I have several Bachmann steamers that came with Soundtraxx sound installed,and these are very good. But when I decided to add sound to my four spetrum dcc ready connies, I chose to use TCS wowsound decoders with the keepalive feature. They have great sound and motor control, and with the keepalive feature power interruptions and stalls are eliminated. Soundtraxx offers a better variety of sound selections, and if they had the keepalive feature I would have used Soundtraxx. Some of my Easytrack is Steel Alloy, more difficult to maintain than Nickel Silver.

Check out Youtube.There are a couple videos made of 630 between Chatt. and Att. Please keep us posted on the progress of 4501.

March 2,Saturday, I was in Attalla,Alabama to see TVRM #630,with the smallest water tender I have ever seen,and a GP40-2 MUed to a RPE4C Slug w/cab,trailing 12 cars, arrive from Chattanooga,Tenn. Eventhough it was cold and snowy,sure was nice to see steam in AL. again. Can't wait to see 4501 up and running again. And I hope the rumors about 611 are true, would love to see her run again.

Shado, I'm not sure how large a layout you already have,but if you are starting out with the Flyer set you will want to expand. I would like to suggest upgrading to the EZ Command DCC System. The #10 button will still operate your DC loco, while #s 1-9 can be used to program the DCC loco that comes with it. I've had one for years and it still works great.

I believe with Soundtraxx decoders you have to go from short address to long address and then back to short address. Try programming from #3 to #1000. Make sure it responds to #1000. Then from #1000 back to #124 and see if that works.

Thanks for the info WB, although I am a bit disappointed to hear this.The ones I am getting will have DCC and Sound,so hopefully they will still be smooth runners.

I have not seen many details about the "NEW" F7. Will they have the same smooth running flywheel drive as the FA and other new Bachmann diesels? I hope so because I've had two on backorder from Micro Mark for what seems like forever.

Great idea Jerry. That may be a better way for me to go. Nice job.

I also have a Bachmann TT. I'm thinking of getting some brick patterned styrene sheets and scratchbuilding my own roundhouse.

Sears & Rog,I noticed Trainworld still has #84905,MD&PA 4-6-0 w/dcc & sound listed for $149.99.Thought you might like to know.

I would like to see a Southern Ps4 Heavy Pacific.especially with Soundtraxx sound.I have never met a R.R. fan/modeler who did not like the Ps4.I think some might be available in brass but that's about it.And if Bachmann decided to produce another articulated,I would like to see the N&W 2-6-6-4 with Soundtraxx.And Bachmann has shown many times in the past they're not afraid to spend money on new tooling.

rObert,J works much better now.Just needs fine tuning.Thanks again.

Thanks rObert for the info.I will try the CV changes and see how that does.

I purchased one with sound a few years ago,loco#606,item#83902.It looks and sounds great,but is very,very weak,did not even have enough power to slip the drivers.Sent the J to Bachmann serv. dept. with note saying motor too weak.They replaced it with another one but it had the same problem as well.Of the twenty Bachmann steamers I have,the J with sound is the only one with this problem. 

I decided I did not need all the extra sounds available with the tsunami,so I purchased a soundtraxx motor decoder for my dcc ready s4 and a sound value version(same road,different #).The two soundtraxx decoders mu perfectly and not only do I have sound but also enough tractive effort to handle a good cut of cars for my yard.But if you want or need the extra sounds,plus the extra labor of installing decoder and speakers,then the tsunami is a good choice.