I have done this DCC conversion and it was not that difficult.

I'm sure there is, otherwise Bachmann would not do very well with modelers.

Unless they're not available and you can't wait.

ACY is correct.

Mine easily runs on 9 3/4" radius curves because of the swinging rear engine.

Mine runs fine on 9 3/4" radius curves.

This locomotive (Berkshire) will work on 9 3/4" radius curves.

The loco should start running on address 03. See if that works. If not, was the loco brand new? You might have to clean the wheels or track to make it run.

He never said anything about flushing money down the toilet. That's his concern. If he wants to do that then fine. But Bachmann will not ever be making a DC version of this locomotive.

You can easily buy one, take out the speaker and sound decoder and DCC decoder, and then you'll be good. They won't make one without sound.

I plan on doing a comparison of the new Berkshire with the LL Proto 2000 N scale Berkshire (which I equipped with sound and DCC). More to come.

You'll have to get Kato passenger car trucks, and wire up a light and decoder to turn on and off the lights. You'll have to do major surgery to do this, however.

Why would you buy a sound-equipped loco and then turn off the sound?

You could do that very easily and provide bulletproof electrical contact.

Ditch the crappy Digitrax decoder and get a Soundtraxx decoder. MUCH better sound quality.

I have one in my 4-8-2 Heavy, and it sounds amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoXjzsxCiVg