All , How many of us which have been in N-SCALE from the 1970's - Present still have these sets ,maintain , run them ? No this Does not mean the 1980's -present Sets. Tom
That was back in the days when you could purchase one of those sets for what it now costs you to purchase a new piece of high-end rolling stock. Then again . . .
Now, wait. Be specific. Everybody was "into" Lionel at the time. Was your group one of the many that lusted after it, or one of the few that could afford it?
What amazes me about Bachmann is their choice of prototypes. Out of all the trains they could have chosen, they went with the Auto-Train? It amazes me that they actually tooled the autorack, a car that was never used on any other train. I guess we should be grateful, but it seems strange that they didn't have some kind of generic Pullman streamlined train in this catalog. At least then, they could have done multiple road names with the same set of tooling. The only N scale set I have is the Empire Builder, basically the modern version of the Northerner set. Some of the cars have different paint schemes, but it has that same locomotive (but the mechanism might be modernized too). It's a fun novelty item, but I'm already in way too deep with HO to be serious about expanding into N scale.
I've got my original Auto-Train and Metroliner sets. They barely run anymore, they're old and tired, but I've got such good memories with both sets that I'm "retooling" them (U36B and Metroliner) via 3D printing to bring them to today's acceptable standards of detail. Cheers -Mike
Originally I thought we were ones that were "into and could afford". In short time most of the others became the "lust after". And also in a little time make money off there excessive purchases. I started to learn a new career and buy my first house. So models took a back seat for a while. OK? Rich
I have some Bachmann equipment from then or even earlier ('60's) but no sets. I have some Atlas sets from the same period, however. Doug
Things have come a long way since those days. If I smell ozone now when I run a train I panic. Back then that was part of the charm lol.
In the early days, I sometimes wonder if Bachmann damaged the growth of N Scale more than it helped it. One venture with a mid-1970s U-36B was enough for me.
Wow, 1975! I had that Spirit of 76 set but was several years later when I got it. Guess it has been on the shelf for a long time. The engine sounds like a coffee grinder but still runs.
I still treasure my Bachmann Bicentennial Caboose. My Dad bought it for me in 1976 and it carries with it a lot of happy memories. I chose to keep it in factory condition, Rapido couplers and all.
I have all of the Bicentennial cars to go with that caboose. Pop quiz: What were they? No cheating! I'll have the answer later.