I'm not sure what's out there in N scale, but I know in HO scale, there's what's called Dual decoders that work on both DC and DCC.  That way you wouldn't have to change anything on your engine at all.  The Dual Decoders allow you to move from one system to the other without making any changes at all. 

Kevin

http://www.ab-charles.com/

Their address is on the Contact Us page.

It took 30 seconds to find with Google. 

Kevin

I've often wondered about this myself.  When engine's these days are $200-$300 what does an additional $5 for Kadee couplers matter.  It could probably be even less than that if you dump the cost of the original couplers.

That being said, I completely understand why Bachmann doesn't use Kadee's.  B-mann makes their own couplers, so that's what they should use. 

Kevin

I hope this helps.  It looks like the Yellow and Black ran from 1924-1954.  Before that they were Black on White.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_sign

Kevin

What are his track cleaners called?  I bought one from him about a year or so ago, and I wouldn't mind another one.

Kevin

Lou63,
Just an FYI, the Strasburg RR 2-10-0 isn't a Russian.  I can't remember right now what kind it is, but it's definitely not a Russian.  It's a lot bigger (boiler and drivers) than a Russian is.

Kevin

Is it just me, or are they also missing something in the tail end of the engines?  A black hole can be seen on both engines in the first picture, but it's just cut off in the second one.  Maybe no radiator?

Kevin

Tom,
If it didn't put a shortcut on the desktop or on your start menu, you should be able to find it at c:\Program Files\Software By Design\.  It might be on your Start Menu under Software By Design as well.

Kevin

Have you searched for this item on Ebay?  That's a pretty good appraisal.  I'm not saying you won't be able to sell it for more at some private auction house, but a lot of people won't pay more than what it's selling for on Ebay.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what this item's worth is, so I can't really say a whole lot more.  I have heard that these collectors trains aren't really worth a whole lot, so I doubt they'd go up that much more in price.  Hopefully someone else on here will have a little better idea for you.

Kevin

I use a program called RR trains.  It can be found at http://www.gregorybraun.com/RRTrains.html

It's not the perfect program, but it's pretty good.  Some of the items can be changed in the registry.

Kevin

I'm not sure about sound, electric engines don't really have a whole lot of sound to them.

I installed a TCS DP5X decoder in mine.  Works great!!  Just plugs right in!

Kevin

Unfortunately, I've never heard of their exploding box car.  I did find the following site that is selling one.
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/mdp/mdp9164.htm

This site has one too for cheaper, but it doesn't have any details on it at all.
http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/Model-Power-Box-Car-Exploding-Army/item490-9164.html

Kevin
 

Gene,
Rich asked about it in his very first post.  Seems he lost his instructions (which of us HASN'T lost some of those).
Kevin

Sorry, there's no such thing as a 1" EZ track.  The shortest is either 2 1/2" or 2 1/4" (I forget which, but thinking it's the 1/2" one).  You CAN get 2" ones but you have to buy the 90 degree crossings.

One option that you have would be to use a straight saw and just cut another piece.

Kevin

I'm not totally sure what you mean by the #4 switches, since Bachmann only makes #5 and #6 switches.  They also make a remote turnout but that's not numbered because it's a curved turnout.

Either which way, I don't think ANY of the HO scale Bachmann turnouts are power routed.  The N scale remote turnouts are power routed, but unless you switch scales, that doesn't help you at all.

From your other post, I would guess that you'll have to isolate it and use a toggle switch to convert the turnout section from DCC to DC and to turn off the power.  I don't have any idea how to do that, but I think I've seen it in Model Railroader magazine.

Kevin