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...