yardmaster, is Bachmann planning on releasing this engine, 14 ton two trk heisler in HO scale. I know they make it in on30 but that won't fit on my ho layout

I am looking at a couple engines. one is a sd40-2 the other is a Gp40-2. I am pretty sure the GP stands for General purpose. can someone tell me what the SD stands for. also what would be the  difference between the two.

are they metal or plastic?

I have somewhat the same problem with my Bachmann 4-6-2 except I only had to work with the 2 wire connector. I am going to say that if Bachmann follows their normal wiring the 2 wire connector is the rail pickups. one for the left rail and one for the right rail. hope this helps

I don't know if anyone else has this problem. but when I get a new engine from Bachmann its wheels come black or blackened. i try to remove this but it does come off because when i try to operate the engine it seems to operate jerky or needs nudging to get it to move. anyone have any ideas to get this compound off of the wheels so as to get a better electrical connection. and yes i have cleaned my tracks with bright boy and alcohol.   

thanks, terry toenges, jward and len. 

I am looking at making a incline but am trying to remember the formula.  is it 2" drop for every 8' of length  or 2" drop for every 100" ? where would I find it?

I had the same problem with my CP s2 from Bachmann. I got a decoder with no medium plug on it. found a place that sells the medium plug and soldered the medium onto the wires of the decoder and it works great. you should be careful when soldering and be sure to look at the wiring diagram for medium plugs. hope this helps

milwroadfan261,  thanks for the help. after doing as you explained the body came right off. I put in a decoder but now body won't go back on. I think I may have to use a n scale decoder with a long harness. 
but again thanks.
if you have any ideas of what decoder to use please tell me

thanks,

I just purchased a Bachmann alco s-2 cp loco that dcc ready. but I am having a problem removing the shell so that I can install a decoder. the manuals don't tell how to remove the shell.  are there any screws that need to be removed and if so where are they located.

I just purchased a Bachmann also s-2  CP dcc ready loco. the problem I am having is how to remove the shell so I can put in a decoder. the manuals/paperwork included with it DO NOT explain or tell a person how to remove the shell. can someone tell me if 1. there are some screws that need to be removed first. or 2. is it some clips that have to be pressed.

rich , I just got a used prr k-4 pacific 4-6-2 and I noticed that the wipers behind the drivers are bent. is this the same problem you are having with these wipers being bent? I haven't run it yet because I have to fix a couple broken wires from the tender to the loco.
could you post a picture of the back of the drivers. I would like to see if I will be having the same problem.

thanks

yardmaster , I opened the tender and found the board in the center of the tender. I also found where and how the wires go. I need to call Bachmann service to see if they can (1.) fix the wire connector  (2) the scrapers behind the drive wheels are bent and can be fixed or replaced. I was looking at digitrax  decoder  dh163 LO which looks like a pcb/decoder with a 8 pin connector on it. I think it would work.

I haven't opened the tender yet. I am traveling so I don't have all my tools for my trains. I will be home in oct. at which time I will open the tender.