at the time was made by local high schoolers, which is quite a feat on it's own. Over the years the garden railroad would expand, with it's current feat of track being over 10,000. 

Around California 

It shouldn't be too much of a surprise that the garden railroad depicts scenes from California in it's early days to current days. Trains, trolly's and even cars travel around the giant garden railroad, crossing over each other on bridges, going through tunnels, and even a railyard. 

 The layout also features trains from "USA trains", a company that makes G scale trains such as the Big Boy and Hudson alongside amazingly detailed passenger cars. 

Covid challenges

The 2020 pandemic was hard for everyone, especially model train exabits. Though it was outside, the Fairplex Garden Railroad had to be shut down, with members who worked on it having to stay in touch. Once allowed back, the volunteers had much to fix things up. 

In the end, if was worth it, as wiring was upgraded and so was the railyard. 

The Garden Railroad today:

The Fairplex Garden Railroad is still going strong, with the layout in good hands and open to the public on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 11am to 4PM. 

For more info click here: https://fairplex.com/event/fairplex-garden-railroad-11/

Sources: http://fgrr.org/index.php/about-the-fairplex-garden-railroad/ 

http://fgrr.org/index.php/history/ 

Looking at a Tyco trains catalog from 1963.

With a blog about why I love the company post it being around out there, I wanna head back to looking at Tyco's catalogs again and time skip a bit. 

While I don't want to go too far into the future, I do wanna stop at 1963, as this was the year that Tyco was starting to really get the ball going, while also introducing slot cars as well. 

One other thing I'll give Tyco is a mixed train set they offered that had passenger cars and fright cars. I know, if released today this would be up there in money (especially if it came with enough track for a loop and power), but gosh dang it, I love this. 

Best of both worlds as you get one diesel that can either carry some passenger cars, or fright cars. Closest you're getting to something like this today is buying a diesel or steam starter set from Bachmann and then ordering some passenger or fright cars. 

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places but it really feels like there aren't that many coal unloading trestles out there on the market, at least for HO scale. Yes model railroaders I know, it can easily be a DIY project, but it would be nice if someone at least offered a pre-made one like Tyco did...

As I mentioned at the start of this, Tyco was introducing slot cars into the mix, and the cars they showed off look pretty nice. 

Slot car sets were also offered in this catalog: 

The accessories in this catalog aren't much, but can come together to make a nice slot car set up or railroad set up. The street lamps that are offered here are my favorite, and I love the yard stuff that is offered as well. 

Alongside the unloading coal trestle is an freight handling depot, and while those are a bit more common, they don't come with an operating tractor. 

Final Thoughts: 

I know I skimmed thought this catalog a bit, but 

A: it is shorter then Bachmann and MTH's

B: I do overall like and wish some of the stuff offered here could come back. I know, I know, model railroading has come a long way since Tyco was even last offering stuff, but it's hard to deny that there is some charm to what's being offered here, and just in general I don't hear that much about slot car tracks anymore. 

I'm sure there's sets still being made and what not, but thanks to tech I can see them joining trains on the backburner of the "Hobbies" stove. 

What I like about Tyco Trains

 Before anyone says it, yes I know Tyco/Mantua are no longer around making model trains, but I do have a decent amount of their cars and engines thanks to me getting them from train shows/hobby shops, and with how much Tyco stuff there is on Ebay, it's like they never left. 

Thought the company is gone, their not forgotten, and in this blog I wanna take a look at the things that I like about the old company that I wouldn't mind seeing other companies do. 

U.S 1 Trucking: 

While I don't want to make U.S 1 Trucking as the sliced bread of model railroading, I do like the concept. Model trucks on slot car track that can pick up and drop off loads just like real trucks do. 

It's a nice twist on slot cars and I really wish it was done again. True, we do have E-Z streets by Bachmann, but that's in O scale and apparently not that popular. Either U.S 1 Trucking needs to come back, or one of the model railroad/miniature model companies need to make a deal with Faller to use their car system (which see's a small motorized diecast car follow a magnetic line.) 

Tyco's freight and passenger cars:

Yes model railroading folks, I know Tyco's fright and passenger cars don't hold a candle to modern day cars in the realism department, but I do have a soft spot for them. For one, they seem pretty durable and reliable. Maybe it's because I've gotten lucky, but I have a decent amount of Tyco cars in my collection and I haven't had any issues running them on the layout. 

Heck, I have a streamline car that still lights up in spite of being up in my grandmothers attic through the cold and heat. 

Speaking of the streamline cars, I really do have a soft spot for them. Again, I know they don't hold a candle to modern or even more accurate ones, but give Tyco some credit for at least trying to make them as appealing as possible. 

The shadows of passengers inside looks nice, and I do like how the lights at the end of the car actually light up. 

Train sets that came with accessories:

Guys I'm sorry but I just can't accept the idea that accessories in train sets can't become more of a thing these days because "the hobby is niche." 

Yes Bachmann I know you do sell some sets that come with accessories still to this day, but the sets with bridges and inclines are no where to be found. Also would it really be not worth the extra money to put in a fright unloading dock into a set, or a coal dump? 

And let's not forget the roads and rail set that Tyco sold where their US Trucking line crossed over with their railroad line (literally because they had a railroad crossing.) 

They overall had some nice trains/train sets:

I know this one's kind of cheap, but I can't help but add it to the reason why I wanna give Tyco their post-mourn flowers. Some of the sets and trains that Tyco released are things that I'd love to see be re-released in some way or anther. 

From the snazzy looking Midnight special, the Golden Eagle, and even their spirit of America with state themed cars, Tyco had some decent trains/sets that are worth adding to the collection just based on how nice they look. 

To those who were around when Tyco was, what was your favorite things about the company?