I was determined not to buy any more locomotives for my layout. I will not buy any of the Yellowstone locomotives as my layout just is not large enough, although I do have three of your 2-6-6-2's on the layout.

On the other hand, the new 2-6-0's are just the right size for use on the backwoods lines.

I bought 3 of the new Alco's, with and without sound. I find that while I like sound I really do not want it on all of my locomotives, I quite often turn in off after a while when running the layout.

I have read a number of postings on various web sites regarding this new locomoitive. A few of these postings have indicated that a number of owners are not satisfied with the speed of this engine. They relate to the slow speed operation of the locomoitve and indicate that on many of these engines right out of the box the speed is to fast to use for switching and that many have had to change CV's in order to obtain adequate performance.

I have a few of these engines, with and without sound. On the DCC ready units I installed Digitrax DH163PS decoders. My controller is Digitrax.

I have great slow speed control on both the sound and DCC ready versions that I have added decoders to.

I have not changed any CV's, other than address changes, everything is right out of the box.

Is it possible that this engine does not run well on certain DCC or DC controllers?

I have also checked performance on DC only with an old MRC DC controller, a 510 unit.

For those who indicated they missed having the Vanderbilt tender available, True Line trains is now offering a Canadian version of the Vanderbilt.

https://sites.google.com/a/truelinetrains.ca/tlt/news/posts.xml

It is of course the CN version.

The new 2-6-0 DCC ready does not have the speakers installed. It does however have the tender ready for sound with the holes in the floor of the tender. It is very easy to install the speaker in the tender as is the decoder.

Quote from: ryeguyisme on March 01, 2012, 10:43:37 PM

Quote from: richg on March 01, 2012, 07:44:29 PM
I had searched ebay and came up empty. Porbably used the wrong combination of words.
I just used Bachmann QJ 2-10-2 in the HO section and nothing.
I see 15 ressults for Bachmann 2-10-2 but I did not see any QJ's.
I quickly scanned though all 15 but might have missed a QJ.

Rich

I bought one at trainworld for $160 back in 2005 when they were still selling them, its tucked away somewhere I'd really like to get my hands on it. The QJ pops up on ebay occasionally i see them go for $100-300 sometimes. I loved watching videos of these engines

did you try "search descriptions"

That was the SY 2-8-2, I bought a few of these when they came out as well. The SY was the ONLY Chinese steam locomotive that Bachmann imported. Check the diagram section and you will see it listed as well.

These are few and far between in North America. Check Asian or European sites.

I have some of the SY 2-8-2's and I am very impressed.

The level of finish is far more the typical Spectrum finish. Super speed control.

I have one of the Bachmann Spectrum 11412 engines.

This is the B&O version of the 2-8-0. It is indeeed DCC ready, The 8 pin plug is located in the tender. It is a great running engine.

I have a few of these early 11000 series engines and they are all the DCC ready versions.,

What is unique with these early Spectrum engines is the weight and density of the foam packing material. It is so dense when compared to the later foam packing material. It is almost like solid rubber, care must really be taken with it when placing the engine back into the box when you are not using it, or it is no longer on your layout.

Having just finished perusing the 2012 Bachmann catalogue I am surprised that with the exception of the Doodlebug there are no older Heavyweight coach sets available this year. There are modern coach sets but nothing that would mate well with steam engines.

Speaking of Steam engines, Bachmann sure has cut back on their Standard steamers that came with DCC, their 4-8-4 series and of course missing this year is their 4-6-0's and both the light and heavy mountain's 4-8-2's. These were mainly passenger locomotives and there are no longer any available? Well I guess that is not guite true as I am sure if one searches around there are still new old stock available.

Quote from: florynow on February 19, 2012, 03:29:23 PM
I've alluded to these before but never directly asked.

1.  Why isn't the Baldwin Consolidation offered with sound any more? 
2.  Are both 4-6-0's with DCC/sound still being manufactured?

PF

I noticed the scarcity of the 4-6-0's several months ago and searched a number of the on-line train stores and a few of each.

These engines are the backbone of my steam roster and my personal favourite.

Glad I did as here in Canada they are extremely scarce.

Just finished taking the various steam engines off the layout and placing them in storage until it is time to change rosters again.

Surprise, surprise the 2-10-0's actually fit in the new clamshell box connected. As there are various tenders used for this engine do not know if this is true of all of the 2-10-0's or not.

I wonder which packaging is more green, given todays preference for non-pololuting manufacturing.

The foam vs the plastic clamshell.

I would think the foam would breakdown quicker than the clamshell plastic packaging.

20 years for the foam, vs 50 years for the plastic clamshell

I really wonder given the increasing cost of oil if the plastic is cheaper than the foam?

Quote from: MPSOUTHERN on February 13, 2012, 03:18:18 AM
I believe my 4-8-4J came with the tender already attached,and in the foam package.As for the others,I use a small screwdriver and carefully pop the plugs out to store them without modifing the package.This method works good for me.As for the 2-8-0s that came with train sets I purchased,I wrap them in bubble wrap I recieved with UPS boxes sent to me,similar to what Jim does.Again this works for me.

The Spectrum 2-8-2 also came with the engine and tender connected in the box with the foam inserts. It is so easy to cut the foam and move the engine and tender form sections as to allow one to have permanent connections while storing the engines in their original boxes. The only engines that I could not keep in their original boxes were the light and heavy mountains and of course the 2-6-6-2.

I am surprised that Bachmann has not made the decision to have the clamshell forms holding their engines and tenders designed to hold the engine and tender connected in the display boxes as per the display box for the new Alco 2-6-0's.

The issue of the electrical wires has been the subject of complaints since the Spectrum engines were released.

If you do a search you will find pages of comments from frustrated owners.

Quote from: railtwister on February 11, 2012, 08:52:07 PM
My Alco 2-6-0 came in the newer "clamshell" clear plastic packaging, and the tender was connected to the loco from the factory. It fits in the packaging perfectly, yet is easy to remove and replace. I wouldn't trade it for either the soft black foam or the much harder gray foam found in older Bachmann and Spectrum packaging for anything. I also like the newer single unit plug between the tender and loco much better than the older and smaller multiple plugs used on previous models. As far as I am concerned, the newer packaging ROCKS!

Bill in FL

Seeing the "Clamshell" is the current packaging material it would be nice if Bachmann would do the same with their Spectrum line.

It would be very easy for Bachmann to modify the clamshell packaging , by simply moving the "tender" portion closer to the engine portion, so that the tender was connected to the engine the same as the newly released ALco 2-6-0.

Then we could continue to use the package for storage without disconnecting the fragile electrical connections.

Quote from: hawaiiho on February 11, 2012, 11:29:27 PM

Quote from: Doneldon on February 11, 2012, 10:40:14 PM
Unlike the rest of you, I DON'T miss the black boxes. I actually don't care what color the boxes are. What I DO miss is the foam packaging. Wrap a model in some slippery plastic to prevent paint mars, put it in foam and you can drop it off a bridge without damage. I have to say that I really don't believe that the newer hard plastic clamshells are better for the models. If they were, brass manufacturers would be using them. My guess is that they're less expensive than die cutting long-living resilient foam.
                                   -- D

I hardly think that ANY of us were referring to the color of the boxes.
The rest of your post is dead on correct including the relative cost of the new packing vs the old.

Gee, does it all boil down to cost?