I'm not thrilled with operating characteristics of this loco via Lenz decoder that came with this engine.  I intend to swap it out for a TCS decoder with BEMF. Anyone know if this swap would be a one for one swap out using the NMRA plug on the Bachmann board or do you have to snip capacitors as on other Spectrum units? If one does have to snip how many capacitors does one snip?

Thanks,
        Jon 

 I notice the rear coupler pocket appears to be part of the metal frame. When converting this to Kadee should I use an insulated Kadee or can I use the universal #5? 

Thanks,
          Jon

Oops, now I see the mounting screws for the body. Guess I should try disassembly in better light.

  Jon

How does the body come off? I want to replace original decoder with NCE with more capability. I've fiddled with it and I can't figure it out. I don't want to force the issue and wind up damaging the body. It would be nice if Bachmann included instructions on how to remove bodies.

Thanks,
       Jon

Tom,
      Before "decodering" a loco make sure the motor brushes are isolated else exercise will be for naught. If you scan through past posts you will run across a number of how to do it postings. Actually most of the decoders you buy will have illustration of how to wire it up(at least the ones I've bought so far).

    Jon

adari,
     Why don't you try the InterNet? I believe there's a PRR Technical & Historical Society out there in cyber space.
     I think another PRR name train was the Congressional, I believe there was a Morning and Evening Congressional. Again the PRR history chaps would be best source for matching name trains with appropriate power for a given time period.

Jon

Chesticus,
   I second Jim's suggestion. I had an instance where pony truck would foul a straight section of a switch on a downgrade. Switch and truck checked out as in gauge. This was the only place on the layout where it would foul itself. There are enough other opportunities on my layout where it could justifiably have also fouled itself but didn't. After fiddling and fiddling I decided to add a bit of weight to the truck and bingo problem solved.
   It's a simple fix and if everything else on the loco is OK, why send it off and wait for its return? For very little effort you could probably be back in business.

  Jon  

 As Mae West would have said, "That's some throttle you have there, big boy."

Eons again it was, "Want to come up and see my etchings?"(I did say it was eons ago!) Now it's "Want to see my trains?"

Now that the word is out that Rod Stewart is into trains and structures for same some of the skepticism regarding our "toys" may evaporate.

  Jon

Gene, Rich,
     Paralysis=lawyers got the country coming and going, nets out to zero progress. 
     In Bachmann's case maybe they should introduce the legal beagles to the engineering dept. It seems there are no down sides to showing the capacitor(s) out the door. Any downsides(radio interference or whatever) should be able to be covered by a disclaimer. Oh, forget that, the legal guys are probably worried about someone cutting themselves when they cut through the capacitor leads. Can you imagine the lawsuit when someone bleeds out from capacitor cutting? 
     OK, I'm cutting 'em loose. Let you guys know how everything works out. After getting the capacitor thing worked out(er, off), I'll have a go at getting the cab and boiler off to see if I can do anything about some drivetrain binding.

Again, thanks for your help.
  Jon

Gene,
      I assume your referring to C1, C2 that I see on the tender board? It's weird that Bachmann makes something with what appears to be a plug and play feature for decoder and yet doesn't put in a "oh, by the way" notice re the capacitors if you elect to run unit with decoder.
      Various sources in the hobby have made it perfectly clear that one must disable the capacitor on the early(all?) Spectrum 2-8-0's but seem to be mum on the subject post 2-8-0's.
      I'll await your response before making cuts, don't want to mess anything up.

Thanks,
         Jon

Does the HO 2-6-6-2 have to have capacitor(s) cut away as was, for example, necessary on earlier Spectrum 2-8-0's when installing a decoder? I've had a few instances of the "runaway" phenomenon when using a decoder plugged into the 8-pin receptacle on the board in the tender. I've assumed it was a plug-n-play install. If capacitor(s) have to be cut away, there are two C1, C2. Both? One? None?

Thanks,
     jondrd