Bach Man--

Any official publication date on the new EZ track book?

Thanks,

Steveeusd

Hello Everyone--

In reading the description of the Spectrum 2-8-0, I get the impression that sound only works under DCC.  Is this correct?  Or will the loco generate sound under DC with a special device?

Thanks for your help.

Steve

Hello Everyone--

Wanted to take the time to thank people such as Terry Toenges, Joe Satnick, Jim Banner, and everyone else who has made the transition into HO easy and enjoyable.  I've just finished constructing Bachmann's WGH, the Madison Central, layout with 22" radius turns and #5 turnouts.  I am using both DC and DCC.  I have been a long time N-Scaler and have decided to enjoy the advantages of HO, especially Bachmann's equipment.  Without this message board, which looks great, I don't think I would have been successful.  

Again, thanks to all.

Bach Man, keep up the good work.

Steve Williams  

Hello Bach Man and everyone else--

I just bought a Bachmann HO SD 40-2 DCC loco (item #60904) and noticed EXCESSIVE lateral swivel (side to side) between its trucks and frame/body so much so that cars do not stay connected to it and it almost always derails when it goes through Bachmann #5 switches.  If I put my hand on the loco and let go of it quickly, it actually jiggles/swivels A LOT.  I don't think the trucks should be so loose.   Should I return it or is there a quick fix?  I hope this makes sense to everyone.

As usual, any help would be appreciated.

Steve

Bach Man--

I noticed that your HO 0-6-0 UP loco (item 50701) sold with a EZ-Command Station (item 44919) is DCC equiped.  Is there anyway I can buy from your parts department or another department just the loco with the decoder equipped?  I already have the EZ-Command and the walk-around companion, so I don't need the command unit. 

Thanks,

Steve

Hi Bach Man or anyone else--

Is the USRA UP 0-6-0 steam loco with a vanderbuilt tender DCC ready?  If not, what would be needed to make it work under DCC?

Thanks,

Steve

Jim--

You obviously know what you're talking about.  Let me throw my idea at you, which is probably not too different from your suggestion.  My thought is to place plastic joiners on both rails on either side of the siding as close to the diverging track of each switch.  Using bachmann's terminal track, connect  Bachmann's green wire from the terminal track to an on/off switch you described.  Then, I would connect another wire from the on/off switch to the DCC command unit.  In theory, this seems tenable.  What do you think?

Steve 

Gene--

Thanks for your input.  It makes a lot sense to me.  Now the $64,000 question: what device would you suggest I use to shut off DCC on a siding, while still generating power to the "mainline"?  And how would I go about wiring such a procedure?

Steve   

Jim--

Thanks for your help.  Unfortunately, I am very inexperienced when it comes to electronics, so I could use a little more explanation on the circuit you described in your post, if you would please.  Specifically, what is it?  and where can I get it?  Would Radio Shack have the part? 

Hello Everyone--

I have a situation that I would like to throw out to the experts. I want to run DC (analog) and DCC (digital) engines concurrently on the same layout.  The layout configuration is a simple oval with two passing siding on the straight aways.  I am using Bachman EZ track, #5 switches, and EZ-command station. 

Here's what I want to do:  I want to isolate both sidings with plastic rail joiners and supply them both with only DC power, which will be controlled by a MRC 1300 power pack.  The rest of the layout would be run on DCC, using Bachmann's EZ-command unit, which by the way operates flawlessly (kudos to Bachmann).  My rationale is I want to have the ability to park a DC locomotive on the siding and cut power to it so the motor does not fry.  As I understand it, if a DC engine operating on DCC remains idle for any length of time on a siding, for instance, I can ruin or fry the engine.  I also understand I must take another step to allow a safe and smooth transistion from DCC to DC and vice versa.   That step includes installing a light or some other device on the wire between the track and the DC power pack.  Further, I think I can use a DPDT switch so I can power the siding with either DC or DCC.  So... to the experts: am I on the right "track" or not?  What would you suggest?  Am I missing anything?

By they way, I realize I could cure this problem by installing decorders on my DC engines.  However, this would be too cost prohibitive. 

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve
 

Try Trainworld.com  I think they are on sale for $80.

Bach man and others--

I realized that the number #4 switch I mentioned in my previous post may not be #4 switches after all.  I just assumed they were since the two options Bachmann offers are #5 and #6 switches, respectively.   Whether they are "#4" or not, my question still holds: are these remote switches with curves (item #44561-left; and item # 44562 - right)  power routed or not.  One respondent indicated that they are not.  What have others experienced?

Thanks for your input,

Steve  

Kevin--

Thank you for your reply.  You are right, I don't think Bachmann made #4 switches per se, I just assumed that the cheapest ones were #4 since the other two were #5 and #6, respectively.  Anyway, it sounds like I'll have to set up blocks for the sidings I mentioned in previous post. 

Thanks again,

Steve

Bach Man or anyone else--

Are Bachmann's HO #4 switches power-routed so that the direction of the switch energizes one track and does not electrify the other?

Steve

Hello Everyone--

I need someone's help.  I thought Bachmann's HO EZ track #5 switches were power-routed, meaning once the switch was thrown in one direction, one track would be powered and the other would be dead.   One application would be providing power to the main line and killing the power to a parallel siding.  My intent was to run the layout with Bachmann's EZ-Command DCC unit, where I would run a DCC train and a DC train concurrently, and have the ability to pull the DC train onto the siding and let it remain stationary without power (so that the AC current would not fry the DC motor).  

OR Is this capability only found in the Bachmann's "regular" (#4 I believe) switch, where the frog is insulated?

I realize that one possible work-around would be to insulate the siding track and apply separate power to it, effectively making the siding a separate "block".   But, I would rather not do that.  Any help would be most appreciated as I am very upset with myself because I did not research this better and assumed #5 switches were power-routed.  But, you know what happens when one assumes!

Steve