I agree complete with Trainman203 about going from DC to DCC being a life changer.   

But before you go to far down the DCC path.  Is your goal just to have a small layout to run under a Christmas tree?  Or are you planing on getting into the hobby?  And then what made you go with HO?

My model railroad is HO scale layout with a DCC system for control.  Since all my HO locomotives are models they are not suited for being under a tree in our living room. For the under the tree layout I need something that is some what durable and the track can hold up to being assembled and dissembled ever year, Simple to operate, Track can set on top of carpet without issues, and affordable.  So for the under the tree layout we alternates between G-scale and O-gauge. G-scale and O-gauge train sets work get for this job.

This works will for me I have my model railroad layout that I work on all year long.  And once a year I break out the toy trains to play with.

(note: You can stop reading here the rest is just a quick comparison between G and O for use under a tree. We tried HO one time but catzilla attached derailing the train, And eat the passengers. The C.E.R.R soon went out of business do to family lawsuits.)

Now comparing the two:
G- scale looks very good under a tree. It's larger then most presents under the tree. Most of the steam locos come with chuffing sound and smoke. And I had no need to purchase anything additional.  Everything I need was in the Bachmann large scale train set. The included track is a 5'4" x 4'3" oval. I usually take out the 2 straights and just run a 4'3" circle. the track can set on top on the tree skirt without issues. But it is a large scale then the villages they sale at the stores. And you may have to raise the tree or push the low branches up.

O-gauge (Semi-scale, traditional not the way more expensive O-Scale).  Most set come with O36 or O31 track. O36 is a 3' circle so it is the same size as an HO 18" radius circle. I think all the O-gauge train set with steam locomotive have sound and smoke. They will have a power pack with a Whistle and bell button or a remote with a whistle and bell button. And usually ever thing you will need is in the train set.  O-gauge also looks good with the light up villages they sale at the stores. And the track setting on top of carpet and a tree skirt does not cause running issues. O-gauge sets will come with basic sound (for O-gauge) and a puffing smoke unit.  And they are very simple to operate.


 
 

 

Can you please bring back the Williams steam locomotive lines but with factory install Blunami decoders?    Think about having a Williams S2 with blunami in it!  And a semi scale Hudson with Blunammi!  The other semi scale manufacturers are just to pricey and have very little selection. (But one of them it starting to ramp up again.) 

Thank you.

I have yet to install DCC decoder in a Bachmann HO 0-6-0 (N scale yes).  Sound decoder not impossible but it may be difficult. 

As for smoke.   Most HO models do not add smoke units to there locomotives. And if they locomotive come with a smoke unit they turn it off or disable it.  This is more of an O scale thing.   

The Bachmann smoke units are more for kids.  And smoke kind of like incense burning and the locomotive has be moving at a good pace for it to work on DC power.  And most of the time you can not even see the smoke. Now there is another Locomotive manufacture that using DCC controlled fan drive smoke units that puff in time with the chuff sound in HO. but they are around 2 to 4 times the price of a Bachmann locomotive. And still most the HO models turn off or remove these unit also.

Now is O scale sound and smoke are a standard. Even the basic O scale train set will have a puffing smoke unit and sound.  And the sad thing is Bachmann owns William's and use to have an excellent line of O scale steam locomotives and they stopped making them!


Going back to adding smoke and sound to a HO 0-6-0,  The catalog show the individual 0-6-0 with 3 version smoke units, Smoke units and DCC, and DCC sound. But not both Sound and smoke. And some trains sets have locomotive with smoke unit some not.  There is a replacement smoke unit for the 0-6-0 on the Bachmann parts site.  But I am not sure how involved it would be to install one.

Also note that 0-6-0 price range it may be more cost effective to just purchase a locomotive with sound factor installed. 

I hope this helps answer your question.   

I think all of Bachmanns DCC locomotives will run with DC power pack and speed controller. You just will not have access to all the features. Most modern DCC systems have 28 function buttons for playing sounds and turn lights on and off.  I would not recommend buying a DCC system until you need it or grow into it.

Now what I do not know is if the Bachmann power pack that comes with the Pacific Flyer train set has enough amperage to run a sound decoder loco.  A question for Bachmann. 

  I am not sure I would recommend the USRA 2-8-2 models for you second HO locomotive. I have two of them and both of only like perfect level track.  They work fine on a dead flat oval layout with no turnouts.  But both of them derail at the same spots on the Berkshire valley Route layout I am currently building. Out off all my 30+ HO locomotives I own, These are the only 2 that derail.  I do know way these locomotives are derail on my layout. It is mechanical features the other Bachmann locomotives have that this model is missing.

Now for a list of available Bachmann steam locos that work perfectly on the BVR, 2-8-0, USRA 4-6-2, 2-10-0, 2-8-4.
I do not own or have tested the newer N&w 4-8-4, SP 4-8-4 or the NYC 4-6-4.

I main work houses are my 3x 2-8-0s, 3x 2-10-0s, 2x 4-8-2 (no longer made).

I hope this is helpfully. 

The ones I have run just fine on DCC.  But you do need to make sure you have a large enough power supply for all your locomotives and passenger cars with lights that will active on the layout at the same time.  On my 5 amp power supply I have had 3 sound locos running, 6 sound locos setting idle playing sounds and 9 passage cars with LED lights at the same time.       

Now I am thinking about install my older decoders in them so I can control the lights.  But this will eat up loco slots fast. 

My best advice is if you have a local model railroad shop that can test them for you.  Or Download JMRI (freeware) and buy a USB computer interface and use Decoder Pro. This allows you to read all the CV values, make changes and save it as a locomotive profile (CV backup).   

But the first thing to do is open the tenders and check how the decoder broad is attached to the PCB.  I only have one of the new Bachmann N scale steamers with DCC sound, It's a 4-8-2 and it has a row of 9 pins that the decoder plugs into.  I have not seen an after market decoder that uses this socket.  But Bachmann's parts store has 2 decoders that will fit this socket AE32080 for the 4-8-2 and  AE32071 for the 2-8-0.  Bachmann has a wiring diagram for the N 4-6-0 non sound DCC. https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/N_BALDWIN_4-6-0_EXPLODE_DRAWING_N514X_(1).pdf.  Also checkout parts number 514XX-N514X-DCC01 and N514X-DCC01-PCB02 Tender PCB (n 4-6-0) This is the tender PCB with the built in decoder that the pdf is talking about. (These parts may be the ones you are looking for). 

    You said the 4-6-0 has a sound decoder?  According to the Soundtraxx website the bachmann 4-6-0 comes with a Econami decoder. This decoders information and manual is available on the Soundtraxx site. (This is a very high quality decoder.)





 

Just quick question.  Have you tried doing a factory reset on your misbehaving decoders?   This should be listed in the instructions that came with the locomotive.  Usually it is setting CV8 to the value of 8. 

Also which Digitrax decoder models are you looking at?  I have installed several Digitrax decoders into N scale locos for the past 20+ years. But I have not install any in the latest Bachmann runs since they started adding decoder sockets.  My go to decoder for N scale steam locomotives is the DZ126.

A good place to check is the N scale locomotive encyclopedia on this web site http://www.spookshow.net/trainstuff.html 

I the past 20+ and with over 50 decoders I have only had 3 good bad on there own.  I have damage a couple   

Man those building look great!   I also like the mountain dulcimer hanging on the wall. 

Before Bachamnn spectrum the best we could get was separately applied handrails in the ready to run locos.  Other wise you would have to leaner how to build the MDC and Bowers kits. Or if you could afford Brass.

The wire pin out between the loco and tender has been changed between the runs that have the DCC ready tenders with out a speaker mount and the newer runs with tenders with the speaker mount.  Power is the same but one headlight wire has been swapped with one of the motor wires. So pop goes the LED and strange motor behavior.  Issue resolved buy plugging the tender that came with that loco back into the loco.

all my older Spectrum 2-8-0s have the same wire pin out and orange colored connectors.  The new non spectrum labeled 2-8-0 has a diff tent wire pin out and orange colored connectors.

May older Spectrum 2-10-0 have orange colored connectors New Spectrum 2-10-0 (WOW version) white colored connectors wire pin out in different (L and R swapped and motor and head light swapped).
       

Last month I accidentally plugged and older 2-8-0 spectrum tender into a newer 2-8-0 loco. (Now these are the same models just sever years apart) and I blow out the led light and loco would only run backwards.  So the wiring was different between between the two.  So I wound up having to take apart a brand new 2-8-0 apart all the way to the frame then separate the frame to replace the LED head light.     

My Berkshire has the two connects similar to the 2-8-0, 2-10-0, PRR 4-6-2 and the 4-8-2. The not the one 9 pin connect like the USRA 4-6-2 and 2-8-2 use.  Now I am just using the internal NMRA 8 pin DCC connector on the Berkshire's light board to plug in a TSU-2 via a 8 to 9 pin whip and there is also already a spot molded into the tender floor for a 28MM speaker.  Just have to solder two wires.   Now with the NMRA 8 pin to JST 9 pin whip you can plug in a WOW 101. There is plenty of room in the Berkshires tender. 

I do believe that is part of the driver suspension springs.  So if look at the top of the frame between the drives one should be missing. Looking at my 2-8-0s it looks like only the front two drive sets have the detail part. 

Vanderbilt on ten wheeler... the Frisco 780...I would throw money at that. Here is a link to a pic of it on Frisco.org http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/frisco-780-4-6-0-w-vanderbilt-tender.3933/

Just have a question for Bachmann.

Way was the Frisco No. 1522 3-Chime "Steamboat" whistle not include in the set of available whistle on this model?
The NYC 4-6-4 have has the "Frisco Step Top 6-Chime (1)" And "Frisco Step Top 6-Chime (2)" in it whistle set.   The new HO berkshire has the 1522's whistle in it's set. 
But not the one Frisco model that should have it. 

If it does have it please let us know what whistle number it is.  But from the whistles I tested the set seems to match the whistle list on Soundtraxx website for the light mountain from the previous run of these models.

Thank you.

 

My layout has 18" min on the mainline and one siding with a 15" curve into it. (Atlas HO-35)

Here is a list of locos I own that run on my layout (This is a list of what will run, not if it looks good on the curves).

Bachmann
2-10-0, USRA 2-8-2, 2-8-0,USRA 4-6-2, 2-8-4, 4-8-2LT, 4-8-2Hv(Had to remove all binding in the tender trucks)
ATH/MDC
2-6-0, 0-6-0
BLI
2-8-0, 2-8-2HV, 4-6-4BG, 4-6-4CV, 2-8-8-2
IHC
4-6-2, 4-6-4
MTH
4-8-8-2CF, 4-12-2  (these two have major overhang even on 22" and 24" curves)

The ATH 2-6-0, 0-6-0, Bachmann 2-10-0, 2-8-0 will run though the 15" siding. 

I have not tested any of the Bli's on the 15" siding.