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Written by Paul D. Race for Family Garden Trains(tm)
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| Written by Paul D. Race for Family Garden Trains(tm)
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This page describes Large Scale trains made by the Bachmann to be used in the garden (although they run indoors if you have room for them).
Bachmann starter sets, such as the ones shown on this page, make an excellent
initial investment, even if you're still trying to decide what kind of railroad
you want or exactly where you want it to go. If you later wind up modeling a
whole 'nudder different kind of railroad, the Bachmann trains are sturdy and
inexpensive enough to keep as backup, to use around the Christmas tree, or to
let the kids or grandkids run. 
Bachmann's Large Scale trains are accurately detailed models of real narrow-gauge trains that used to run in North America. Most narrow-gauge trains in this country ran on tracks that had the rails 36" apart. (This was in contrast to "standard-gauge" trains, which had the rails 56 1/2" apart.) Such railroads included the Denver and Rio Grande (later the Denver and Rio Grande Western) in the West, and the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (nicknamed the "Tweetsie") in the East. There were a host of other narrow-gauge railroads all over the United States, most of which were absorbed into other lines by the middle of the 20th century. But such variety leads many Garden Railroaders to invent their own railroad names and locations and feel good about it--since something similar most likely existed somewhere.
Models of narrow-gauge trains tend to be charming and to look old-fashioned compared to models of standard-gauge trains. They also tend to be larger in scale, so the figurines and accessories that go with them are larger and less likely to get lost in the undergrowth. If you want to know all there is to know about garden train scales, refer to the article Which Scale Should I Model on the Family Garden Train's Primer page.
These trains work great outside and are designed to hold up to sun, heat, cold, and dampness. However, when you do move outside, you'll want to purchase some track that is made for the garden (Bachmann's isn't), and you'll want larger curves anyway--trains look better and run better on wider curves. Some other pages that might help you with such decisions include:
Notes for 2007! Change in Supplier Lineup Since 2005, we have been able to list a range of suppliers for these trains. Unfortunately, stocks get really low after Christmas. So we try to carry trains for which we have at least two suppliers. A few providers are selling Bachmann Large Scale trains through Amazon, so if you click on an Amazon button you may have your choice of several providers. We hope that's not TOO confusing. Please contact us if you have questions about availability or quality of any product listed on this page.
Note about Availability and Pricing: This page includes several products which periodically become hard to find. I've left them on the page so you could have some idea of what is available, even if you may not be able to get it from my supplier today. On the other hand, the model train market does fluctuate, and any product on this page may change price or become unavailable without prior notice. In fact, I've caused a "run" on several products just by listing them in our Buyers' Guides. One "special order" train that just became available last month ran completely out of stock in the first three weeks after I posted it here. So, if you "click through" to see details on a product, and nothing happens at all, or you are routed to a supplier's home page, please let me know and I will remove the product from the online catalog until I can find a replacement or another supplier. For more detailed information about why products seem to come and go and why I have stopped listing prices for most products, please see my article "About Pricing and Availability."
Note about Suppliers: While we try to help you get the products you want by recommending suppliers with a good record of customer service, all transactions between you and the supplier you chose to provide your trains or other purchases are governed by the published policies on the supplier's web site. So please print off any order confirmation screens and save copies of invoices, etc., so you can contact the appropriate supplier should any problems occur. (They almost never do, but you want to be on the safe side.)
Bachmann Starter sets
Starter Sets include an oval of track (14-20 pieces), power pack and speed controller, and an illustrated Bach Man instruction manual. Many include a "how-to" video as well. Several of the most recent and most popular sets are shown below. For more information or to check pricing and availability from one or more of our suppliers, please click on a "check stock" button.
| ET&WNC Passenger Set - The East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad Company ("Tweetsie" for sort) ran from 1881 to about 1940, after which the line's assets changed hands many times. Today the "Tweetsie" is one of North Carolina's favorite travel attractions. This passenger set comes complete with a 4-6-0 steam locomotive (with operating headlight, smoke, and speed-synchronized sound), coal tender, coach with lighted interior, and observation car with lighted interior. |  |
| To check availability of this train, please click the "check stock" button. | |
  
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| ET&WNC Freight Set - Unlike large mainlines, narrow gauge trains often served double-duty hauling freight and passengers together on light routes. For this set, a baggage/passenger combine with metal wheels and interior lighting has been substituted for a caboose, so the handful of passengers the line expects can ride in comfort. |  |
| To check availability of this train, please click the "check stock" button. | |
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| The Durango and Silverton Freight Set - This is a classic model of a classic train. The last issue of this product has been unavailable for about 3 years. Now it has been brought back so a new "generation" of garden railroaders and "Rio Grande" fans can enjoy it.
The Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) started as the Denver and Rio Grande, a narrow gauge railroad with small equipment and big ambitions. The D&RGW eventually became the largest and one of the longest-lasting narrow gauge railroads in the world.
This train represents the Silverton Branch line, which was carved out of sheer canyon face high in the Rocky Mountains. This train is pulled by the popular Baldwin 4-6-0 steam locomotive (with operating headlight, smoke and speed-synchronized sound). The yellow and black "bumblebee" paint scheme became popular in the twentieth century. The locomotive pulls a boxcar and caboose that represent typical narrow gauge consists 1860 and 1920. By the way, I own the previous version of this and it's a pleasure to look at and a pleasure to run. This locomotive has been substantially reengineered since I bought mine, so I know you'll enjoy it. |
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| To check availability of this train, please click the "check stock" button. | |
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| The "Ringmaster" Circus Train Set - Serious play value and visual appeal highlight this unique Circus Train, named after Emmett Kelly, Jr., the most famous circus clown of all times. The Ringmaster's 4-6-0 steam locomotive (with operating headlight, smoke and speed-synchronized sound) pulls a coal tender, elephant car, cage car with bear and gorilla cages, and advertising car. The set also includes an Emmett Kelly, Jr. collectible figure, 8’2” x 4’3” oval of track (20 pieces),power pack, illustrated “Bach Man” instruction manual and VHS format video instructions. |  |
| To check availability of this train, please click the "check stock" button. | |
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Give your Trains Room to Run
Trains look better and run better on wide curves. And the best widely available track for garden trains is made by AristoCraft. The following track products use UV-resistant ties and solid brass rails in a formula that weathers to a nice realistic brown color in a few years outside. AristoCraft track makes an especially good electrical and mechanical connection, and it is extremely low-maintenance. When you run trains with all metal wheelsets (such as the sets sold above), you can keep the AristoCraft track clean enough to run outside by wiping it down with a Scotchbrite cleaning pad or the like once or twice a year (except for bird poop and pine sap).
Think of your train as the "software" and your track as the "hardware." No matter how nice your trains are, they will never run like they should unless they are running on the best track.
Note: The Bachmann track that comes with Bachmann's starter set, is not made to be used outside or in permanent installations. Neither is it compatible with anyone else's track. That's fine; keep it indoors for use around your Christmas tree. Bachmann trains, on the other hand, run better on AristoCraft track than they do on the track they come with. AristoCraft track is also compatible with all major brands of Large Scale track. In other words, once you've upgraded to good track with wide curves, you'll have even more fun operating your trains.
8'-Diameter curves - This package makes a track circle approximately 8 feet in diameter, the minimum curve that most people recommend for use in a garden (I like 10'-curves better, but if you're strapped for space. . . . ).
Although most Large Scale track circles use 12 pieces to a circle, this track is designed to be mechanically compatible with LGB's 1800 curves (also called R3), which use 16 pieces to a circle.
10'-Diameter curves - This package makes a track circle approximately 10 feet in diameter. Although the trains on this page will run on track circles as small as 4', this is the minimum curve that some big modern Large Scale trains will run on. 12 pieces make a circle, so if you're used to "indoor" S gauge or HO gauge trains, you'll have no trouble figuring out your track plan with these curves.
1'-Straight Pieces This package gives you twelve straight pieces of track to give you maximum flexibility when designing your railroad, indoors or out.
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Note: Family Garden Trains(tm), Garden Train Store(tm), and Big Christmas Trains(tm) are trademarks of Breakthrough Communications (www.btcomm.com). All information, data, text, and illustrations on this web site are
Copyright (c) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 by Paul D. Race.
Reuse or republication without prior written permission is specifically
forbidden.
For more information, please contact me