Mr. Bach-man,

Thanks for you prompt reply. I look forward to finding out if 44909 is available.

This potentially handy unit was announced in 05 but I haven't seen anything more about it. A couple of enquiries on here a year or two ago met with the "still under research and development" response. For those of us who run the E-Z Command controller and are extremely satisfied with it - this item (44909 Bachmann turnout-accessory controller) is a perfect expansion for a few extra turnouts and a few accessories. I have no need for the extra capabilities and cost of the Dynamis.  I only want a little more capability for the superb E-Z Command system.

So Mr. Bach-man is the 44909 dead or will it ever show up as an item?

Anyone know the difference in length between an HO Bachmann DCC #5 turnout and a #4 turnout? I need to know the overall length down the straight side not including the plastic tabs. Any help appreciated.

The 33.25 inch 12 degree curve will bring a #5 turnout back into parallel for creating sidings and switches.  So it would probably give you a nice transition going the other way.

I would like someone at Bachmann to do a comprehensive review of the often incomplete instructions that come with otherwise very good product.

Examples: The DCC controller comes with a DVD that tells you how to program locos but is virtually devoid of info on programming DCC switches. There is very little clarification of the Function button and it's uses compared to the rest of the unit.

DCC switches tell you how to program them into the unit but you get no info on how to go from there. The DCC switch instructions make no mention of the wire underneath that you can plug in and power the frog.

Nowhere will you find the simple piece of information that to bring a number 5 turnout back into parallel all you need is a 33 1/4" 12 degree curve.

I realize that these things may be obvious to many but when you are starting out it's very frustrating and it could be completely avoided by a co ordinated review of the various instructions for the various products so that some continuity of information is established.

One good technician with good communication skills could re do these in a couple of days.

Well I have now found that all the Bachmann DCC switches have a wire underneath that you can connect so you get power in the frog. Wasn't that simple? Yes but I only found out because I saw the info listed on the instructions for a remote non DCC switch. So I looked under my DCC switch and whaddayah know. The DCC instructions never even mentioned it.

I just saw your post. A number 5 turnout will connect to a number 6 crossover. You need the 33 1/4" radius 12 degree curved track to bring the #5 turnout back to parallel. On the straight side just use  the 2 1/4 " straight that comes with the switch and add a 4.5" straight so both ends are parallel and they fit the #6 crossover.

Well I just ground a frog down with a Dremel and my 0-6-0 now runs through it at a crawl. The problem is that the centre wheel of the 0-6-0 gets high centered on the frog and this prevents either the wheel in front of it or the wheel behind it from making contact.

You have to do two things. Deepen the grooves in the frog AND grind down the top of it in the middle and also where it ends just before meeting the hot rail. That way the centre wheel drops low enough to allow either of the other two to make contact.

By the way all three wheels of the 0-6-0 fit on the longer frogs of the #6 crossovers so the solution I used will not work on them. It simply won't run on them unless you charge at them with considerable speed.

Quote from: RGC on January 04, 2011, 02:04:07 PM
On mine I believe the wheel is coming in contact with the bottom of the plastic frog which lifts the wheel off the track. I'm going to test this by grinding a tiny amount of the plastic off of the bottom of the frog.  

I also have the same problem with my Bachmann 0-6-0. I have EZ Track DCC turnouts. How did grinding down the frogs work? Mine runs smooth over some switches and not at all over others.

Dear ABC

Hmmm now you got me thinking. I have EZ Command and all manual switches on my layout. So the insertion of another manufactureres switch isn't going to affect the EZ Command and it's simply a leveling of the 2 different kinds of track?

If so, thanks for the suggestion and for taking the time to reply.

Much appreciated.

ABC

Thanks for taking the time to reply. That's disappointing. There is a #6 Wye, a #6 crossover and NO corresponding turnout. 

You have to know that people starting out in N scale are just going to abandon Bachmann EZ Track and go straight to some other manufacturers system. Pretty simple remedy to introduce the right turnout to match already existing product and start making money on N scale.

I wouldn't be in model railroading if it weren't for Bachmann and I was going to add an N scale layout as an option to my HO layout. But the lack of an appropriate switch in Bachmann EZ Track is a real disincentive. I'm not into jury rigging different turnouts from different companies into a layout.

I guess I'll just wait for someone in product development to wake up.

Dear Mr. Bachmann,

The current Bachmann N scale, 11.25" radius turnout is fine but not if you want to combine it with the N scale Crossovers. The crossovers require a different radius turnout if you intend to match turnouts and crossovers in say a yard or siding type setting.

In fact it says on the package that "... you may consider purchasing larger EZ Track turnouts to allow for smoother tansitions during switching operations....."

I'd really love to do that but exhaustive search reveals no such turnouts. Do they exist or are they soon to arrive? I prefer Bachmann product and would like to be able to get these turnouts.

What can you tell me?

Thanks ABC - much appreciated.

ABC

Thanks for the reply. I've heard several people complain of jerky performance in consists with BEMF. The solution often suggested is to turn the BEMF off.  I don't know if my Bachmann EZ command will let me do that.

Do you know if the BAC 44925 will work in the H16-44 N scale loco? Size is not a problem- any other reason I can't use it?

Can the new small Bachmann decoder BAC 44925 be used in the Bachmann H16-44? Also does this decoder have BEMF or not? I run a lot of consists and I hear BEMF is not consist friendly.