Ooh... I never heard of SPROG... I may have to look into that now! (when I build my layout, I want it to be DCC)

FANTASTIC! You have given me some great research to do!

Yeah... I just copied and pasted the decoder numbers from the posting about the engine supposedly frying, but you're probably right. It probably was just the decoder.

So, you mention testing procedure... when installing a non-sound decoder, is there special equipment needed/ So far, from what I've been able to glean, is you test the engine on the tracks, make sure there are no issues with it, then you unplug the dummy, and plug the DCC decoder in... is that correct?

I have a decoder coming in the mail on Monday that I plan to install into my Connie, but I still don't have a DCC controller yet (that's a "Next Month" purchase) and figured it wouldn't be a problem. You probably have more experience than me on this (well, hell... if you've installed even ONE, you have more experience than me on this)

I LOVE my Richmond 4-4-0 (that was actually my first ever Spectrum, and so far, my only DCC engine, although the Connie, and the Heavy Mountain "George Washington" are both DCC ready, and I have a decoder on it's way) When I got it, it had a strong motor, but just no traction... it could barely pull two cars. Bit of "Bullfrog Snot" on the drivers (after so many people advised against it) and it runs, and pulls BEAUTIFULLY!

I'm really enjoying both of these though. I didn't even notice the colour difference until you said something... it's so very slight! When they are in use, I have them displayed on the bookshelf on my desk, facing each other, with a wee brakeman in between them to denote size (to the casual visitor)

I know it probably seems a bit silly, seeing how I plan to model the Wild West and all, but I just really love the green. The first engine I ever bough, back when I was 18, was a Tyco "Royal Blue"... it didn't really run well (tender pushed a long engine) but it was pretty, and put me in the mind of something elegant (and how was I to know it wouldn't run well... or it was pushed by it's tender?) Getting back into model railroading, after all these years, and I still find myself attracted to a brightly coloured steam engine, and passenger set. When I saw that Richmond, in that beautiful green, I knew I had to have it. Now, I just want to grab every Southern in green that I can (provided it's steam, of course)

Never mind... it seems there are TWO versions of this tender... one with the board on bottom, and one with the board on top.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/89841~42.pdf

Well, that's a bit confusing.

All that said... any suggestions on sound for it? I'm a few months off from actually PUTTING sound in, but... I would like to do sound eventually. (though, I'm nervous, as I keep seeing stories online of people frying their George Washingtons by installing the recommended sound decoder, which is an NCE DSR-14)

Has anyone run across this? Where the exploded view is not what's inside?

I just opened up a George Washington tender ( it's a 4-8-2 J2 steam locomotive and Vanderbilt tender) to see how hard it will be to install DCC sound, and the diagram shows the board screwed to the bottom of the tender, while it's actually attacked to the underside of the coal load (making it VERY hard to get to the plug) and the coal load itself is glued. Now, normally, I'd say this was the result of someone mucking about with it, but, it was a sealed set.

Is this common? (also, the tender has no holes for a speaker... it's pretty air tight once screwed together.... if anyone has any references on how to fix that, I'm all ears... well... text forum, so... all eyes?)

Okay, so... lesson learned. When it says minimum radius 22", it MEANS minimum radius 22"!

Just got my Heavy Mountain today (that I bought last month) and put it on my test track, which has an 18" curve... I get it now... it wasn't a suggestion!

Now to go buy all new track! (next month, of course)

Hey... if anyone knows of any good deals on 22" Bachmann EZ track (Nickle/Silver, of course) in the bulk 50 packs, let a guy know, maybe?

It isn't really a "I can't do" so much as "Let's start with something simple".

I mean, if I'm building a layout that will have maybe two trains at most on it, does it do me any good to get something complicated, when simple will do? Maybe later, when my layout grows, and I'm used to using DCC, I'll upgrade. (I still want that dial for controlling my speed)

Quote from: Ken Clark on April 07, 2017, 03:58:38 PM


   My first train set, my Dad made an SW switcher and Caboose from Plywood and 2x4 along with 6 Sardine
Gondola's with hook and eye couplers. Wish I still had it!

 
   Ken C
    GWN

Nice!

I'm curious... I don't have a layout yet (working on it) so when I run my trains, it's usually some EZ Track tossed on the bed, and run around for a few hours (I usually get all of my engines going around the track... all except the Jupiter... IT KNOW WHAT IT DID!) so I only really run them maybe once every three or four days.

So, I'm curious... how often do you folks run your trains... do you have a layout? If you're still building a layout (I hate to say "unfinished", because a layout is never really finished, but you know... no scenery yet) do you take time to run your engines, and trains on it?

They actually sell a 5 amp power booster for the EZ Command... though, I don't know if it would be cheaper to buy a new controller or not.

But yeah... something can have all the features in the world, but, if you can't use them, or they are hard to figure out... well.

Oh, man... remember how Tyco used to pack their sets? It would be just their regular engines, and stock, still in their boxes, arranged in the flat box, along with the track, and transformer, and a box of street signs, and telephone poles. When you opened the box, you had all of these other boxes to open!

Oh, and it was always steel track too... though, it had it's purpose from Tyco. They had this train set... I think it was called the "Super Train"... light weight materials, and a slot car engine... it would (in HO scale speed) do mach 1! (that's about 35mph in real speed? According to the box, anyway) So that Tyco train needed steel track, because the only thing that kept it ON the tracks was the magnets on the bottom of the train. (I think I still have one of those somewhere)

To steer this back onto Bachmann... the Bachmann sets I remember were usually done in Styrofoam, and always looked a bit classier in how they were packaged. They had those windo boxes, with the flap you had to lift to see the train.

Quote from: Yardmaster on April 06, 2017, 10:49:40 PM
EZ Command is not being "phased out"

FANTASTIC!

As a newbie to DCC, I like the idea of EZ Command. The more complicated the controller, the easier it is to break... plus, watching the Bachmann videos, it looks like it's pretty easy to use, and personally, I like the familiar throttle. Give me a dial to turn over buttons any day!

Quote from: ACY on April 06, 2017, 09:42:04 PM
https://www.amazon.com/Bachmann-Trains-Command-Wireless-Infrared/dp/B000W2BAGE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491529049&sr=8-1&keywords=bachmann+dynamis
Dynamis on Amazon for $130-150.

The EZ Command may be either out of stock individually or it might be phased out soon so that might be affecting prices online. But I see it at flea markets and train shows for about $30 used or $50 new all the time.

Okay, cool! Unfortunately, I have yet to find any model train stuff at any flea markets around here, but then, it's San Diego, after all... as for Model Train shows... I SO want to go to one, but haven't yet. Every time I hear about one locally, it's from two or three months ago. I should ask next time I see the S gauge club guys... I would ask at my local train shop, but... those guys just get weirder every time I go in (which, if I'm being honest, is half the fun of going in)

Until then, I guess I'm stuck with looking online. The Dynamis is cool and all, but it seems a bit complicated to me, which is why I want to start out with the EZ Command. Again, I can't even set the clock on the microwave...

Quote from: Hunt on April 06, 2017, 09:37:55 PM
An aside----

Bachmann manufactures most of the mobile (no sound) decoders factory installed in Bachmann HO locomotives using a Lenz design. It has old technology and very limited features compared to DCC mobile decoder available from other decoder manufacturers.

The locomotives with factory installed sound decoders are OEM decoders manufactured by SoundTraxx for Bachmann using Bachmann's specifications.

Ah, okay, cool! That I didn't know. I just kept hearing the name come up a lot in regards to Bachmann DCC trains. Good to know.