For myself (and I suspect, a great many r/c battery folks), the issue is not whether the K-27 will come with a Tsunami option but whether this "option" won't be optional!   As it currently stands, the DCC sound system "utilizing Tsunami technology" doesn't have any way to interface with r/c systems and doesn't have any external triggers.
  It has been feared that Bachmann will offer the K-27 with the new DCC sound system on all of their models! If this indeed happens then it could be even more of a problem for those of us that use r/c  than we first believed. Some DCC experts have purported that the unit (I'm going to call it "Quasinami") is integral to the correct running of the motor. In essence, if you rip out the "Quasinami" then the motor won't run right!
  Johann, please please please, if you are reading this thread, please convey to the main office our grave misgivings if this is indeed the plan! Use this new system if you must but please give us the option for K-27's without sound included!

Stan,
  Could you try and get together with Jon Dekeles and get this seminar taped and put on LSOL? This would allow those of us that unfortunately can't make the ECLSTS to also partake! I don't know about anybody else but I would be extremely interested in that seminar and I'd hate to miss it!

  Yes, an excellent model! very nice indeed!

  I'm extremely satisfied with mine as well! They took what was a great little engine and re-did it in Fn3! The new side tank Porter is a great addition to the Spectrum line!

  I'm one of the r/c battery mafia so I'm sure that my sentiments will be questioned as somewhat skewed towards r/c battery power. I find Jim Banner's original post to be intriguing! I am certainly not going to go out and change over to DCC because of it though. There seems to be a concerted drive to push DCC as well as major resistance by the r/c battery community (well, DUH! anybody could see that from the recent threads on all of the forums! )
  I don't have an axe to grind. I am not a dealer or retailer so I have no hidden aganda. I am merely one of the majority of large scalers that want to run their trains the easiest and most enjoyable way possible! As far as I have seen, that means r/c battery control. Does that mean what we have will always be the answer? Of course not!
  I didn't get into r/c battery right away. The cost for starting up is somewhat steep and I wanted to be sure before I took the leap. Now, I'm happy that I did.
  Jim Banner has a new set up that seems to address one of the major glitches that I see with DCC and outdoor railroading. "Seems" is the operative term! The technology is improving all the time and I will be interested in seeing if this does indeed make outdoor DCC a more viable option. I truly hope that it does signal an overcoming of this "hurdle" so that significant technological progress can continue. The hobby can only benefit from it.
  Conversely, I am happy with what I have today! The technology is older and more established (i.e. "reliable") but that doesn't mean that it also isn't continuing to be improved! I will say that there is a mountain of technical research on r/c systems that one can peruse in order to make an informed decision. There is not nearly as much on this new DCC (for obvious reasons) and some of it still seems "fuzzy".
  I will wait for complete testing and technical data to be made available before passing judgement. I do hope that it does everything that is being claimed for it! This shouldn't be a "we vs. them" argument. If somebody has some kind of hidden agenda then I would respectfully suggest, for the sake of the control system that is being espoused and the hobby in general, that any affilliations be above board. (We had this problem over on the MLS Forum and it was solved by this very stipulation!)
  It's entirely up to you guys but it's getting to the point that people aren't reading the entire posts for the content but look to the poster and immediately decide to agree or not agree simply because of who that person is! (Battery r/c vs DCC, Republican vs Democrat, Conservative vs Liberal, Yankees vs Red Sox.....they're interchangeable! )

  Hey guys, this is what I didn't want to happen (but fully expected anyway.) To clarify my questions (plural!), the comment about Sierra being "on it's last legs" was adequately answered by Stan and I thank him. Whether DCC sound equipped locomotives are going to be the wave of the future isn't my real question (I commented that this did seem to be the direction that Bachmann was taking judging from their association with Soundtraxx and their promotion of Tsunami.) If Bachmann wants to move in this direction though then I DO have some legitimate concerns!
  The "Qasinami" (Can't you just tell that I love that name?) lacks some features that would allow me to use my r/c battery RCS unit to control it. This is a grave concern for me IF Bachmann is planning on continuing to use this "special" unit that Soundtraxx only makes for Bachmann and which has all of the troublesome limitations that have been listed above. I haven't heard anything "official" from Bachmann about whether future large scale Spectrum products (particularly the K-27) will include this "Quasinami" that I can't use or a true Tsunami which intrigues me!
  Also, will future models be offered with and without sound or will it be like the 55-ton Shay where certain models came with sound and certain ones didn't and we were just out of luck if the model we wanted wasn't the right one? (This last question is more for Bachmann's top management.)

Thanks for the info from Soundtraxx Matt! I appreciate the time and effort you took to answer my questions. This rush to DCC seems to be the impetus for the "Quasinami" being installed rather than waiting for a "real" Tsunami. The unavailability of external triggers is disappointing (at least for those of us with r/c battery.) Hopefully, when the K-27 arrives, Bachmann and Soundtraxx will have a fully realized Tsunami unit for it. While I am an ardent r/c battery fan, I also appreciate where this technology is leading and I can empathize with the excitement at the potential of this new sound and control technology!

  Since the new 3-truck Shay has hit the retailers there has been some questions about the DCC compatible digital sound system "with Tsunami technology." Specifically, is this system a "special OEM system made specifically for Bachmann" and is not a true Tsunami system with all of the functions of the Tsunami that is installed in the H0 models?
  If this is so (and from what I am understanding from various threads, this is) then is this merely a "stop-gap" measure until the "true" Tsunami system is developed for large scale use or is this what we have to look forward to in future Spectrum models?
  The reason I ask this is that this system (for reference's sake and to distinguish it from the H0 Tsunami system I will call it the "Quasinami") doesn't seem to have any external triggers. I use r/c battery my units and my personal choice, RCS systems, doesn't seem to be compatible with this sound board! If I can't use this "Quasinami" system with RCS then it is worse than useless to me as I will have to spend extra $$$ just to have it torn out!
  Further, the "Quasinami" apparently can't be sold separately so there is going to be some concern if there are problems electronically with the system. I mention this because Curmudgeon has already found a problem with the wiring not being secure and has posted an "authorized" fix! If I had problems with the sound system what should I do? I have read that people have called Bachmann and Bachmann has replied that they need to call Soundtraxx and when they call Soundtraxx they are told that they need to go through Bachmann as this is a Bachmann deal..... What can be done if there's a problem? Unfortunately, calling the service dept. doesn't seem to be the answer.
  A lot of this resistance to DCC stems from the fact that what we are seeing is raising more questions than answers! It would seem from the full page ad in the latest Garden Railways that Bachmann is committed to DCC in large scale and a partnership with Soundtraxx in particular. There are definite concerns that I and many large scalers have about this new system before we will spend our money on it.
  I am especially concerned that certain people have mentioned that Soundtraxx's Sierra sound system is "old technology on it's last legs." If true, Tsunami would seem to be my only option if I want to stay with Soundtraxx so you see my dilemna. (I, of course, can go with Phoenix but then we get into the $$$ issue and if I have to pay extra $$$ for a "Quasinami" only to have it ripped out so I can add a Phoenix so my r/c system will work properly....
  I'm not trying to cause trouble or a flame war but I and others on the largescale websites have some legitimate concerns about this new system and I was hoping to get a clarification if possible. Thanks!

He he he... Noah, that was truly inspired and Jim, nice comeback!!

  Over on mylargescale.com about a year ago, we did some calculations and came up with a tractive effort somewhere just above 22,000 lbs. This was using the prototype's info and modifying it to a 3' gauge engine (the prototype is 30" gauge) so some of this is just an educated guess. The D&RGW listed their engines by tractive effort with the letter prefix indicating the wheel arrangement. In this case the Bachmann Connie would have been listed as a C-22.

  Good news and bad news. The bad news is that Bachmann doesn't have a "Parts bin" where they have a bunch of these for replacement. You can always contact the service dept. to see if they can help but it's definitelyhit and miss with it being quite a bit more miss in this case! (Believe me, I have done the same thing with my 36ton Shay!)
  Now for the good news, Trackside Details makes the brackets that are used although you will have to find a footboard (which shouldn't be a problem as you may even be able to use the one that you originally had!) This is the "fix" that most people eventually end up using. Good luck!

GG,
  It's not you, okay? I understand where you are coming from. This used to happen over on the Thomas threads on the old forum board. Some people just don't have the maturity to maintain a civil conversation. It's sad but true, especially as it seems to be intentional in this case.
 
To our immature friend,
  So sorry, but you are mistaken (again!) as Stockham is phonetically close to Stockholm which is the capitol city in Sweden. (Perhaps you should spend less time trying to insult people on this forum and spend more time with your geographical studies. I believe you would find it beneficial.)

This is what I was referring to! I've actually not posted any pictures of engines as I have very little knowledge of diesels and have only guessed at one articulated steamer. If I correctly guess one, then I will post one.
  Oh, by the way, to the individual that doesn't have the maturity to make civilized posts, here's a piece of advice that I would sincerely advise you to take: Grow up. Your whining isn't helping matters and name calling is never acceptable in polite company! Something to think about....

Hey, thanks Scot! I figured that you or one of the others would have the info! As far as the immaturity goes, it's a friendly game and that's all! I don't understand why people feel that they have to play power games? "Only the person that correctly identifies the locomotive in question can post a new one?!!" Fine. Play your petty little power games. (If it keeps you interested then I guess it's worth something.)
  Before everybody gets their "knickers in a knot," I DO understand the reasons for setting some ground rules so that everybody can fully enjoy and participate. This was especially true of the previous thread! I noticed that, when a picture was posted that somebody didn't have a clue about, people would just ignore it and post a new picture and pretend that the first didn't happen with the result being rather chaotic!
  It's the attitude of "I made this thread so I am the moderator of this thread" (or some such drivel to that effect...) that just irritates the heck out of me! There is ONE opinion that matters and only ONE person who imposes rules and that is Johann!
  While this thread is informative and entertaining, it's also just a game!! We're not a bunch of seven year olds out on the playground and we should be able to agree (for the sake of the game) to abide by certain guidelines. Posting RULES that have been layed down by self appointed moderators rubs people the wrong way! Your goal is commendable but your method leaves much to be desired. Here endeth the sermon.

Just for my own information, it looks as if the original thread has disappeared. I never did find out what that articulated 2-6-6-4 was.
Did anybody ever find out or did the thread dissolve into name-calling and got yanked?