Another question- How do the chains go on the tender? The instructions say "Just put the ring into the hook". It doesn't look to me that the hook has an opening- am I really supposed to open up the tiny ring and thread it thru?

I just received a 4-6-0 spectrum steam loco in MD & PA and have a few questions about loose parts. I didn't get any real documentation telling me what they are or where they go. One is a plastic piece that looks lik maybe a cow catcher? It has 6 arms that extend upward-each with a short pin on the end. When I look at the front of the loco though, I only see 4 holes.
The other part comes in the bag with the chains for the tender. It looks like maybe a lantern of some sort, with 2 hooks that clip onto something- but where?
Any help is appreciated!

I've got 2 remote turnouts and 2 remote crossovers. Each crossover is wired together so they switch at the same time. Both turnouts and one of the crossovers is working flawlessly via the accessory terninals of a separate power pack (a standard DC Bachmann unit). My problem is that one half of the other crossover seems balky when asked to switch- and this occurs in only one direction. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not repond at all, and sometimes it responds more slowly than it's "mate". The other half of the crossover works fine. I'd hate to have to pull up this crossover and replace it if there is any way to get the balking half to work as well as all of the others. I have already tried a different control box and examined the wiring. I have not found anything to help.
Any suggestion?

I know the topic has come up before about adding a sound decoder to a Bachmann DCC diesel, and the general concensus has been that it is difficult due to a lack of room in the A unit. What about adding sound to a FT-B unit and leaving the A unit alone? How much room is in a B unit? Has anyone done this, and if so- what parts were used?
Thanks

I'm wondering if there is a way to hook up both switches of a remote/non- dcc crossover so that one controller moves both? Can I simply splice both sets of wires together and connect to one controller?

Can anyone tell me why there seems to be two different types of control switches for Bachmann turnouts and crossovers? My crossovers have the larger "box" type switches, while the turnouts have a smaller, thinner switch. Is there a difference?

That should work perfectly! Thanks for the help.

I've seen and heard alot about using pulleys and cables to build a layout that can be raised and lowered- to and from the ceiling but I cannot find any detailed plans on how to build one. Not being particularly well versed in engineering, I'm wondering if anyone has any plans or articles for doing this?
I would certainly appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction on this.

I've seen and heard alot about using pulleys and cables to build a layout that can be raised and lowered- to and from the ceiling but I cannot find any detailed plans on how to build one. Not being particularly well versed in engineering, I'm wondering if anyone has any plans or articles for doing this?
I would certainly appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction on this.

I've seen and heard alot about using pulleys and cables to build a layout that can be raised and lowered- to and from the ceiling but I cannot find any detailed plans on how to build one. Not being particularly well versed in engineering, I'm wondering if anyone has any plans or articles for doing this?
I would certainly appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction on this.

I saw a guy reply to this same question a while back by suggesting that one should rub the black powder on his face to make him look like a real railroader!!

I just finished a simple Christmas tree layout using foam insulation board and after experimenting with several "snow" materials, I simply carved the foam into shape and painted "snow" with flat white ceiling paint. I added a tunnel and a few Hawthorne Village Christmas lighted buildings bought on Ebay and it looks great!

Check this link- it may answer your questions. I plan to try this myself.

http://www.billsrailroad.net/bills-lights.html

I just bought a IHC Premier 2-8-2 Mikado. It runs like a dream, very smooth, quiet, with fantastic slow speed running. I installed a Bachmann decoder and it has been running trouble free for the past 2 weeks. AND, it runs great on 18" radius curves. I love it!

Does anyone know why Bachmann uses yellow headlights? To me, this looks very strange. Is it possible to change to a regular "white" light?