The Locomotive was Brand new (both were, one of them starts at about speed 28, the other at about 35) so I've not given thought to it. they never loose power so I didn't attempt anything with the contacts either. I've taken one of them apart to replace the 4 wire plug once, then again to replace the headlight I burned out, so I know a fair amount about how they are inside.

Incidentally, they both have worse slow speed operation than my 2-10-0 and 2-8-2 (though I'd like to reduce the start speed of the 2-8-2, it can crawl, but even at speed step 1, I get the feeling it could crawl just a bit more). One interesting thing is that all my locos seem to need more power to run in reverse, no idea why. They all got the appropriate amount of break in time.

As for recommendations, the 2-8-0 pulls better but I think the 2-10-0 looks nicer. Many would disagree thinking it looks too Russian but I love it, it and the 2-8-2 are my favorites.

It should be noted that the 2-8-0 takes a lot of power to start (I need to go to about 30/128 speed steps whereas my 2-8-2 starts at 1 and the 2-10-0 around 3) But they ate strong pullers that look nice

SY is the class name, all of the spectrum 2-8-2s were SYs. I don't know exactly how many runs were done but I do know that early runs (such as the one I have atm) were DCC ready and came in a tan box with chinese charecters. Later runs were DCC equipped and came in the black spectrum box.

I actually have two ideas, one of which I know to be true, and the other is possible. these cars had lighting kits installed by the previous owner and I think it possible that the contact is applying too much pressure. The lights almost never work anyway. that said, that hardly acconts for the fact that they have NO free rolling ability. try to move the wheel by dragging a finger across and the moment you let go it stops. I also know that, on the baggage car, the wires inside are causing the truck to turn outward, pushing on the rails

odd that you don't see any pictures. They show up fine on my end. I used the imgur host, does anybody else have issues there?

Thanks both of you, works perfectly. Granted, when dimmed you cannot tell the front headlight is on (one day I'll get brave enough to try and find a way to brighten it) but it does what I want now.

Also, looking at the manual, it seems there is no way to get both on with the standard bachmann decoder. a shame but that is what you get with a 20 dollar decoder

Excellent, I'd rather have the dimmer but, out of curiosity, can the clank then be forced onto, say, f9?

Since Sharing seem the thing to do, I thought I'd post some pictures of my layout thus far. Scenery has not been done since I ran out of funding but The track is there. the buildings may or may not be moved, however for the most part things are how I like em. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, I'd love to hear em.



Overview



Another Overview



My Only Passenger Equipment, an IHC Pacific and some old Athearn Cars. The Pacific is one of the few locos I have that can pull the cars since they roll REALLY poorly. The 2-8-4 can pull em, as can the f-40. the 2-8-0s can barely move them while the 2-10-0, 2-8-2, and 4-4-0 cannot move them at all. I actually have a fourth, an observation car, but I do not use it since I can't fit it and I don't have a way to turn it around.



The Yard



The Engine House

Quote from: Hunt on July 08, 2015, 12:35:49 AM

Quote from: Irbricksceo on July 07, 2015, 11:11:15 PM
. . .
Edit: Also, f7 appears to be a coupler clank of sorts, not a dimmer. I just tested

Irbricksceo,
You asked about Sound Value decoder Dim.

What Bachmann HO locomotive did you use for the test,  a Bachmann Spectrum HO 2-10-0?
Yes, F7 is Coupler Sound effect for the decoder in that locomotive.

To date - HO locomotives with factory installed DCC sound in Bachmann Spectrum line do not have a Sound Value decoder installed.

Interesting, because it is most certainly NOT a  full tsunami, It lacks several features of the full tsunamis. I did not know that there was a mid-step version.

more than half of my locomotive came off of ebay. I've had a few issues now and then but the sellers always handled it well. I did have one locomotive that came with issues, my IHC pacific. Fortunatly I had another one that was a mess. I had intended to repair it but it needed so much work I just put the parts from it into the newer one. for about 35 bucks I got a nice Pacific that, while not as nice as my other locos, is quite handsome.

Quote from: thewizard on July 07, 2015, 10:19:35 PM
I'd be happy with brighter light bulbs, personally.

Depends on the loco. Some of mine (especially the 2-10-0) have bulbs that are barely noticeable while others such as my 4-4-0 and one of the 2-8-0's are really bright

Edit: Also, f7 appears to be a coupler clank of sorts, not a dimmer. I just tested

You sure that is a Ye?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_locomotive_class_Ye#/media/File:Parovoz-Ea-629.jpg

Sometimes I feel like the only one who like the 2-10-0 in its russian look... same with my chinese SY

One unique thing about bachmann's decapods is that there were many different versions based on the roadname. the frisco version was different from the SCL was different from the erie. The changed were to the detail, not just the paint.

Still rocking the 4X8 here

I envy you, I've not got enough space for that. as It is I have more locomotives than I can really fit

2 bachmann 2-8-0's
1 spectrum 2-10-0
1 spectrum 2-8-2
1 bachmann 2-8-4
1 spectrum 4-4-0
1 spectrum F40
and 1 IHC 4-6-2 that I managed to get running recently.