Hello, wise and brilliant Sir!  My question is:

The Spectrum DDA40Xs are were advertised as 'with or without' horn sound. I have one of each, but I cannot find where the horn sound is coming from.  Inside and out, they appear identical.  I do see that when the horn sound is active, the locomotive slows and the lights dim a little.  Can you tell me where the sound comes from and how it's generated to operate on a seemingly random basis?

Thank you so much!

I plan on purchasing all-new track for my layout when I finally start to build.  I have my old flex track from before and I think it's type 100.  Silver-colored rails with black ties.  I read that type 80 has brown ties and perhaps rails that are lower-profile to look more realistic.  Being new to all the finer details, what would one suggest to build with?  Is type 70 even more realistic?  There's so much more to model railroading than I imagined (and I imagine ALL the time!). 

Hello again. I'm considering purchasing Bachmann's DDA40X - the DCC-equipped model recently released.  I read that it comes with two motors, but only 12-wheel drive as opposed to 16-wheel drive.  Does anyone have any insight as to why Bachmann didn't just make it all-wheel drive like the older Spectrum models?  Also - is it 16-wheel electrical pickup?  I'd like to know this stuff before buying.  Thanks so much!

Has anyone here modified a Spectrum DDA40X to have all-wheel electrical pickup? I have done it to two of mine, but I was wondering if anyone else has and if so, how did you do it?

Does anyone know what ever happened to the track joiners that held sections together much better than the smaller, more bendable ones they sell these days?  I have a few left from my childhood track sections, but I don't have my camera right now to show a picture.  Does anyone know or remember these more robust track joiners?

I have so many questions but I have to start somewhere, so here's my first one:

If it's possible, how do you railroaders make your drive wheels gain higher adhesion?

Hi there!  I have a pair of Spectrum DDA40Xs and a couple Athearn locomotives (including a newly acquired Veranda Turbine) and I plan on building a 5-train DC setup. It will be a Union Pacific layout.  I plan on picking up a Kato SD90MAC, a Broadway Limited AC6000 and an Athearn U50. The layout won't have any turnouts; it will be a set of 5 ovals, perhaps with the center track being a figure-8. I plan on making the board out of 3/4" MDF with dimensions of 8'x6'-6". The short dimension is to keep it semi-portable, making it possible to move it through any standard doorway. I might use an F7 to run the center track, since that will be the tightest radius.

Boring plans?  Probably.  I just like watching the big Union Pacific monsters going around the tracks. Yard operations have never been part of my daydreams.

I have never done anything like this before so I have been reading these forums for days to learn as much as I can. I'm excited to get it all started!