I am trying to convert an (old) Bachmann two motor 70 ton switcher to DCC, and have not found anyone, as yet, that has tried to get them running with in DCC. I already have the new Bachmann 70 ton engine and do not like it because it is very noisy. My old one does run very quietly, and for that reason I would like to try to get it running again in DCC. However, I would like to try to get the original two motored engine switched over to DCC rather than change it out for a newer model. Would you be able to help me in getting this done? Could you let me know the best way to go forward in getting this project done? I would like to do this on my own rather than send it in to have you work on it. I would need some assistance on how to prepare the loco for DCC. I would also like some information on if there is a standard decoder I can use that will not make the diesel loud when it runs. If you still have a diagram of this engine, that would help immensely as I bought it on line and do not have any of the paper work.
Could you help me with this project?
Thanks,
George Pendergraft

I sent a message to "Ask the Bachmann" in October, and so far have not received any answer or even a reply. Am I on my own? Is there not someone who can at least give me some idea of what I am up against? I tried to get an answer from the company, but they told me to go her and so far, nothing. Please help?
I wanted to convert an old Bachmann 70 tonner engine that has two motors, one on each truck, and I wanted to find out what I would have to do to convert it to a DCC engine. I am willing to do the work myself and I can get two decoders if necessary to run the two truck motors. I just want to know if it is possible or not.
I was complaining about the new 70 ton switchers being pretty loud as opposed to the old one I have that is very quiet.
Any ideas??

To: Customer Service
Subject: Re: old 70 ton switcher



Hi Laura,



I know you say it is too old, but it is a good engine and it runs fine. Except it is just DC. Can you bear with me and help me figure out a way to convert this engine to DCC? Even if you have to talk to your engineers that design your engines, I would like to try to convert it. If you, or they, can tell me everything that I need to do to convert it, I will do my best to do it. I currently have two of your newer engines like this, and they are both very noisy. There may be ways to make them quieter, but they will never be as quiet as the one I sent you pictures on. Maybe you could start a new project to bring back and old 70 tonner. I would love to either write an article (if I do all the work) and include you as the help source, or contribute to an article in Model Railroader Magazine about the process. I hope you will help me do that.



I have a lot of questions. I Like this engine and would still like to be able to upgrade this engine to DCC. It is very quiet, unlike your current 70 ton engine. That is the one thing I do not like about your current 70 ton switcher engines. They are almost the same as the one I have except for the single/dual motor difference, and the PCB. But there are a lot of PCB's out there, and even if you had to use two, (one for each motor) you could "Multiple Unit" them to act as one unit. Maybe even come up with a new decoder that is a permanent multiple unit for this engine.



1. Can I use a decoder from some other company? Or can you develop one for use with my engine?

2. Since there are two motors, would it need 2 decoders?

3. If not possible to make DCC why not? I would like to try to convert the old engine to DCC. Bachmann, as the original maker of this engine, please help in overcoming the barriers to converting it to DCC.

4.Can you tell me all of the reasons you cannot convert it? My goal here is to help you make a better engine by either converting one of your old engines to DCC, or help determine and fixing the cause of the loudness in your current engine.

5. Can you tell me all of the reasons you cannot convert the old engine?

6. Are there solutions to those problems, or changes (even drastic) that can be made to convert it to DCC?

7. You say it is too old to fit your PCB. Why? Make your PCB smaller.

8. you say that it is too small to put the current decoder in it. Can you use different decoder(s)?

I know that you have to isolate the motor(s)  from the metal frame to install DCC. Is there a way to do that? I noticed that the wires for the wheels go to a sweeper on the wheels that are attached to the metal truck frame.

9. What would have to be done to accomplish that?

10. Can you determine what is causing the noise in your current engine and fix that?

11. Can you apply the same fix to my two nearly new current 70 tonners that I have, and make them quieter?

I am willing to use my old engine as the test engine and make the changes myself to try to convert it to DCC. It will be no good to me as a DC engine and will eventually die a very bad DC death on my DCC layout, unless you can help me convert it.

12. Will you help? All I need is some answers to the questions here, and I can get started.

Thank you,

George Pendergraft