Jim has some killer ideas there, and some nice pics of the layout to boot

one thing I have done is use Led lights on the buildings, I would get a power pack that would be voltage rated to how many bulbs I am using,

also you have to put a voltage resisitor on the positive side of the voltage going to the light

I had a nice O scale layout that I did all of this work to, I put a control pot on one side of the wiring going to the lights, this was a great way for it to act as a dimmer when you needed it.


also there is miniature lights sold by bachmann and readio shack with a screw in base, these are great for the inside of buildings, believe me these lights do burn out at times, I would use a cheesey old train controller and hook it up to the track side, the throttle acts as a dimmer switch this way the bulbs are not burning at full brightness.


now that I am back into the hobby, going with HO scale this time around, all the advice I see and hear is always helpful and appreciated.

take care
George

Thanks for the heads up.

that's really sad that a 2-8-0 can outpull a 4-8-2 and a 2-8-4.

Bachmann needs to add more weight to the locos for better traction.

I have a few 2-8-0's by spectrum, my only complaint is the belt drive, considering how many trains over the years broke belts, you would think bachmann could have went with a gear drive system.

does anyone have a solution for the bachmann 2-8-4, I would like to get one, but if it pulls for crap, then the proto one would be the way to go.

Hello Everyone:

I am glad bachmann made a 2-8-4, but I am wandering on the details on it since bachmann's site has such a vague description about it.

does the loco have a flywheel inside?, and what is the general tech specs on it?.

I don't use dcc, I am not worried about that jazz, but I am hoping there is a flywheel inside, if not, I will pitch the extra $$$ and go for a proto version.

any help or info is appreciated

take care and thanks
George

if you are looking for something realistic, blair line makes a precut railroad crossing, it is the wood the goes inside the rails and the outside of the rails, all you have to do is make the road leading to it and away from it.

they make it for 18 and larger radius turns and for straights also.

the bachmann crossing is nice, but if you run two sets of loops, you have to cut and chop the crossing to have clearance.

The Only Problem I have had is the # 4 turnouts, Bachmann needs to have the frogs redone on them, I used a jeweler's file and fixed the problem.

as for the # 5 switches, I like them a lot, I have had good luck with them.

I think it is the locomotive itself, if it is an older 0-6-0 check if the wheels are loose, bachmann had a bad problem with the crappy plastic sleeves slipping and cracking on them, Bowser made a kit that fixed that problem.

also like the other guy's said gauge the wheels, a lot of times on some locomotives the wheels are properly lined up and they either have a small wobble or not lined up.

Bachmann needs to redo the # 4 switches, get rid of the plastic frogs and put metal ones in like the # 5 switches

take care
George

It's a nice set, too bad bachmann didn't make more of them, or make it more affordable like the cavalier set.

I have seen them pop up off and on, on ebay, the last one I seen sold for $400 and it was still sealed.

if worst comes to worst, you can get the engine and such seperately, and then add the George Washington Logos yourself, walthers has the cars, and best of all a baggage car is included in their lot, something bachmann overlooked on their passenger sets.

I read the instructions and the instructions state that if you are not running DCC, you need to put in the dummy plug 

it is an older dcc equipped engine, not the newer one, I tried running the engine with the dcc chip at first and it ran chaotic, so I took out the the dcc chip, put in the dummy plugs and it runs as smooth as silk, but the headlight doesn't work.

I can run the newer dcc equipped diesels without a problem, I have 2 ft units and they run A-ok, it is this 2-8-0 that I am having a problem with,

I am almost tempted to buy an older tender for the loco, you know take out the old style board and put it in the new loco,

I hooked up the the engine to my union pacific 2-8-0 tender, and it worked fine, the headlight even worked.

so I know the problem is in the board of the new tender,

I don't use dcc, I don't care for it, if someone else likes it, hey that's cool, I have no use for it, I run a lot of older equipment, and I am not converting everything I have because of some new toy on the block.

I like the old fashioned DC analog setup, I am happy with it, and that is what I intend to stick with on my layout.

I did read the directions in regards to the DCC chip, and it clearly stated that I had to remove the chip in order to run it in dc mode,

Why would bachmann include dummy plugs if they didn't want you to remove the chip?.

I am not being mean, but the instructions mentioned it, so I did what it stated.

I use a Pair of Spectrum Magnum controllers for the 2 main lines, and a MRC controller for the little things like the roundhouse and the sidings.

the layout is 10 x 8, I have been working on it, off and on for the last few years,

I like the possibilities of dcc, but I do not wish to switch over to it, I have a lot of older rivarossi, lionel, and such that I really enjoy using at times.

I hope this helps
take care
George

Hello Everyone 

I have a problem with a spectrum 2-8-0 with dcc,

I don't use dcc so I put the dummy plugs in, and when I run the locomotive, the headlight doesn't work.

what can I do to fix this problem?, and is this a common problem?.

I don't use dcc, I am old fashioned, and I have a lot of older locomotives, so DCC doesn't suit my needs.

any help is appreciated.

take care and thanks
George

 Hi Everyone

I really like the Bachmann spectrum passenger cars, but one of my problems is the lack of a few cars in each consist,

I am wandering why didn't bachmann make baggage cars or sleepers for their spectrum sets?.

also why didn't bachmann make more Norfolk and Western cars?.

the cavalier set is a nice set for the price, but none of the stores I have talked to carry extra cars in the Norfolk and Western markings.

sure you could buy another train set, but the cars would have the same roadnumbers.

I know walthers sells the other cars and the paint is close, but why didn't bachmann bother to do this in the first place.

and one last idea, hey Bachmann make a spectrum Nickel Plate Road Passenger set, the heavyweights would look cool.

take care
George

Not being mean, but considering what these crossovers cost, Bachmann should have had a switch installed under the crossover for DC or DCC option,

it wouldn't be hard considering what's involved.

the track could be pre-insulated, then when you flip the switch at the bottom of the track it can be used in dc mode instead of dcc.

don't get me wrong, DCC is nice, but I really don't care for all of those bells and whistles, I like things simple, especially since I run a lot of older equipment,

I don't have an elaborate layout, 9 x 7 , and for it's size I don't think DCC is necessary,

I can see it on the huge basement layouts, but that's me.

Hey Bachmann  it's an easy idea

take care

George

HI EVERYONE 

I like MTH here and there, I used to have a lot of it on O Scale, but I have to agree with what some of you said.

Mike Wolf needs to listen to the people who are buying trains ofr their layouts,

there is a lot of neat engines and such that could be and should be replicated out there, but why flood the market with stuff that is already out there.

not too mention MTH is way over priced,

look at the K-4 pacific, Spectrum had one, then Broadway limited, then MTH,

I personally like the Spectrum and Broadway limited ones, I can get more for my $$$$ buying those than spending $400 for one MTH.

I am really glad spectrum brought out an affordable Berkshire, I like the Proto one, but price wise, I like the spectrum better,

I wander if Broadway limited and MTH will copy bachmann and make their versions of a Berkshire, LOL

Hello Railfan Paul

the Spectrum version is a retooled version of the GS-4, see the Plus versions had a better motor installed, the crappy pancake motor was finally taken out.

the newer issues have correct drivers, and the bodies have more details here and there.

some engines like the Niagra and the SF Northern still lack some of the better details, but they are still good locos.

take care
George

Hello Bill: try IHC  , they make a set.

I recently purchased a set for the Mehano 4-6-4 CN Hudson, SWEET LOCO with a great smoke unit   .

they have the 6 axle Heavyweights, and the Streamlined cars,  Concor has a sweet Streamlined set.

take care
George

Hello Everyone:

Paul, I agree with Jim, buy a soldering Iron, it is a needed item in model railroading, besides radio shack employees wouldn't touch the item to solder it.

get a low wattage soldering iron like a 30 watt one,

also the bachmann turnouts are notorious for burning out, if you have a layout that is permanent, get an atlas under the table switch machine, easy to install, easy to use.

and if it burns out, just remove it without tearing out a section of track.

just a thought

take care

George

Hello Everyone:

well I finally snagged one for the layout

a spectrum DDA40X # 6900

I know all of the features, but what is a radius one of these beasts need to run on?.

I had the older crappy version with the pancake motor before, I redone it with an athearn chassis and it improved it a lot, but when I tore down my old layout, I sold it off.

what is the pro's and cons on the spectrum one?

please let me know

thank you in adavnce
George