Trying to convert a Bachmann McKinley Explorer starter set GP40 to DCC and operating knuckle couplers. Has anyone done these conversions and what parts did you use?

I'm trying to do a layout based on an amusement park (https://adventureland.us/).

The layout of the real park: https://adventureland.us/adventureland-amusement-park-attractions-map/

I only need one turnout and it's a Bachmann #6 left (item 44859). Is it compatible with the Atlas snap relay as I want to have 2 trains? Each train with a B-Man 4-4-0 and 3x B-Man Jackson Sharp cars (one train yellow cars, the other brown cars that I already have). The engines are B-Man CP Jupiter and UP 119. I also want the train on the siding -- from the diverging turnout route -- to turn its engine headlight off when the points are set for the straight turnout route.

The instructions for the Atlas relay say to splice the lone siding feeder wire to the wire from the turnout frog and then put the whole connection to common on the relay, with both main line feeders going to the terminals on the other end of the relay. The power wires to the relay get spliced to those for the switch machine, which then go to the control box.

If it's significant, I will also have 3 other power blocks in the main track but these will all be spliced to a pair of bus wires, and all track power will be had through straight pieces with the hidden terminal plug. And the layout doesn't need a block signal because if one train is on the stub siding the other is operating by default as that's how the real park does it. My transformer is MRC Tech7 Ampac-700 which isn't even made anymore but the instruction sheet is still available. I believe the main bus goes to the DC terminals and the turnout controller, relay and switch machine all go to the AC connections -- all are Phillips screws on the power pack.

Additionally can anyone advise on a coupler with working knuckle for the Jackson Sharp cars? I'll be using a Micro Trains #1049 on both tenders, none needed on the engine pilots as double heading and combined trains will not be used.

I intend to buy a Baldwin 4-6-0 locomotive in the future from a local dealer. The engine will be the unlettered version with red window frames and white stripes. Then I am going to attempt to make my own decals for the cab and tender so as to effectively produce an N scale version of Long Island Railroad #39. The prototype of LIRR #39 is a historic locomotive as it is one of two former Pennsy class G5s steam engines lettered for the LIRR that are known to exist.

What are the dimensions of the long side of the Baldwin 4-6-0 tender shell and those of the area on the cab side under the window?


Thanks

Jon

I have a Dynamis starter system and plan to upgrade to the Pro Box.

• Does the Pro Box include a receiver?
• Does the Pro Box need its own power supply?

I have a GP40 diesel item #60348 that's DCC equipped.  Trying to upgrade from factory decoder to one that has CV5, CV6 and programmable speed table, like NCE's BACH-DSL:

http://www.ncedcc.com/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.product_details&flypage=garden_flypage.tpl&category_id=13&product_id=51&vmcchk=1

The BACH-DSL is $20.  Is there a decoder similar to this one that would work as a replacement for the factory decoder?

What is the height of the tallest pier in #42523 (Graduated Trestle Set) and #44871 (14-piece Graduated Pier Set)?  Also, what is the increment from one pier to the next in each set?

I'm trying to build a setup for twice around with up-and-over using E-Z Track.

I live in the Long Island area of New York, and can't seem to locate a Long Island RR passenger train set.  Atlas makes LIRR diesel loco and caboose.  Where would I be able to find LIRR pieces in a commuter train set (will buy loco and coaches separately if required)?

My parents want me to build a figure-8 layout with my McKinley Explorer set.  I currently have the tracks that come with the set, plus 24 additional 9-inch nickel silver straight tracks and a 90-degree crossing.  What additional tracks do I need to make the figure-8?