My approach was to take a benchmark locomotive, run it at top speed over a timed course to calculate its speed in scale mph, figure out where I wanted top speed to be as a percentage of that (i.e.100 mph actual versus 50 mph desired + 50%) then adjust cvs 5 and 6 to that percentage. Test run to see how it performs, then make any adjustments from there. Once that was done, I'd do the same to the rest of the fleet, and tweak them so they ran at exactly the same speed as the benchmark loco. I run diesels mostly, so speed matching is necessary to run consists. For steam, unless you intend to doublehead them it's not as critical that they perform exactly alike.

Quote from: skerbs on November 18, 2024, 09:51:30 PMAlso, I reached out to Bachmann and I was informed through their email:
"For sound the reset is CV 30 to a Value of 2 and then try to run on default address #3." That didn't work either. 
My question is how do I know my locomotive is set to "default address #3" after doing that?
Right now, it is a great running silent locomotive with nice bright headlights.

According to the manual, the Tech6 will only run DCC locomotives on address 3. Since you are able to run the locomotive, it has been reset to that address. I am guessing you have somehow muted the sound. The Tech 6 manual I found online does not mention how to turn on the sound.

Would these perhaps have the Bachmann factory installed decoders? The ones used in the diesels do not support CV5 or CV6 so setting a speed curve or slowing their top speed is not possible. To be able to do that you;d have to replace the decoder with one that supports those CVs.

Quote from: trainman203 on November 09, 2024, 02:06:15 PMThat's a pretty nice plan Jeffrey.  I'm very certain we're going to be moving in with one of the children and a couple years.

My present layout is very amenable to disassembly and reconstruction but it's a 50 foot point to point configuration. I won't have room for that wherever we go, I'll have to downsize my railroading and probably have to live with a 4 x 7 or 4 x 8 at max.  I'll be able to run my engines, but I'll also remember with great fondness being able to run local freight from point A to point B with two intermediate, passing tracks and set out points, like a real short line.

Thanks. I grew up in a house where we built an empire that is still in operation so I understand operating railroads. Unfortunately, I've been an apartment dweller since I moved away, and plans like this have been more in line with what I've had room for since then. The nice thing about it is that it can ser ve as the nucleus of a larger layout. If you have room, you can add a 1x12 plank off of one end and build a small yard.

Apparently this was a limited edition set and the actual instructions specific to this set will be difficult to find. However, you should be able to find information on the components of the set under documentation on this site. These include assembly drawings for the locomotives and the manual for the EZ Command.

Quote from: Terry Toenges on November 06, 2024, 12:58:27 PMI like the way you "bent that layout down" Jeff. With 7', he could add a 9" and a 3" on top and bottom to give him a longer oval. Then, he could extend those bottom inside tracks.

 That was my thought as well. You can always add track to a plan for a smaller space to make it fit what you have. Rather than modify the plan I submitted here as drawn.

Try this one. It fits in a 4x6 space.









Track
44501, H0 Bachmann E-Z Track, Curve radius 18", angle 30º   16
44511, H0 Bachmann E-Z Track, Straight 9".   9
44512, H0 Bachmann E-Z Track, Straight 3".   3
44513, H0 Bachmann E-Z Track, Straight 2.252".   3
44561, H0 Bachmann E-Z Track, Left turnout 9". radius 18"  (remote)   3
44562, H0 Bachmann E-Z Track, Right turnout 9". radius 18"  (remote)   4
44591, H0 Bachmann E-Z Track, Buffer/Bumper 2.752".   5
44592-2, H0 Bachmann E-Z Track, Straight 1".   1
44592-3, H0 Bachmann E-Z Track, Straight 1.25".   1

Quote from: brett_eshenour on November 05, 2024, 04:54:34 PMGood Morning, hoping to find some help. I have a gp35 item 11510 that the leading truck appears that the drive shaft coupling will no longer spin the gearing. I see the fly wheel turning. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on how to fix that and if part # 6030 would need replaced? Or if other parts would also need replaced?

Thanks

Brett

There should be a drive shaft with a universal at each end. If the drive shaft is not spinning the universal on the flywheel end is probably bad. If it is spinning then your problem is either a bad iniversal on the worm end, or a bad gear. Are you able to see if the worm itself is turning?

Whatever the problem, shrink tubing is unlikely to fix it.

NWSL has a line of replacement parts that fit a variety of locomotives, but you have to know the size of the shaft if you are replacing a universal. Drive shafts of various lengths are available in the Bachmann parts store, but you need to look under individual locomotive listings until you find the length you need. They may be listed under a different locomotive than the one you had.

The problem here is that the old Spectrum/ Bachmann Plus versions of this locomotive have been out of production for many years, and many things have changed in the drive system since then. The newer GP35s do not have the split frame of the old SPectrum era ones, and other parts are probably different as well. That said, it is still a locomotive worth trying to find parts for.

www.nwsl.com

Try CalScale. Look for parts number 190-456 and 190-568.

https://www.bowser-trains.com/history/hocalscalediesel.html

What did it come out of? Have you checked the parts store? There are many different lengths of drive shafts. It looks like you need universals as well.

Quote from: Terry Toenges on October 30, 2024, 11:23:26 AMThe old one is still there on the ground. The MOW crew is now working on the new one.

Yeah. The old track components usually sit there for awhile. Salvage is secondary to running the railroad. They'll come back for it later when they have time to disassemble it. It could be weeks until they do.

We had a blitz a few years back when they went over the entire PRR mainline east of Conway, PA replacing signals. Up to that time, many of the switches were thrown by compressed air. As part of the signal upgrades, they converted these switches to electric motors and replaced many of them at the same time. The old switches lay on the ground for a long time, and many of the old compressor houses are still standing years later.

Quote from: Terry Toenges on October 28, 2024, 12:33:23 PMI would have liked to have seen how they transported that diamond on the highway. That's pretty huge. Probably 15' from outer rail to outer rail. Then you have the ends sticking out past that. That looks like at least 5' on each side. 25' wide?
The old diamond is still laying there. I wonder if they will leave it. The crane and excavators are all gone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKLbXPwb1ZY

I don't know about diamonds, as they are pretty rare where I live. Overpasses are how lines cross each other here.

But the switches are transported to the worksite on specially equipped gondolas. The switch itself is pre-assembled in 2 or 3 sections depending on what number frog it uses. The gondola has a rack on one side, and the switch sections are tipped on edge and leaned against the rack. Once at the worksite, the sections are unloaded and bolted together alongside the switch they are to replace. Prior to the scheduled day, work crews have disconnected the switch motors and prepared the old switch for removal. On the scheduled day, the rails are cut and it is quickly removed and the new one inserted in its place. At this point, the new switch is still made of traditional jointed rail. The idea is to get it in place as quickly as possible to keep delays to trains to a minimum. The next priority is to get the switch motors connected and working, which can be done between trains. Ae a later date they will come back and weld all the rail joints, which is in itself fascinating to watch. Ever seen them do a thermite weld? Two men in a truck can do a thermite weld in less than an hour, causing minimal delays to trains. I would imagine the process is similar with the diamonds.




Thermite welding process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uxsFglz2ig


Gondola for transporting switches. https://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/photos/cr-64976-class-g26c-2

Quote from: Tenwheeler01 on October 26, 2024, 02:28:18 PMI find it much easier to use a PR4 connected to an EZ track terminal track with an additional straight attached. The PR4 connects to my PC via USB.  And I use JMRI.  JMRI is freeware and has a decoder programing tool "Decoder Pro".  You can read all the current decoder CV values. What is nice is you can save your decoder CV values to a file (Backup you decoder). And restore the values is something goes wrong.   

I keep a notebook with those same settings written down for each locomotive.

They prebuild stuff like this in order to minimize the amount of time a busy junction is out of service. I have seen them do the same thing with switches as well. They will build as much as they can transport by rail offsite, then assemble those parts alongside whatever it is going to replace. They will schedule a day and time for the replacement to take place, and quickly slide to old component out of place, and the new one into place. In the case of switches, the goal is to get the track back in service as quickly as possibly. They will come back later and connect the switch motors to get it working, as those tasks aren't as disruptive to traffic as the actual replacement.

No disrespect to anybody at Bachmann intended. But have you tried the SOundtraxx website? Or other decoder manufacturers like TCS that sell seperate keep alives? I know for a fact TCS has an incredible collection of tutorials for adding DCC to various locomotives, and most can provide insight into installation of decoders other than TCS. And Many of the tutorials listed are for Bachmann products. Also, you can contact SOundtraxx directly about installing a keep alive. I'm sure they get this question all the time and can advise you.