Quote from: jg1125 on January 24, 2024, 05:21:37 AMAs I understand the directions on the command plus, I should be able to run the turntable, the 2-6-0 Alco (which seems fine on any programmed section), and one of the non-DCC locomotives, but the non-DCC needs to be run on station 0. Is that correct?

Yes, with the new EZ Command Plus you can run one DC locomotive with button 0.  The older version I have (without the Plus) runs DC on button 10.  Make sure if you are running a DC loco that you don't let it sit idle with track power for too long.  As others have said, this can damage the motor.  The power needs to be used so keep it running, otherwise remove it from the track or unplug track power.

Thanks jward!  I'll try this out with Anyrail.  Appreciate the feedback!

Thanks all for your replies.  @jward, yours was particularly helpful when it comes to working with Anyrail, which I just started using.  I appreciate the advice on tolerance settings and I will play around with that.

Could you please elaborate on the "parallel track tool"?

Hi Len,  I am playing with the turnout/curve combos in Anyrail software and the only one that provides a truly parallel siding is the #5 combo.  The others start to diverge back to the inside.  Am I missing something?  Because it would make sense there would be a combo to return any turnout to parallel, like the #4 turnout.  Standard 18" radius turnout 44131 works as well with 44501 18" radius curve.

I am curious if this would be possible without modifications.  There is some room in their cab but a Loksound 5 Nano is ~20mm long so not super small and I am not sure where the speaker would go.  Its possible there is some room in the boiler but I didn't open that up since the cab was easily accessible and removal of the boiler was a little more involved.  I guess anything is possible but I am not pursuing conversions that require significant modifications.

Hi all,

Since converting Duck to DCC,  I've also converted Paxton, Bill, Ben, and Edward! It's been fun learning how to do the conversions and each engine is unique in how to take them apart and manage the wires (Bill & Ben are the same of course).

I have not tackled a sound decoder yet and all were done with simple mobile decoders. I don't think any of the above could fit a sound decoder without modifications or using a tender. With the exception of Duck, I had to use the smallest mobile decoders I could find. I hope to fit a sound decoder in Gordon as my next project if he has room.

I'll post some pics and descriptions of the conversions when I get a chance. I looked everywhere for DCC conversion help on specific engines and couldn't find much, so I hope it will be helpful for someone!

Hi there,

I found this video helpful for my first Bachmann Thomas & Friends conversion.  I recently converted Duck.  I am not sure about the "103 yellow resistor", but as you'll see in this video you need to cut away the existing circuit board.  Good luck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JK_nB7mU-U

Turns out the Duck we purchased was a lemon (bad gearbox maybe).  Such is our luck purchasing our very first Bachmann Thomas locomotive.  The store exchanged it for a working Duck and we were on our way to our first DCC conversion.

I am very excited to report that after many tries and curses at soldering these tiny wires, we have successfully converted Duck to DCC!!  It was rather surprising to my son and I, what with some very amateur soldering connections, that when we put him on the track it WORKED!!

I was losing patience and running out of wire to work with as the orange connection was proving quite challenging.  When I thought we had ruined a $100 Duck and I wanted to give up I kept at it and finally made the orange wire connection.  Now knowing that we can do this and it actually works (and with my soldering skills tested and improved by experimenting on poor Duck), we are looking forward to the next conversion!

Thank you for the detailed response! This will be my first attempt at a conversion so this is very helpful. For starters, I picked up a Bachmann EZ Command Two Function Decoder yesterday at the train shop. No sound but I thought I would start simple for my first attempt. I hope this was a decent choice to simply run the train with DCC.  I will look into your recommendations above for future conversions and adding sound. Thanks again!

Hi all,

I am new to the forum and was hoping for some help with converting Thomas & Friends HOs to DCC. I run the Bachmann EZ Command DCC controller and I purchased a Thomas & Friends 'Duck' HO locomotive.  While the instructions say I can run DC with the EZ Command DCC controller this did not work. We put Duck on the track and switched to address 10. The train makes a fair amount of electrical noise and turning the accelerator knob turns into electrical whine but no movement. Not sure why this won't work but ultimately would like to convert Duck to DCC.

I've searched forums and posts for days and there are many about converting Thomas HOs to DCC. However, most are quite outdated and I am hoping for more current advice using current decoders. Any advice would be much appreciated. Basically looking for a decoder recommendation and if there is one that includes sound and can fit in the loco, even better.  Thanks all!