Hi Rich,

As noted above the 66307 CSX GP40 uses a simplified Soundtraxx Sound Value decoder. If you are comfortable doing so, you could swap out the factory installed decoder board for a full feature decoder with more sounds and CV options.

Bachmann is indeed transitioning to using the Econami decoder package in our HO Sound Value brand locomotives, starting with models shipping in 2023. Item #66307 was first shipped in 2022 before this change was made; there will be a transition period as we sell out of the "legacy" Sound Value decoders and we upgrade each model to Econami decoders, in partnership with Soundtraxx.

Hi all,

The HO DCC Ready Baldwin 4-6-0 is plug-and-play with an 8-pin plug.

The Sound Value version uses a Soundtraxx Sound Value decoder, which is a simplified version of their Tsunami/Econami technology. These decoders are not available for separate sale, but if you want to use Soundtraxx for your installation, their Tsunami2 installation recommendation for DCC Ready is as follows:

Decoder: TSU-1100| 884006
Speaker/Baffle: 810153 / 810110

However, you can also install any NMRA compliant decoder from other companies- DCC Ready offers the flexibility to install the decoder of your choice!

Hi Grigoriy,

Here is the link to our current "universal" HO coupler cover.

This screw should fit in the above coupler cover.

Feel free to contact our parts department to confirm this.

Quote from: trainman203 on May 23, 2023, 07:29:44 AMI'm not completely sure how licensing fallen flag railroad names on models works. I know that the Bach Man has already produced 1940s era freight cars with fallen flags names like Santa Fe and Pennsylvania and such.  I'm probably mistaken, but I thought that once you paid those guys off, you could use those names on models from then on out.

Is the case more like, you tell the XYZ Railroad, that you want to manufacture a certain number of cars decorated in their name, in a certain run and then they charge you on a per car basis? 

Yes, using "fallen flag" and current railroads is not a problem. The licensing comment is more in regards to non-railroad brands like Disney and Dreamworks.

Hi all,

The Bachmann team is aware of the issues with uploading image attachments. We are very close to our storage capacity for the forum, and except for select images with small enough file sizes, you may not be able to upload any further attachments. If you are looking to post an image that is directly online, you will have to provide a direct link to the image's URL. If your image is on your personal device, you will have to upload at an external service such as Google Drive and provide a link. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope to have a more permanent solution in the future.

We are always happy to receive suggestions for new products including train sets. Please note that while we will monitor this thread and the rest of the forum for suggestions, we can't guarantee that we can make any of them a real product. In particular, it is difficult to make products requiring third party licensing, unless it is a license Bachmann already has the rights to. (Currently, Thomas & Friends, Ringling Bros., Boy Scouts of America, and Norman Rockwell.)

Please feel free to keep posting your train set suggestions in this thread, as well as Thomas & Friends suggestions in the T&F forum!

Hi Grapevine Flyer,

We don't have any immediate plans for a specific Blunami vesion of Thomas, or any other factory-equipped Blunami models.

However, we do current have DCC Sound Value versions of Thomas and Percy in development, that may be able to be adapted to Blunami when they are available... stay tuned!

The short answer to this question is that any NMRA-compliant DCC decoder will be compatible with a Bachmann DCC Ready locomotive. Dependent on which item you wish to install DCC in, the decoder solution and installation process may differ.

• For some locomotives, a decoder/module designed specifically for that model may be offered directly by Bachmann, designed and manufactured by one of our decoder suppliers. (Example: 44960 Plug & Play ACS-64 DCC & Sound Module is a TCS WOWSound® module designed specifically for the DCC Ready ACS-64 locomotive, included in the 00772 Amtrak® City Sprinter set.)
• Most DCC Ready locomotives include an 8-pin plug for drop-in decoder installation. More recent and future DCC Ready locomotives will replace the 8-pin plug with a 21-pin (HO scale) or NEXT-18 (N scale) plug.
• Some older DCC Ready Locomotives may not have an 8-pin plug and require soldering the decoder. In this case, and in general, the simplest definition of "DCC Ready" is that the motor is electrically isolated from the chassis of the locomotive.
• If you wish to install a sound decoder, you will need a speaker in addition to a decoder. Some DCC Ready/"Silent" DCC locomotives come with a speaker pre-installed, while older models or models with limited/no space for a speaker may not.
  

DCC technicians and decoder manufacturers can offer advice and help select a specific decoder for your model. Some manufacturers such as TCS and Soundtraxx have decoder selection and installation guides on their websites.

While many of the features are the same, the E-Z Command Plus (item no. 44933) has a number of improvements over the original E-Z Command system (item no. 44932.)

-The E-Z Command Plus can control up to 29 decoder functions over the original E-Z Command's 9 functions.
-An LED speed indicator has been added, so that the operator can determine the relative speed of the addressed locomotive when turning the control knob. This way, the operator can easily tell whether the locomotive is running at low, medium, full speed, etc.
-The existing E-Z Command has an emergency stop button that stops the movement of all trains on all tracks. On the E-Z Command Plus, you can also make an emergency stop of the actively selected locomotive by pressing down the control knob.
-LED indicators have been added or updated to the address and function buttons to more easily identify which DCC addresses/functions are selected and in use.

The only other major difference with the Plus is that due to internal design changes, it is recommended to have a separate programming track for assigning addresses to locomotives. "Programming on the main" is still supported, but changing addresses will cause the address of all locomotives on the main track to be changed.

All previous E-Z Command accessories such as the Walk-Around Companion, 5 Amp Power Booster, and Automatic Reverse Loop Module are compatible with the E-Z Command Plus.

Please refer to the E-Z Command Plus instruction manual for further information: https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/documents/44933EZCommandPlus.pdf

Also see the Introduction to E-Z Command Plus video here:

Hi Ralph,

The E-Z Command Walkaround controllers are still compatible with the E-Z Command Plus. Please note that when using the Walk-Around Companion, you will be limited to 28-speed steps and functions FO-F4 for all 9 addresses.

Hi Donald,

I think the replies above have some good advice. I will say that if you are new to model railroading, E-Z Track is a great track system to get started with. We have a few E-Z Track how-to videos on our YouTube channel that show the basics of assembling E-Z Track. We also have various how-to videos for the E-Z Command DCC system that show how it interfaces with E-Z Track, and you may be able to adapt this advice to use with your NCE system.

You might find our E-Z Model Railroads book to be helpful.

Good luck!

Hi chasbush,

Are you interested in the diameter of the prototype or the HO model?

The prototype driver diameter for the USRA Light Pacific is 73 inches. On the model this scales to about 2 cm/.78 inches.

Hi mvideo,

The Philadelphia & Reading 4-4-0 was part of an uncatalogued set called the "Iron Valley." It was made exclusively for Boscov's department stores in the Northeast.

Here's what the set box looks like:
https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images1/1/1010/30/bachmann-exclusive-iron-valley-train_1_2612db50a8716867dc63bbbeac3b55f8.jpg

Hi Loco Bill and PballNut,

We've been doing some back end work on the website to make improvements to the instructions and parts diagram reference section. We do have the Dash 9 documents available and I'll see if we can get them uploaded to access here in the meantime on Monday.

Hi Nate,

Out of the box, the turnouts in the E-Z Track First Railroad Track Pack are manual and not DCC compatible. However, you can convert your manual turnouts to DCC with the Trackside Turnout Decoder or the DCC Control Box with Turnout Decoder, sold separately.

There should be green wires included in the box to connect the manual turnouts to the control boxes. The red wire connects the terminal rerailer track to your speed controller (not included.)

Hi Damian,

We have advised our parts and service manager to order spare N scale couplers. They will be compatible with all Thomas & Friends rolling stock including Annie and Clarabel. (Note that these are unique from traditional US "Rapido" couplers and the couplers used by N scale Thomas & Friends locomotives.)