Ram, Tyco and Mantua were a combined company.The Mantua GP20 was the unaltered TYCO shell (except for the pilots).

Jbrock,when Mantua quit making model trains Model Power bought most of the dies and have actually inporoved some decent to start with product.(IMHO)

Back in the day Tyler Company (TYCO) and Mantua were two different companies.

Personaly I think every HO (or On30) modeler should invest in a truck tuner.I have some Bachmann,LifeLike,and TYCO cars that now roll just as nice as my more expencive cars because I took the time to use the truck tuner on them.

I just wish there was a N scale version.

Martha,if you have not dicovered it by now one rail of your flex track will not move.The other rail will slide ,always lay the flex with the sliding rail as the inside rail then after you have formed your curve the inside rail will stick out from the end cut this piece off even with the other rail .If your curves are big enough to need more than one piece of track try to stagger the joints to help relieve and kinks at the joints.

Tried the unit on two different systems,and it would not do anything.I really should have checked it when I first got it but shortly after I won the auction (from the Favorite Spot a great place to deal with) we lost our layout home.So the only thing it did out of the box was pose pretty for a roster pic.

Replaced the B-mann decoder with a Digitrax DH165IP everything is good now. Also found out the other gm is DCC ready but requires hard wiring in a decoder or harness,or buying a new board from B-mann with the 8 pin plug.

I think I will get one of the guys at club (with better soldering skills than I have) to solder in a new plug.

I know that at least one of my 2-6-0s is not DCC ready as it is from the very first batch of locos done (darn thing is bullet proof took a 4' drop to a concrete floor and the only damage was a few cab windows fell out).

Thanks,I will keep this in mind when I do the conversion.

the decoder. Hi, I have several On30 locos one of which has a brand new decoder installed This is a gas mechanical.I have several steam units I want toput decoders in but I am curious as to where Bachmann puts them in the DCC equipted Porters and and the 2-6-0s.

Another question I have is ,are all of the On30 units decoder ready? I know my other gas mechanical is becuse it has wiring directions for installing one.

As far as I know Bachmann tracjk is code 100.They do not have flex track so your best bet would be ATLAS or Model Power.The Model Power track is stiffer than the ATLAS and will hold a curve radius better,but qual;ity wise they are equal.

I have 2 gas mechanicals.1 is DCC the other is just DC. I think I am going to replace the Bachmann decoder and put a decoder in the other one.I have not decided what decoder I will use yet.

I tried 003.then 03 then 3 and it does nothing.I have been working on a N scale show layout so the GM is just setting in its box for now.

One of these cars is a Athearn,the other is a TYCO.Can you tell which car is which? By the way I body mounted the couplers on the TYCO car.

I don't use pennys except to roll them and turn in for dollar bills. Now for the best method of gluing flat stock (pennys or otherwise) the one that works for me is a thin layer of white glue (remember this is what works for me) then stack the items then let them set overnight if possible then glue the weight into the car.

I will state here that the best place for weights is close to the trucks.

I have a suggestion for those of you that don't think white glue will hold.Take two pieces of flat stock ,spread a even coat of glue to one piece,put the two parts together and let the glue dry.Then pull them apart if you can.You may just be surprized at how strong that glue bond really is.