Watching the video makes me wonder if there is an out-of-gauge problem with the loco wheels or (and?) the turnout rails.  Because the loco can successfully navigate the turnout after it was "fixed", it seems that the loco was at least part of the problem.  For the future, you should get an NMRA gauge for your scale and learn how to use it to check both the wheels and rails for proper dimensions.  It isn't hard to do with the proper gauge and the instructions that come with it.

I'm not talking about the plug that a decoder would plug into.  I am talking about the wires that run between the tender and locomotive on steam engine models.  Those are now typically 6 wires, and I can't see them going to more than that for a number of reasons, including no need for more and trouble getting more into a bundle that won't mess-up the way the loco and tender track.

It sure would be nice if Bachmann (or even the whole industry) could decide on a standard 6-pin connector and wiring setup for connecting tenders to steam locomotives.  Bachmann, in particular, could profit from that because they could sell their superior tenders  to just about everybody who has bought somebody else's loco models.

Another guy who started with an E-Z Command giving a vote to upgrade with an NCE Power Cab.  But, it is not necessary to use something other than the E-Z Command to run non-Bachmann locomotives.  Most locomotives will run on most DCC systems, because there is a DCCvstandard that most manufacturers try to comply with.  But, systems with more capabilities than the E-Z Command will make it easier and more fun, especially with sound and other functions.

Mark,  Do you know if simply plugging one of the new tenders from the Bachmann 2-8-0 (with DCC + sound) onto one of the older Bachmann DCC without sound locomotives will work?  Or do the various wires not have the same positions in the plugs for the different versions?

Not trying to be a smart ass.  But, there is a huge difference between a wind storm with winds of 122 mph and a hurricane with higher winds plus storm surge from the ocean and torrential rains, both together in one event that can drown you in more than one way.  Yes, I know that torrential rains can also occur in other places for other reasons, too.

My point was really that most every place has its potential natural disasters, and we get to choose which ones we want to live with.  But, I can't think of any place that is immune to all natural disasters.

For instance, Trainman203 is comfortable with extreme heat, but not with extreme cold.  He says that he can "slow down or lay down" and endure in heat, but thinks that "extreme cold can kill."  Actually either can kill.  In extreme cold, you need more clothes, more shelter, more fuel and more food.  In extreme heat, you need shelter and continued cooling like A/C. 

My comment was made to respond to a guy who thinks he is going to a safer place by getting away from the cold, while he is actually going to a place that simply has other potentially deadly natural hazards.

Yeah, but they don't get hurricanes or tornadoes in Alberta.

Rather than strip a powered unit of its motor, why not start with a dummy B unit?  Or even with a box car that you will leave attached the diesel units all of the time? 

And, of course, there is another manufacturer who now sells F-7 A and B units that come with DCC and sound.  Just getting a B unit from them would work, too.  But, you would probably need to do some speed matching in the DCC speed table to run their B with the Bachmann units.

I second the interest in a Mikado.  The only "competition" is the very old technology (and detail level) Model Power / MRC product.  A Bachmann Mike with DCC and sound with all-wheel tender electrical pickup and details at the Spectrum level should sell very well, and dominate that market quickly.

For the B&O fans, the D-30 was basically the Bachmann USRA 0-6-0 with a "medium tender", not a slope-back.  So, feel free to make an ugrade.

Considering that Bachmann did revise the motor and did make a DCC-ready slope-back tender, it does seem like they are slowly working their way to a DCC version.  Perhaps the problem is "mission creap", with the DCC desire becoming a DCC w/sound" desire, plus the difficulty of putting a speaker in that slope-back. 

But, when they finally get around to doing it, I hope they include a working back-up light

It is common to wire turnouts together if they need to operate together.  For instance, the two turnouts for a cross-over between 2 parallel tracks need to both be straight-through or both be branching at the same time, so are often wired to one actuating switch.  On double cross-overs, all 4 turnouts are often wired to the same switch.

Quote from: Trainman203 on June 26, 2018, 01:53:23 PM
I thought that the biggest shay ever built was at Cass, ex-WM.

The morning we went to TVRRM was way back in 1982, on a Tuesday morning.  Hardly anyone was there to ride.  I went up to the front end to look at the 630 and got to talking to the crew.  After some conversation that made it clear that I knew a fair amount about steam engines, I asked if there was any possibility of a cab ride and the reply was something like  "Waaaaallllll..... Ole Chollie (translation - Charlie) woulda dunniit fo' you, but ...... Ole Chollie ain't around today ..... so ..... c'mon up!" I realized later that my girl friends tight T shirt might have had something to do with it too 😱😱😂😂😜.

In 1985, when I was in Chattanooga for a month (on business), I found the TVRRM and spent a good bit of my off time there.  It is nice that they have the old shop turntable at one end and have built a wye at the other.  Throw a short tunnel through Mission Ridge and a trestle on the the line between those, and run a steam loco pulling a caboose over it, and you have all the elements that draw model railroaders like an open bottle of Coke draws yellowjackets. 

I had a good time, there, and was given a cab ride and even allowed to shovel coal into the firebox.  Just needed a regular ticket and signed a waiver - no girl friend needed (nor available).  The folks at TVRRM just seemed extra nice.

QuoteWhen I am criticized for 'playing with trains', I reply its better than video gamers staring at the boob tube or binge watching TV movies/shows.

Right you are.  The evolutionary purpose of "play" is to achieve learning experiences that have practical applications in real life.

Model railroading provides a rich environment for learning all sorts of useful lessons, from history, through small parts construction techniques, carpentry and electrical system construction, right into futuristic processes like computer programming and robotic control.  We each get to chose what parts we want to play with.

I suspect this thread got started because somebody felt put-down in some way.  That is shame, because this can be an enjoyable hobby at all levels of skill and participation.  There are obviously some people who have skills beyond most of us, and I admire their  results and realize that they appreciate having their results admired.  Most of the really skillful modelers are pretty gracious about helping others improve their own results, rather than put-down people who are not (yet, maybe) as skillful.

And, many people have skills in one area but can only admire the results of those who are more skillful in other areas they just don't seem to "get".  There are a lot of areas where skill can be developed in this hobby, and nobody that I have ever heard of has it all mastered.  Even the masters share tips and even help each other.

So, who are the people who make us feel inferior?  Sometime, it is just ourselves.  And, that is something we need to address within ourselves.  What is good enough for us to be happy with?  If we enjoy a feeling of satisfaction from making a train run or look a certain way, then we are successful in having a nice hobby.  But, if we feel like we need to be the best at it, or some aspect of it, then we are in a competition, not a hobby.  There are those who compete in modeling contests who are doing that as their hobby - the key is how they feel about the competition.  If they are really competing to make themselves better, they will get the satisfaction of seeing their skills improve. Only if they feel that they must win each contest will they make themselves unhappy - which is not the point of a hobby.

I think the only real problem is the few people who feel that they are inferior and try to make themselves feel better by making others feel even more inferior.  Unfortunately, a few people with that type of personality appear to participate in just about every human activity.  So, we just need to recognize it and learn how to deal with it.  I turn the tables on them by asking how they would do something that they have criticized in my work.  Sometimes, I actually get good answers that I learn from.  Sometimes, I get boring lectures.  For the boring lecturers, I ask to see some examples of their work that illustrates the points.  That last step really separates the blow-hards from the competitive personalities.  They guys who really do have something to be proud of will be glad to show you, while the others usually will quickly find something else to do instead of continuing the discussion. 

The key for your own happiness is to remember that it is your hobby that you get to do however youchoose to do it.  If somebody feels the need to tell you that you have the wrong number of rivets on the bottom of the tender for the engine with that road number, you should feel free to say "Oh, I don't care about that," and change the subject.  You don't have to care just because he does.