It has an electronic horn!

My Santa Fe F unit has developed an interesting problem. After running for a few minutes, the horn sounds spontaneously and will not disengage! It shuts off if I reverse the unit and then comes back on when it goes forward. If I shut the unit down and let it sit for awhile, the horn shuts off, then comes back on in a few minutes! WTF is going on. I am tempted to just disconnect the horn, unless that would screw something else up!

I have a venerable Williams FM lettered of SP. It is a brute, as you may know, and can pull numerous cars. When operating on my mezzanine loop lines I kept hearing a clicking sound as the locomotive would come out of a curve onto straight track. This would occur on Gargraves and Atlas track, but not on tubular track.
     Being"swift on the uptake" I discovered the  rear  wheelset--which is essentially there for looks-- was "picking" the rail on Gargraves and Atlas track. Not wanting to disassemble the truck to take remedial action, I cut up an old credit card an created a "shim" across the the axle to lift the wheels up enough so it would not hit the rail anymore!
     My old FM (which I had professionally renumbered correctly for SP) operates flawlessly around the curves hauling long trains. If Lionel and Williams had put an angeled wheel on the trucks this probably would have been unnecessary!

I have been using 12 volt alarm batteries for some time now, especially on my "on the ground" layout. They are, of course rechargeable with a small auto battery charger.

You will need to install a Dallee Electronics Reverse unit!

I am trying to run my WB GP-9 with my new acquired Lionel SP FT. Naturally the reverse units are impossible to snyc so I went to lock the e-unit module only to find that there is NO switch! All of my other Williams units have a lock-out switch. What Gives!!!!

Modify the tenders of steam locomotives, in general, so they can be changed to oil tenders!

I have had similar problems with my trolley set. I have found the track has to be very clean from end to end. Clean the wheels with a Q-tip and alcohol as well!

At this point, I am content to stick with the Big Hauler cars. They work well with Delton and LGB!

I have long coveted one of the frameless tankcars but it was priced out of my reach as a retiree. Also, they do  not negotiate the four foot diameter curved that came with original Big haulers trains!

Chuck--I appreciate your help--really! It is my opinion that Big Hauler Trains have been around for 25 years. You can't tell me Bachmann has not accumulated freight and passenger car parts over the years-just like you and I do with our "junk boxes". They should have someone salvaging parts off broken cars and putting them in bins so they can send them out to customers who have parts that break off their cars. They should also make sure the folks who man the phones are able to speak understandable English---just MHO! I am 71 years old--been "playing" with trains since 1949 and I am tried of scrounging to try to keep my trains intact!!!!

C' mon guys--there must be someone out there in Bachmann land who has a couple of truss rods from a Big hauler freight car they could sell me!

I was totally unable to use my Anniversary 4-6-0 on my ground based garden loop until I bit the bullet and replaced all of the original track with LGB track. What a difference! Now I can not only use my 4-6-0's but can also use my Aristo Diesels with no derailing. Naturally, you have to spend the time to make sure your track is as straight and level as possible. I use decomposed granite as ballast and a carpenter's level. Once my tracks are level I cover them with DG and use a broom to distribute the ballast. Then I gently water the track with a nozzle and let it dry.

If I were in your position, I would box the engine up and send it to Bachmann. If this was a new set, you should not have to try to disassemble your engine and risk breaking something else. Bachmann will likely send you another locomotive and throw your in the parts pile!!!! Look at your warranty instructions before sending it back. For those of us that have model railroading since dirt was invented replacing the cab would probably be routine. For you it is not and you shouldn't be put in that position on a new item!

If you really want to bring smiles to us old "O" Gaugers, make it 3-2 convertable!