I use the Overtons to pull my FanFare excursions
I bought them individually and painted for my RR

I use an Old Time 4-4-0 and a Bachmann modern DCC Sound 4-4-0

Quote from: dpurcell on March 30, 2011, 05:45:05 PM
Good news!! I successfully negotiated enough real estate for an 18" radius curve behind the couch So I'm going give the 2-8-0 a try! Next up is to find some decent looking coacxhes for it to pull

18 inches is OK for the 2-8-0 but I would go with the 34 ft Old Time Overtons for coaches
50 fters and up don't look good on 18 inch curves

After reading reviews on several I decided on the NCE Power cab  which had the most favorable review
I only run 2 engines at a time and am more than satisfied

Quote from: uncbob on March 23, 2011, 06:28:55 PM
I read several reviews on Digitrax and NCE entry level
I went with DCE Power CAB
I am more than satisfied 

I should add I have a 2 track oval and only run 2 trains at a time --one on each oval

Quote from: jonathan on March 21, 2011, 09:17:25 PM
Ah, I wonder...

While you're looking, I've read that some Bachmann steamers are notorious for reversing their motor wires.  I wonder if left is right and right is left?

Meanwhile I sent an email to Soundtraxx support.  Holding my breath...

Regards,

Jonathan

Yep
My 2-8-4 was reversed from what was labeled on Bachmann's PC board

I read several reviews on Digitrax and NCE entry level
I went with DCE Power CAB
I am more than satisfied 

On otherwebsites boards it was stated if you use the 8 pin plug on the Bachmann **you have to bypass some components on the board ( cut them out )**

In fact that was covered on this board on previous threads about adding sound to Bachmann streamers
You might want to search

So I didn't use the board 8 pin socket --I took the board out and went right to the wires in the harness but as I stated you need resistors or the lights will burn out

I had an 18 and 22 with a  crossover on my 4 x 9 1/2 using Atlas code 100
I took it down and went with an around the walls 6 1/2--9 1/2

I switched to Atlas code 83 and now have a 22 and 24

Here is a pic of the original 18-22

I did my 2-8-4
Make sure if you bypass the Bachman socket and go straight to the wiring that you add the resistors to the lights or you will burn them out like I did

Sure sounds even easier

Can't ask for any better directions than that !!!!!!!!!!!

My Thomas will get the conversion

I found the main culprit to be the connecting cables
They are stiff and can lift the tender off on turns even on 22 radius
Some have better clearances than others I guess it depends on how the cable hangs
You might try adjusting it

Or in some cases it may be how much play is in the drivers so that they can move side to side somewhat more in some than others

Quote from: lmartin780 on February 15, 2011, 01:34:38 PM
Good morning Folks,

   I bought a Bachmann 4-8-4 northern with DCC on board (Santa Fe 3781). I removed the stock DCC decoder and the board that it was mounted on and installed a Tsunami 1000 heavy steam DCC with sound.

   All works well, except the lights don't work.  Are the stock lights filament or LED? Is there something special I need to do in programming the new decoder?  I did not put a resistor in when I installed it.... did I blow the bulb??

   Any help is appreciated, thanks, Larry

You burned out the bulbs just Like I did on the 2-8-4
Needs them resistors
I am running with no lights

I took out the board entirely and wired direct to the harness --Tsunami decoder
You will need to use the light resistors though to keep from burning out the bulbs ( like I did )
And the Bachmann board had the negative positive motor wires mislabeled
Installed a speaker and good to go

The cables tend to kink more and push the tender offline more on the tighter radius but maybe it is the amount of play in the drivers from engine to engine