Things I'd like to see from train suppliers

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Here are a few things I’d like to see all manufacturers of train stuff do:

1 - Include disassembly instructions with every product, tell us where to poke, push, cut or pry so we can disassemble with minimum damage. Getting the shell off some locomotives can be very traumatic.

2 - Put all product documentation on a website and keep it there forever. Charge me 50 cents to download it, I don’t care but make it available on Saturday evening. You can even save the paper if you want, I’ll download it if I need it.

3 - Tell us what does and doesn’t work with your product, especially track manufacturers. Just tell us that you are or are not 100% perfectly compatible with other brands.

4 - Documentation on what decoder you recommend for your locomotive. At least give us a place to start. . .

These four would be a big help to me. What say you?

Joe

2

I’d like to see in-service dates, and maybe a bit of “biographical” information, on the boxes that engines and rolling stock come in.

3

3 things.

  1. Lubrication points and the recommended product. Include a full diagram showing said points to be lubed. Not all of us have been doing this for 30 years.

  2. A history of who, what, where, and when the locomotive is modeled after. Doesn’t have to be a 30 page document, but just to give the modeler and idea of what he / she is looking at.

  3. A full 100% no questions asked service return policy. This may be a stretch, but if you dream dream big…

4

Joe-daddy:

Oboy, did you cover some important points–especially with the newer plastic DC/DCC steam locos. I’ve got several, and I have NO idea how to get into those babies if anything ever goes wrong with them. At least my Rivarossi Allegheny came with an exploded parts view, but the rest of them are like a Chinese Box puzzle. Guess I’m too spoiled with my brass locos–3 or 4 screws and everything lifts right off.

Tom [B)]