The engine brake cylinders seem particularly prone to breaking off.  The pipe coming off the generator broke.  One of the wire connectors between the engine and the tender decided to come off.  There was slight damage to one of the smokebox fronts while prying it off.  Nothing that couldn't be fixed. 

I did two this weekend.  Worked very well.  You need two longer screws for the rear and there is a small gap but it is barely visible and easily covered.  Switch the dome, the cab and the smokebox door and you have a nice conversion with the straight walkway version on the 64 inch drivers.  Looks much closer to the prototype I am modeling (Tonopah and Tidewater #9 and 10)  The only problem is that one can not do the conversion without breaking something that you don't want to break. 

I have a number of the Spectrum 4-6-0's.  I model the Tonopah and Tidewater RR and they had a number of locomotives with 62 inch drivers but with straight walkways and only 1 air pump.  The low boiler model looks about right.  It looks like a simple conversion but I was wondering if anyone has tried switching the superstructures on these frames, before I take a screw-driver to mine and try.  If no one has, I'll give it a go and report back. 

I was about to post a very similar question:  Will the boiler shell from the low boiler version fit onto the drive for the high boiler version?

I want to switch cabs on a couple of the HO sound value 4-6-0's but after moving the screw between the cylinders I can't for the life of me figure out how the cab is attached to boiler and how to get the boiler off of the frame.  From studying the exploding drawing it looks like the is a screw from the boiler that goes into a post attached to the roof of the cab but can'f figure out how to remove the boiler.  It is just different enough from the previous spectrum 4-6-0's that it doesn't have the typical rear screws under the cab holding the frame on.  Any suggestions?

I have a Sound value 4-6-0 that I repainted for the Tonopah and Tidewater RR.  Great little locomotive but it is a little sensitive on dead frogs.  My other locomotives have these Keep-alive circuits added and this makes a world of difference.  I was wondering if anyone has looked into adding one of these capacitors to the Bachmann Sound Value 4-6-0's.  I know that they are Soundtraxx decoders which theoretically could use their Current-Keeper.  Before I take mine apart to look, I thought I would see if anyone else has all ready tried.  Thoughts

I really love B&O F units.  I used to model the B&O in Morgantown WV.  I've always thought the B&O paint scheme was one of the classiest.  Yours is particularly nice. 

Nicely done! 

I have a Bachmann 2 truck Climax and it runs great and the sound is excellent.  The only issue is that it has a coal bunker covering the decoder rather than the oil bunker that a any locomotive running in the Nevada desert would require.  Does Bachmann or anyone else make an oil bunker that would replace the coal bunker?  Thanks.  

All I know is that if Bachmann came out with a 8-18d 2-6-0 Locomotive or a similar 4-4-0 or something similar, it would be the end of my HO T&T as would immediately complete the jump to On30.  I would probably end up modeling the Eureka and Palasade. 

I use Caboose Industries N scale ground throws on all my HO layouts and they work fine.  I use Peco and Micro Engineering turnouts along with a smattering of Shinoharas and have not had any problems.  They look substantially better than the HO ones too. 

Thank you.  That will be what I do. 

I have one of the new Porter Side Tank 0-6-0 engines and I was to add a new decoder and sound to it.  The only DCC wiring diagram I have is for the older Saddle tank model.  Does anyone have the wiring diagram for this model?  They are clearly different with a totally different circuit board and this one has a micro motor in it.  This is a great model but I really wish they would not hardwire the decoder in.  Thanks for your help.

Thanks, that was exactly what I needed.  I appreciated it. 

Are the decoders in the Bachmann Spectrum 0-6-0 hardwired or connected with a 8 pin plug?  I've heard they are hard wired but am not sure since I haven't looked inside one.  I've got one on the way and plan on putting sound and a keep-alive in it.  Is there a wiring scheme published on this site if it is hardwired?  Thanks.