So, looks like (from teardown by someone who has received his)

The socket is the updated pin number (from the Aristo >> Bachman)
The J1 connector is completely backwards compatible to the earliest Aristo, so all PNP stuff should run
The extra lighting is on the second connector (there is no standard for this, but the pins are there)
A plug in board with wires is provided to hardware a decoder
the wheels are apparently the original style shiny chrome plated types
NO information yet if the updated "D cut" wheels and axles are used
NO information yet on actual back to back, wheel contour, etc.
Extra switch provided to turn off porch lights, etc, sort of hidden (need screwdriver to move)
packaging better than original Aristo
handrails installed at factory
u-shaped main metal frame/chassis looks same
NO information on weights yet

Also, only the version 7 has the ball bearings on the axles, right?

A spotting guide item if you are removing the bottom cover, not opening the tender.

Greg

I do believe that the OEM soundtraxx board did not have a chuff input either, but I could be in error.

Greg

I would trace the leftover wire before I connected it to anything... in the shay the chuff contacts are hard to get to...

Did you look at the wiring diagram? The contacts are in the cylinders...

Greg

THANK YOU!

I bumped the "chassis identification" post to the top of the new posts to make it easy to find.... very helpful..

Thanks for having the spirit!

Greg

Bump post to bring to top so perhaps administrators will make sticky...

Greg

Great, just a new administrator popped up with the "new" board, so was curious...

Since we are back and want to focus on the positive and problem solving topics:

1. can you un-sticky the free upgrade boards for the Peter Witt trolleys... the reason should be clear.

2. can we sticky more of Loco Bill's posts, particularly the Big Hauler "version" one that so many people need, and we refer people from other forums... If it was a sticky it would be so much more helpful to be able to just point people to the forum, instead of having to find and post the complex link to the topic/thread.

Thanks, Greg

This is why I said it is an OEM version.... with pins...

The TSU-4400 from Soundtraxx has no pins...

Poor quality run of plastic, it happens from time to time... pretty consistently bad on the first run.

So, what sound card do you have now?

Unfortunately not unusual, sorry!

Actually, I think the decoder is an OEM version, check to see if it has a chuff sensor... the older Bachmann units often had a SoundTraxx that was "crippled" in some way.

Other than the chuff input, they were fully featured.

Mr. Bach-Man:

Can we update the forum stickies? The Peter Witt one is of no use I would wager and certainly not befitting a sticky after all this time.

And can we add a few more of Loco Bill's ? The one on which chassis and how to replace a chassis in an older Big Hauler, and also the one that has his "version spotting guide"?

If you sort the topics by views, it will be very apparent which topics are of the most help and should be stickies.

Thanks, Greg

We do have a new administrator... I did post a message to ask him to tell us about himself, but my post was apparently deleted (I made reference to the fact we were in the dark for a long time)

We'll see if this post gets deleted too...

Greg

Yes, but you will need to wire the chuff pins in the socket to the connector on the board. Probably need to double check that none of the other pins interfere, since Bachmann's implemention of the socket is after the QSI was designed.

If you get serious, like going to install, I'll look into it for you.

Greg