Quote from: David(UK) on August 24, 2007, 05:29:32 AM
Oh come on!
That sort of question should have been easily established by the asker in the time he took to run up his PC, find this site and then type the question out and wait for an answer.
I'll say no more.

David, please.

He didn't say he owned one, merely that he planned to install a decoder in the 2-8-0.

I have been wondering about some of the HO locos which I am thinking of using for future On30 projects. But of course, I would not consider purchasing all of them just to pry them apart to see if "DCC-ready" is what I hope it means - an installed DCC 8 pin plug. Manufacturers are not always honest about advertised features. I don't know about retailers near Leeds, but our local train retailers do not like people to even open boxes, much less allow customers to tear their merchandise apart out of curiosity.

Ken

Check out:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/mogul_page/

and:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/mogul_tsunami/

Ken

Quote from: wamcm on August 06, 2007, 12:18:23 PM
I need to select a Bachmann locomotive for my module (s).  I have seen the Forney and it looks and sounds great.  While the predcessor roads didn't have any Forneys, one did have a Mason-Bogie which is visually similar to the Forney but mechanically different.  So that is a possibility. 

However, as I really like Consolidations (the Ma & Pa has seven) that is likely my first choice.  I haven't read a full review of this model so I ask for your opinions on it.  Also, since I must have sound, has any one any knowledge of the Bachmann 2-8-0 with Soundtraxx factory installed sound as advertized by Tony's?  On the other hand is the modeler installation of a Tsunami in the tender an easily doable thing? I have installed decoders in some of the brass locos and a couple of the Bachmann HO Consolidations, but I am getting pretty old and become all thumbs at times.

I have two of the 2-8-0 with the Tsunami sound decoder. So far, they are my favorite locomotives. The sound is awesome and the speed levels are perfect, right out of the box. Tony's Trains has them on sale still at under $200:
http://tonystrains.com/locomotive/bachmann.htm
For a review of the 2-8-0, go to:
http://tonystrains.com/tonystips/2006/081906.htm
That would be my choice right now.

Ken

Quote from: br549 on August 02, 2007, 05:11:38 PM
Well I came up with the same results one big 0... 
Obviously they have been sold out unfortunately. You might contact Soundtraxx via their web site and ask when they might start manufacturing them again. After all they dropped the old DSDLC series and when they sold out that was it. But the good news is they have a new series that is smaller and has better sound . email them via their web site and ask about the Goose rail bus DSD  like the old cliche, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!  www.soundtraxx.com
Best regards!

Bob,

Good idea. I'll see how they respond. I have three railcars that are disgustingly silent.

Ken

From an email I got from Micro Mark:



Ken

From an email I got from Micro Mark:



Ken

Quote from: br549 on July 31, 2007, 03:22:03 PM
I will say the Soundtraxx N scale goose /Rail bus DSD sound really cool as it putts along down the track . Its a tight fit but it will work once its tucked inside the hood
Bob

Bob,

Can you tell me where you got the goose sound decoder? I can't seem to find any online and my local hobby shop is useless on the subject.

Ken

Quote from: C.P.R.R. Manager on July 30, 2007, 02:36:06 PM
Go to the source...  Walthers New Product Announcements

http://www.walthers.com/exec/newproducts/cr/200707/Locomotive

Walthers: $290
Caboose Hobbies: $193
http://www.caboosehobbies.com/
I am not sure if they are different versions or what. Both list DCC, maybe one has a sound decoder?

Ken

Quote from: Terry Toenges on July 29, 2007, 10:48:13 AM
If the only comments about the new 4-4-0 are from people who like them, then how is Bachmann to know if there any dislikes about them?

Corporations and even small companies which manufacture anything in a capitalist market-based economy will not offer anything for very long if there is not enough sales to produce profits. Remember the Edsel? Market  pressures work well in the long run. So if not enough people buy the new 4-4-0, it will vanish from the market quickly enough, replaced by something else as surely as night follows day.

In my humble opinion, we seem to be trying to go where the HO modelers are now. With all the choices the massive HO crowd has, they can nitpick much more about not having a certain loco available with the exact individual characteristics they require. If something offered with the paint a shade off, they can complain and their much larger base will cause the many HO manufacturers to be jumping to satisfy their cravings. I suspect however that Bachmann has done their homework in creating another locomotive that can satisfy more of us than not.

On30 is a much smaller nitch market, so don't expect the exact locomotive or rolling stock that you need from the very few companies who thankfully provide On30 stuff, domestically or from the Asian slave workers of The Peoples Republic. When I started in On30, there was only HO locos being converted into On30. We have come a long way since those early days.

Until Bachmann or others produce the exact loco we have drooled over, kitbashing or scratchbuilding will have to be the answer. If you want something in particular, you might have to make it on your own or convert what is available. Or give up and change scales - joinng the HO or N multitude. It's all up to us.

Ken

ksivils said it all and kudos to Bob for his comment too. If we are all going to list those locomotives we don't intend to purchase, the list would fill this blog. But why go through all that? I can see nothing but lots more fun working over a couple of these beauties like many of us did with the Moguls. Think of all those posts we read from people bit... er complaining about some of Bachmann's locos not being able to run on extremely tight 8 inch radius track on their shoebox layouts. This 4-4-0 should fit around just about any layout anyone could dream up.

Ken

From the several On30 Yahoo groups. I LIKE it.

Ken

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1384/931753271_15eb7685cb_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1396/931753417_ea2c09301b_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1300/931753541_dd8179e7a1_o.jpg

Quote from: scottychaos on July 27, 2007, 09:05:47 PM
What 4-4-0?

Reprinted from another thread from the Bach-mann:"The announcements are posted. Our 4-4-0 will be very similar to the Mt. Gretna Narrow Gauge locomotive that was built on-order by Baldwin in 1889. The order was place on 22 June, and the locomotive was delivered on 2 July, in time for the Independence Day celebration. Eight working days! Ours took longer!
I hope we'll have pictures soon. The samples are at the show.
Have fun!
the Bach-man"

Quote from: finderskeepers on July 27, 2007, 10:11:46 AM

Talk about off-beat prototypes, it is probably the worst looking narrow gauge 4-4-0 ever built. I just looked at the plans in the Model Railroader Steam Encyclopedia.

That will be a letdown to many people.

Harold
[/quote]

I thought it was odd to pick a 2' 4-4-0 as the prototype, I thought they would do something more central american, but I guess the forces of tiny won out on this one.
[/quote]

According to some sources online, the Mt. Gretna had "the only 24-inch gauge 4-4-0s ever operated in North America."
http://www.tvwiki.tv/wiki/Mount_Gretna_Narrow_Gauge_Railway
I guess that explains the choice. As a freelance builder, it will do just fine with me though.

Ken

Quote from: Tom McDonald on July 24, 2007, 08:58:54 AM
Hi Bob,

I have one on my On30 layout.  Only modification I've done to it so far is remove the railing and house as not only are they are way out of scale, but the width on the On30 engines will hit the railing. The turntable scales out to about 72' in O scale which is larger than the 65' turntable at Durango I am modeling but it will be adequate for my needs. 

Tom,

Please, if you can, upload a photo? I think many others like me would be interested. It has indexing, correct?

Ken

Quote from: ebtnut on July 22, 2007, 10:56:14 AM
I agree that 1:50 is better than 1:43, though I tried to convince them in Pittsburgh to go 1:48 if they were going to do them in "O".  But they (and much of the "toy" world does 1:50, so I guess they had to go with the flow.  I'll just have to make sure these models are no where near the large group of 1:43's I've assembled over the years as the only recourse.

Yes, I too have a load of 1:43 vehicles. I guess they should be placed in the background somewhere on my ECRR. I have used "forced perspective" before with my N Scale layout: Z Scale buildings in the background to make the scene look larger. And the smaller 1:50 stuff would most likely do ok in the foreground area. That leaves the immediate area around our railroad equipment for the much more expensive true 1:48 vehicles.

Heck, if O Scale Standard model railroaders have survived with five foot gauge track for generations, I suppose that we narrow minded folks can live with some out-of-scale road vehicles.

Ken