Big boy models are available from Athearn, MTH, Hornby/Rivarossi, and can still be found from BLI, and several brass makers.

IIRC, they have 28" wheels,  which you can get from Walthers,and several other manf.

the white plug in pic 1 (9 pin JST plug) plugs into decoder in pic 2 where the green JST plug currently is replacing it.
The green 8 pin plug in pic 1 then replaces the 8 pin green plug in pic 3.
speaker mounts in fuel tank.

If you want to spend the $$$, and can find them, you can replace the trucks with the IHC #4241 Super Free Rolling Passenger Car Trucks & #4242 adapters.
These will really the best trucks out there, and hopefully another company will aquire them and bring them back into production.

show opens at 9AM PDT news should start to trickle out a couple of hours after that

Quote from: NscaleNJtransit on June 26, 2011, 05:35:59 PM
What is the Radius for the acela. Im thinking of getting one but my kinda small to so i want to know if it can take my turn before i spend all that money

operates without issue thru 15" radius curves and #4 turnouts, but I wouldn't go much smaller than the 15" for sustained curves.
Acela on 18" curve

Alco RSC-2 would be a good choice, currently sold out by should be able to find one
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-31299

Especially after working the night shift for 30+ years.

UP does have both MU control stands and CTC onboard their steam locos, and generally stay on their home rails, so usally do not have a diesel in the consist unless it's pulling an extremely heavy train like the circus train last fall.
With the circus train the diesel was for dynamic braking only.
In my original post refering to CTC I said "in OTHER steam consists" generally when the steamer is not on it's road a diesel with the proper CTC is pulled.
Info update;
I have received intell that the Mopac ACe is in fact being deadheaded in the excursion train. It normally operates out of the Dupo yard, and may have been dropped off there, or my be left in L.R. for servicing.

more useless info
Another reason with non UP steam locos you may see a diesel "Amtrak  loco" is for
head end electrical power for the passenger cars.
UP has dedicated power cars with diesel generators in their Excursion trains, but most other pull a mixed bag of borrowed cars and need the Amtrak diesel to run lights, AC and such.

This diesel is in this train for two reasons.

1) cosmetic, as this excursion follows the Missouri Pacific lines
to Little Rock, one of  Mopac's main maintenance facilities,
so the Mopac Heritage loco was used.

2) Dynamic Braking, The real reason for having a diesel in this train.
Utilizing the diesel for it's dynamic braking power saves a lot of
wear and tear on the steam locos systems.
The 844 can, and has pulled entire modern freight loads all by itself, no shortage
of horsepower, but all replacement parts have to be custom made, they can't just be ordered in like for a modern diesel.

The other main reason that you see a diesel loco in other steam consists is that
the steam loco does not have the proper CTC (Centralized Traffic Control)
equipment it for the railroad it is operating on, which is handled by the diesel.

You know Jonathan, I honestly don't think I have one, don't have a reason why,
I guess one just never caught my eye, I'll have to fix that.
If you scan down the videos, you will see that I do have a B&O 44 tonner,
if that helps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do4oSH-2RkE

worth getting up early for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZAayYeIPR0

the new Window boxes for the Spectrum locos have a "false floor" lining under the plastic clamshell packaging, and your paperwork should be under it. 

You don't need both, the 1007 is a dual mode decoder takes the place of the stock decoder, when operating on a DCC layout it functions as a regular sound and motor decoder,  speed/direction/sounds/ lightsall  controlled by functions on DCC throttle.
On DC power, speed/ direction controlled by powerpack, and the remote operates the sounds only.

The new QSI Titan decoder has stereo output/speakers for the dual motor setups
http://qsisolutions.com/news/11/qsi-titan-intro-030811.html