OK! So I have the train set and now I was going to install the optional track lighting on the passenger cars. I must be doing something wrong and don't know it. Everytime I hook up the wires and turn on the power, the power supply says I have a SHORT. Am I only supposed to use ONE of the trucks for the power or both? Looking at the wheel sets, are they insulated on one side. They don't look it to me.  I am connecting neg to neg to the neg terminal on the battery box and pos to pos on the positive terminal. Tried different connections and it still does it. Take the car off the track and everything is OK. I must be missing something??

PS....the cars are the Jackson & Sharp battery operated G scale.

  I bought some USED track on EBay and some of it was REALLY REALLY used and some was not bad at all. It doesn't clean up good at all like I thought it would. BUT I did find something that does a good job if the track not to badly in need of cleaning up. If you want to try this..DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK.
   I took some Bar Keepers Friend and a scrubby/sponge and cleaned the top of one section of track to see how it would work. Cleaned it up nicely with a bit of rubbing! Followed up with some track cleaner and it looked alot better.
This seemed to work for me. How it works for you is up to you.

Wow! I set up the train last night on what track I have and was impressed with what I heard. I had a Big Hauler Royal Blue Line some years ago but the chuff sounds never sounded like the one this engine has. I even upgraded the chuff on the Blue set and it still wouldn't compare to this Silverado set. I can live with this chuff sound. I do want to ADD a whistle and bell to this engine. I am finding that some sound modules might not handle the Large Scale. Soundtraxx is rated only at 1amp and they said  they would not recommend using it in the LS. Digitrax on the other hand has a motor and function decoder rated at 5 amps....the DG583S. They told me I could ADD sound with the SFX004 Soundbug by connecting it to the left and right rail wires. The sound would only be from a generic steam engine. AND keep in mind I do want to keep the price of all this within reason... Anyideas anyone?
Thanks!

   Well it arrived yesterday! I was excited to say the least. When I opened the door there was the box....OR what was left of it by the postal service!!!!! With tons of tape everywhere, I knew this couldn't be good. I brought it in and opened what was left of the box. All the track was gone except for five pieces and they were damaged beyond usage. Luckily it looked like the train was OK. I just now got done unpacking it and it is indeed OK. I can replace the track but sending it ALL back, including the train would have been a major repacking job! I cant see how the postal service managed to tear open the box and lose half of the bottom. Next time I'll specify a different delivery service.

   I just bought a NEW Big Hauler Set...The Silverado #90050. What generation engine can I expect to get in it? Will it be a generation 4 or 5. I know it wont be an Annie. I can HOPE though...LOL

  Ya I suppose I could just live with it. The tops of the rails cleanup pretty good. The sides of the rails almost look like you could use some Tarnex or TarnAway and clean them up. They arent rusted,just not the silvery color they once were. OR I could just buy NEW track from now on...LOL!

 I am starting to get into G scale and am finding that track is a huge expense. For now I am going to go with Bachmann silver tin type track. I purchased some USED track and want to clean it up a bit. Tried Brasso and chrome cleaner and even WD40 but its just like using water. The track doent cleanup worth a darn! Any ideas other than going to brass track? I am using the train indoors in a heated room raised up on a table.

 Has anyone upgraded a G scale 4-6-0 big hauler to DCC and sound? Sure would like some ideas.
Thanks

I guess I will try the Soundtraxx harness kit. Will let you know how it works out.

  I am looking for a wiring harness for between the loco and tender. I need a six pin connector with wires attached. I located the sound decoder in the tender and need to connect 2 wires for the track power, 2 wires for the headlight and 2 wires for the motor. All power sources are in the engine. Tried Miniatronics but didn't see anything there only up to 4 connections. Soundtraxx has a 12 pin connector kit which is a little too much. Any help would be appreciated.

  Thanks!

   I have a Bachmann 4-8-8-4 and it came DCC ready so this was easy to install along with a small harness with the 8 pin plug. I know the decoder has a generic set of sounds but I wanted to get something low cost first to see how it performed. I was/am concerned about using an 8 ohm speaker as I dont know too much about the differences between the 8 and 32 ohm speakers. If an 8 ohm speaker will work then I will try it. Just dont want to damage the decoder right off the bat.
Thanks!

   I bought this sound decoder just to get my feet wet so to speak and see if I like the way it works while not breaking the bank money wise. Its OK for me but it came with a 1" diameter speaker and I think it would sound a whole lot better with a larger oval speaker. Question is where do I get a 32 ohm speaker for this Digitrax decoder? I see alot of 4 ohm and 8 ohm speakers out there. Will they work? Don't want to destroy the decoder. Any ideas? Thanks guys!

  First off let me say that I am somewhat new to DCC. Most of my trains have been DC. I am trying to keep up with the times and am learning as I go. So here is what I want to do. I have the Daylight GS4 and it is equipped with DCC. I want to upgrade to sound. I see that the decoder in the tender has an eight pin plug that plugs into a board. I assume that one of the sound decoders made by Digitrax, MRC or Soundtraxx, will plug into the socket in its place. I want the motor functions and sound but don't want to have to solder connections etc...There is a place for a speaker also. Any recommendations on which decoder I should get? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

   Here's one of those things that happens clear out of the blue for no reason at all.
I was working on my layout and picked the engine and tender up and all of a sudden I was missing the drawbar that connects the tender and the engine together. It WAS screwed to the tender but somehow the screw came loose and I didn't notice it and the bar and screw fell off. I have searched the room numerous times but no luck in finding it. Anyone know where I can get a drawbar for this engine?? Anyplace that carries parts like this for steam engines? Help!

Before I get too involved, has anyone installed DCC and sound in an Athearn BB F7A or B? The DCC is no problem,but probably would be a TIGHT squeeze for the sound...esp the speaker. The F7A has the large super power weight inside. The B unit has the same. I do have F7A & B DUMMY units too.