I have several proto 2000 GP30s and GP9s. On the boxes they have a DCC logo, but do not say ready or equipped. I opened up one of them and there is a circuit board wired to lights, motor and some resistors on the board. It looks as if there are eight pins with wires coming from them so I'm guessing that could be a decoder already in place. I currently just run them DC, but I am currently making plans to convert all of my locomotives to DCC. It doesn't look like there is a place for a decoder to plug in. Does this mean it is already equipped? By the way these were made by life-like before the walthers buyout.

Buff, not all of your points make sence, especially when they are full of spelling errors.

First, is this a DC or DCC layout, because they are a little different. Buff does have a point saying that newer locomotives follow current on DC layouts so double, triple, or quadruple heading with locos facing different directions isn't a problem. I have no problem triple heading and sometimes quadruple heading my proto 2000 GP-30s and GP-9s on a DC layout with little speed drop but NO strength loss.



Buff, it is hard to make a point if you don't spell things right. (sort, did you mean short? stream, steam or streamlined?) Long trains won't cause a short in the system unless your wiring is faulty. You might experience power loss due to exessive consumption, but not a short.(maybe you mean power shortage. Look up short to see what it really is.)

What are you trying to say by "...has problems moving without stalling..." If something moves without stalling, I'd say it funs fine. Then "dummies" where used when you want to see more locomotives and don't need the extra power. The amtrak dummies you refer to are not the only dummies. And I'm really courious with how you claim you get more power by adding a non powered unit. Plus amtrak doesn't exactly go with vintage cars.

I have two of the proto2000 gp7/9 and have kadee#5 on them. They run perfectly. If I had the money I would buy some of the new released ones with sound.

Most DCC decoders have the ability to run on DC powered track. Typically you should read all of the features when buying an engine. I have seen runs on DCC and DC on most of the newer products advertised in Model Railroader. Agian it depends on the decoder used and that varies often. Of course you won't get your DCC features on DC track. Mostly you will get forward, bcakward, and on some like MTH or BLI, minimal sound on DC. I can't say yes or no because it is individual to the model, but I would always geuss you could use it on DC. If for some reason it won't, you can always remove the decoder.

Jhanecker2 has a point about the VA (volt-ampere) and I was talking about volts. I'm not much of an electrician so he might have a point there. Is the power supply you are using the one that came with the walthers set? Your math seems to prove my point that the locomotive is acually travelling the right speed although it looks slow. I had and still have some of the old life-like now walthers engines. It seemed those could fly if EMD put wings on the engine. The spectrum will be the more acurate model.

I also just realized something. Your new engine is has the decoder already in it. The engine will run better if on a DCC controller but will run just fine on DC.

The walthers 4wheel drive model is probably the old life like model. This was a strong puller but not prototypical in speed. How often do you see a freight train in your town travelling at 100mph. The spectrum model is a much better quality model and probably runs at a more resonable scale speed. I have never heard of a 7v power supply either, just 12v and 16v. That might be another reason why your new locomotive seems to be sluggish.

Thanks for the help every one. As I have more deisels than steamers I shouldn't have a hard time getting the wheels clean on those, but my rolling stock sounds like I have to plan a day to get through them all. You mentioned metal wheelsets. Who makes a good one that fits athearn blue box kits without much altering to the truck?

I have an asortment of models from Spectrum and IHC steam to proto 2000 and athearn desisels. I do not run much now because I just have a smaller "portable layout" until I can build a real layout. I use mostly athearn blue box kits and some bachmann cars, but I have never cleaned the wheels on the engines. They seem pretty dirty and I can see the electrical contact performance dwindling when I run them. I don't have much money to spend right now, so what are some good, cheaper, chemicals that can be a good wheel cleaner?

I don't have much money in my train account either. Even though I can't afford alot of them, I buy Kadee couplers. Kadee is a metal coupler unlike Ezmate or Mchenry. They are stronger and will hold up longer. The new wisker couplers are excellent. I typically use the #5 spring loaded ones. they look nice and the only problems ive had is running out of them. I have had a probelm with breaking on all of the Ezmates that came on bachmann stuff. I have not had problems with Ezmate coupling a kadee. I have had a problem with ezmates uncoupling. the springs on the kadees prevent that. I have not replaced the ezmates on my new spectrum 2-8-0. The newer ones are better, but If you can, go with kadee.

Thanks, I had problems with a kadee #5 I put in the tender before, and I'll see what i can do to help that.
I also had an incident with my mike falling off a three foot high trestle ending with a bent drawbar, broken couplers and the fake front coupler being lost. That is all fixed now, but I want to be able to double head with it now. Ill see about the #38s. One day, dcc and sound.

I have a IHC mike and I like using it for long frieghts. I just ordered a spectrum 2-8-0 and I want to use them in tandem with the mike in the back, but the mike doesn't have a front coupler, just a fake one. I can get some kadee boxes and couplers, but I don't know how to install it. Any suggestions?

I just sent in the request for the replacement.

Hey all,

I'm a shortline modeler and just have a temp. layout at the moment. The 2-6-2 is something I want for my layout, but I don't want just the regular version. A spectrum DCC in Santa Fe would be what I want.

I just ordered a Spectrum DCC Santa Fe 2-8-0 for my frieght, but I still need something prototypical for a small passenger train. I bought a prarie from bachmann about six years ago and I loved it...until it broke! The smoke generator was too hot and melted back the stack, and the linkage was loose, causing it to come off and break off the guide on the cylinder. Now it cant run unless I take off all the linkage on that side.

If they made a spectrum 2-6-2, I would buy one right away, but they need it in Santa Fe. I've done some research, and ATSF had quite a few praries.

I'd also sometime like to see a spectrum pacific that is not a K-4. Not all lines had k4's.