I have a Spectrum desiel loco that is DCC on board. When it is parked on a side track for no reason it will take off on its own. You never know when. It only happens when other loco's are running. I had to isolate the side track with a insulated rail jointer and a seperate switch to keep this loco in its place. I tried to re-program but it still takes off on its own. It responds to its address and runs fine when called upon. Is the decoder bad. It only has about 30 min. run time.

Is there a difference between a HO Atlas #6 Mark 3 and a Mark IV #6 turnout ?

This unit has the DCC quick plug and I want to install a Decoder with sound. Has anyone here ever installed a sound decoder in a P2K E/7 deseil? I need to know where to put the speaker.

Can anyone tell me if there is  a place where you can buy parts for engines other than the manufacturer? Motors and drive shafts etc. I broke a drive shaft on a Proto 2000 E7 and Life-Like tells me I have to buy a whole new motor and worm drive assymble to fix this. The drive shaft snaped at the flywheel end where the coupler is pressed into the fly wheel. A plastic part. I removed the plastic part from the inside of flywheel end. I can't see why they don't sell this part.

I bought a GP40 Deisel with DCC Item no. 60808 PRR road #2208. Now I want to buy a matching Loco to go with this one. I'll I see now is GP30 with the same no. 60808. Is this the same engine with the same motor and decoder? What is the difference between GP40 and GP30?

Has anyone here ever hard wired a decoder in a HO Bachmann Plus EMD GP35 desiel engine. I have wired in decoders before but I dont't know where to put the decoder in this shell. There isn't much room in this shell. In the nose of the cab there is 3/16 " clearance in there. I thought of using a N gage decoder because of the smaller size.

I have just found out that you can't use just any Remote switch with a DCC layout. They have to be DCC friendly. What brand of switches can I use for DCC? Also is the #6 turnout switch ok for 22" radius or wider curves?

Got my 4-8-2 Spectrum HVY MNT today and DCC ready. I have a Bachmann 8 pin decoder. The decoder can be plugged in two ways. Does it matter which direction the plug goes in. Should the wires on the side of plug be on the same side the wires are soldered in to the circuit board. Or should the plug be plugged in with the plug wires  facing the oposite side of the circuit board where there is no wiring  soldered to it?

If it takes 16 pieces of 22" radius curved track to make a circle, How many inches is the diamenter measure accross the center. The area I want to curve around is 8' wide. I want to run up one side and curve back on the other side in a 8' wide layout. Or can I use 36" Flex track bended to make this curve back. I want to be able to run long steam loco's.

Does anybody know the web address of a manufacturer  that sells templates and track to make your own turn outs using their templates. I read an article awhile back telling about this.

I need to know when Bachmann states that a Spectrum steam loco is DCC ready, is that it has a plug in connection or soldier pads for installing a decoder with sound. Also is the tender set up for a speaker or do you have drill holes for sound? Engine is a Bachmann PRR K4 Pacific steam loco Walthers Part #160-84013.