no idea about dcc, but each steamer takes curves differently, and remember that blind drivers have a purpose -in HO or 12" to the foot...on 18" snaptrack -gosh 40 year ago??? My tyco ten wheeler couldn't do it, my dad and an old uncle had the idea to 'bank' the curves like the real thing, or a race track. Did the trick- laying flex track to 20 inch cured it on the flat. Bought a 2-10-2 latley, took the 18" I still have in sidings no swet. The stiff looking mallets might take a 15", never tried it, but I bet in every lot of models, some will, some won't, but I still bank all my curves, my mainline is 26", still bring one home now and then that can't deal with it without fiddling around with the wheels or pivots-and get an NMRA guage tool- good luck- tony 

Thanks Gene, I hate to admit it, but my favorite shop takes in alot of used stuff, consignments etc. I tend to buy his trade in's, so I rarely get a box nevermind all the goodies that came from the facory, yes, I make my own jumpers, but I'd hate to make a mistake and burn up something, guess that's the trouble with taking stuff home wrapped up like ya bought it at a fish maket. Hey, as long as the headlight isn't sky blue, like one unnamed company, all look good to me.  Flying pumps? Is that when they put the HL down by the pilot beam? That should be easy to route the original bulb, slit the bottom of the smokebox, paint the wires to look like extra plumbing, works for me! Tony

That is the new Chinese SY you have huh? Awesome thing isn't it? New sealed in celaphane is a problem, but remember the tender HAS to be plugged in to the loco tight, it might not be making a good contact, now, seems that when I buy a used dcc eqiupt something, I have to take the decoder out, 'cause someone programed thier own stuff in it, and the thing won't run on DC anymore without a dc plug- am I right guys? I try to use my dusty money pit dcc stuff to set them back to '00', but sometimes I can't do it- so, even if this was brand new in the shop, if some wiseguy put it on a dcc test track and messed around with codes, someone got to put it all back, ain't gonna be me! My 1st layout was in '65 and I wired the latest one the same way.....
happy new year and good luck-
Tony

Yes, until sealed beam bulbs and running rules changed in later steam, it wasn't even suppose to help see where you were going, just tell people up ahead that you were coming. Sounds like my car.....on another point....boy am I dissappointed with dcc in general, layout is now wired for dc, double pull/double throws, slide switches, and the fleet of oldtimers doesn't have to worry about more junk stuck under the shell...as for the Bach dcc stuff I already own, any ideas on the BEST way to backdate it to stright DC? Must be a plug available....Gosh I hope this doens't become a thread fight...Happy New year- Tony

I wasn't there at the time, and still in diapers anyway, but, didn't the CPR, GT/CN still have steam in Buffalo at this time? The 0-8-0's and pacifics I would think. Didn't some coal belt shortlines still have steam working off the E-L mainline? Can't think of the names, Attica something was one. Lots of 'written off' steam was kept around for snow melting jobs or flood prone aeas back then, which is alot of wha you see stuffed today. As far as 'after E-L' , how bout a Bachmann Chinese SY lettered SusieQ pulling a load of railfans.... you can see that for real one of these -summer -days...Happy new Year-Tony

wow this is a touchy subject huh? Might be an easy fix here, if engineering wants to go back to the drawing board for 10 minutes....take a Spectrum decapod- talk about a small proto production eh? Remove the front set of drivers, replace with a 4 wheel pilot truck. Got your mastadon don't ya? B&M and B&A had 12wheelers working out of Boston harbor, can't go much further east without getting wet...Worldwide, 4-8-0's ruled for many many years-I have pics of ex- South African Rwy 8th class in steam- less than 20 years ago. Probably still working at that same mine today. A mogul with valve gear-yes! again, used from Maine to Mexico, details that can be changed without ruining the boiler?  how about a kit where a modeler can make it a- 2-6-0 or 2-6-2, with or without wal'sv.g. didn't mdc had a system like that in the 70's? Just make something that runs good! Specifics can work against ya, the awesome spectrum 8 wheeler has dome positions and boiler taper that I just don't like, but don't have the heart to chop up.... too bad they didn't go with a cookie cutter early Schenectady than the Ricmond design, oh well, maybe next time-hay- just do the Jupiter and 119 in spectrum quality! That's my wish list....and 2 cents.....
I hope Santa is nice to each and everyone!!!
tony