Quote from: burlingtonfan on July 11, 2017, 05:02:59 PM
There is no speed table available, or ability to model a Mars Light with this decoder, correct?

No speed table, but you could possibly sacrifice other more important stuff (ie all the other lights, that is you could no longer have the regular directional lighting anymore) possibly just to support a Mars light.
If you want these things your best bet is to buy a different decoder though.

It won't fit.

What time did you try ringing?
Often around lunch time, no one can answer since they are on lunch break and if you call before 9 AM or after 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.
Keep in mind that for items more than one year old, there is a nominal service charge for repair or replacement:
$45.00 -   All HO and N Scale Spectrum®

Sorry I didn't notice on your title you were asking about the ALCO 2-6-0. In that case the sound decoder is the Sound Value and those are dual mode an can be operated on analog DC.
The only way you can program the automatic bell and whistle is with the Bachmann Dynamis DCC system, the Bachmann E-Z Command is not capable of any advanced programming.

Quote from: JoMac67 on June 05, 2017, 04:16:42 PM
Now, some questions: If I get one or the other Train how will it work on my Basic DC Layout...What Sounds will I hear when I turn on Controller and use Forward/Reverse (just basic Chuffs & Puffs, but no Bells & Whistles)...-Or- will I need the better Bachmann DCC Controller (the one w/different functions and numbers 1-10) to accomplish all sounds (for either DCC Soundtraxx or Bluetooth).

The EZ-APP (Bluetooth) only works if you have a compatible device (iphone, ipad, android phone or tablet) and the sound comes from the phone or tablet not from the locomotive or anywhere on the layout. This requires 16 volts constantly applied to the layout to function but can be either a digital or analog signal.
If the locomotive has Bachmann's Sound Value decoder then you would not be able to control any sound effects without a DCC system, whether that be the Dynamis, EZ-Command or some other system. If you wanted to be able to toggle the bell and whistle you would not be able to use a basic DC controller. With an advanced DCC system (not the EZ-Command) you can however program the bell, whistle and other sound effects to go off automatically at a certain voltage or with a sharp voltage spike or drop.
Some Bachmann sound locomotives only run with a DCC system and attempting to run it on DC will damage the locomotive. This is usually noted on the box or in the paperwork if this is the case. In this instance a DCC system would be absolutely necessary.
You didn't specify which locomotives you were considering purchasing.

And by the better Bachmann DCC controller do you mean the Dynamis or EZ-Command?

Quote from: thewizard
I got the 2009 date from the MTH website. It lists "Delivery Status: Delivered JUN. 2009" [source]

I looked on MBKlein and trainworld back in 2014. I have a canceled order from 4/14 because they were out of stock.

When searching for the product number, the last completed listing on eBay is for $642.06 + $18.50 shipping for the 5 car set. [source]

Re-reading your last response, I'm certain we must be talking about different cars, as MTH only made the 5 car set, plus 3 extra cars for a total of 8, not 9...

They were originally supposed to come out in 2009 but due to several delays they shipped in May 2011.
You must have just not been looking for them at the right place at the right time. Generally when they are at full list price at MB Klein and Train World they don't sell too many but once they put them on sale they go really fast.
When there is something I want that is either expensive or hard to find; what I usually do is once a week or so I see who has it in stock between MB Klein, Train World, and if applicable the Favorite Spot. Then I generally compare prices between them ebay and amazon. If I  notice no one has them in stock, then I will keep on checking once a week until someone has them in stock for a price I am willing to pay.
Unfortunately for you,  you just didn't check frequently enough and kept on just missing out on them even though they were definitely out there and not that hard to find honestly, you just barely missed them probably.
I am on my phone right now or I could give you the link for the eBay auction for 9 MTH streamline Powhatan Arrow HO cars.
I know for sure there was at least the one five car base set and one two car add on set, but I am unsure as to whether there was a second two car add on set or two individual cars.
For my MTH NYC set there was 2 five car sets, 2 two car sets and 1 individual car for a total of 15 cars. But most people only usually just have the one 5 car set with the tail observation car from what I have seen and heard.

Good luck in your search

Quote from: Robert Kiewiet on May 31, 2017, 01:32:44 PM
The product info says it has DCC Sound on board, but is this lossco part of the Bachmann "Spectrum" series?

The locomotive is part of the Spectrum line and has Digital Command Control with Tsunami sound.

The locomotive definitely has WF&P on the side so it has to be the railroad with those reporting marks.

Quote from: plint on May 29, 2017, 11:37:28 AM
What is the correct size of pictures if I want to show some?    I tried before and was rejected because they were too big.   The error pops up saying 192KB is the maximum size.  How does this compute on my camera's image mode, say 4000 x 3000?

Any size is acceptable so long as you are using the correct procedure. Obviously you cannot attach photos directly you need to upload them to an image hosting site like Photobucket first.
In the post editing screen use the button below the italics to insert your photo, you just need the URL from the image hosting site.

Quote from: thewizard on May 28, 2017, 03:39:00 AM
That's just wrong. MTH shipped them in 2009 and they've been out of stock everywhere since 2014, when I was trying to find them.

I was only looking for the MTH ones, as they were the only modern streamlined models.

MTH did not ship them in 2009, they did not ship them until May 2011. Not sure where you got 2009 from.
When did you look on MB Klein or Train World?
MB Klein found a few sets in their warehouse and after they put them on sale they maybe lasted 2 days max, not sure how long exactly they were on the site before they put them on sale, but it was not more than a week.
Train World had two sets in stock for $470 plus shipping for like a whole month, I think that is full price though.

And on Nov 18, 2016 all 9 MTH cars sold on ebay new in box for only $200.

Quote from: thewizard on May 27, 2017, 10:31:04 AM
Where? All I can find are models from the 80's, and the last set of MTH cars I saw sold for above list price.

They had the MTH cars at MB Klein for quite a while, they just recently sold the last one about a week or two ago, they were even on sale. http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/MTH-HO-80-60013-5-Car-Passenger-Set-N-W-p/mth-80-60013.htm
Train World also had the 5 car set as well until like a month ago.

And I see the Bachmann Spectrum Heavyweight cars all the time at hobby shops, flea markets and train shows. Lately there are not that many on ebay, but the last 5 years before this past year there were a ton.

And the IHC cars are not from the 1980's although they are very similar to the AHM and Rivarossi cars. And those are out there, but they are not much better than the AHM or Rivarossi cars from the 70's and 80's.
And you never said IHC cars or older cars were not good enough for you, or specified you only were looking for the MTH cars.

You might want to try swapping the wires to see what affect that has, hopefully it will rectify the problem.

It depends on what the locomotives are and how much you are trying to pull and if you are "double heading" or running two separate trains.  There are a lot of potential variables.

Quote from: MilwaukeeRoadfan261 on May 26, 2017, 01:33:50 AMCoaches in N&W are rather hard to find.

I don't know where you have been looking but they are all over the place especially the Powhatan Arrow, MTH and BLI both made that set I think and Bachmann's Heavyweight Spectrum cars are still floating around. Also AHM/Rivarossi and later IHC made the streamlined cars in both schemes.

Quote from: bibbster on May 24, 2017, 03:55:43 PM
According to my sources, the only way to adjust the sound is to put it on a DCC layout, but there is nothing that I have read that says that the changes will stay set when moved to a DC layout. Is this possible?

You need an advanced DCC system capable of programming Configuration Variables (CVs), you can set the volume levels for every specific sound effect, as well as disable sounds, you can also make the bell and whistle not go off automatically.

Quote from: bibbster on May 24, 2017, 03:55:43 PMAnywho, if there is a way to adjust this DCC model on our DC track I'd appreciate any insight/help that you all could provide. I don't want to relegate it to display duty at C.S.R.R..

There is no way to program it on an analog DC layout, you need a DCC programming track or layout.