[Pete Thornton]

the big one is the gearbox

I read a review by Kevin Strong, maybe in Trains or MR, and it has ball bearings on the main axles. Plus better gears, as you say.

 

[Pete Thornton]

The ball bearings on the axles is news to me...

Oh ye of little faith . . .
(I'm actually amazed that it wasn't mentioned anywhere in Bachmann's release or the info on their forums.)

 

[Pete Thornton]

I did not know...

I didn't know until Kevin mentioned it. It is nowhere in the Bachmann literature.