The fact is that they advertised the product in 1988 as THE BIG HAULER in the May-June issue of GR.
If Bachmann wish to interpret their product history without qualifying it, such as the first track powered Big Hauler, then that is their right.

The battery powered Radio Controlled train set, "THE BIG HAULER", was first advertised in GR on page # 5 of the May-June 1988 issue.
End of argument.

I also bought one earlier in 1988 on a visit to the USA.  Had to pay full MSRP as that was before dealers started discounting them.  

That they have morphed into the Annie of today is simply amazing.
To celebrate the anniversary I would like to see upgraded electronics fitted to make them easier to convert to DCC or battery R/C use.  A Plug'n'Play socket would be the way to go.
That would turn an excellent loco into a fantastic on.

Greg.
There is a standard HO DCC compatible socket in the three examples I have seen.  That plug also handles the lights.  All the lights were correctly wired Blue/white for the front and Blue/yellow for the rear.  They are plugged and socketed.
The only other plugs are red and black from the track pick ups.  From the main wheels and the pony trucks.

The blue wires are connected to the mechanical chuff timer in the Shay cylinder heads.
They provide three beats per shaft revolution.

It certainly would be possible to replace the stock R/C and speed controller with an after market R/C and ESC.
Provided the R/C is 2.4 GHz to overcome the interference problems of older AM type radios, pretty well any reversing brushed type ESC that can handle 7.2 volts would work.  Brushed ESC's are quite difficult to find nowadays, but they are around. 
But, is it worth it?  For a start you would lose the sound and the speed control is a bit ON - OFF in action.
Expect to pay around US$50 for the TX and RX and about US$30 for a suitable ESC. 

Greg.
The two headshunts must stay in place running across the pcb.
If it is not chuffing my guess is that the chuff circuit is broken somewhere between the timing drum and the sound system.  Try the test Jeff talks about.

Greg.
Which steam MyLocosound is it?  Peter makes two different ones.
One has a mechanical chuff timer and uses the contacts in the loco to time the chuff.
The other one has the chuff controlled via the voltage on the track.
Both need to be powered by the track pick ups.

If you can leave it until the club meet next Sat the 15th I will have a look at it for you.

What sort of DC power?
They do not like running on PWM so make sure it is regular Linear DC.

The Melbourne Cup is no different horse race than any other.

If you are not in on the fix it is like simply giving money way.

Hello Gene.

I am away from home in Melbourne for the next 10 days.
I have your E mail and will send a detailed reply as soon as I get a chance to sit still for an hour or so.

I take it this C-19 is to be used with regular DC track power, that is, controlled by a track side power pack, and is not fitted with any form of DCC or radio control or batteries.
1. If that is the case, then the Phoenix sound to use is the PB11, not the P8.  The PB11 has a back up battery to keep the sound alive for awhile after the loco has been stopped.
2. The Phoenix P8 is designed for use with constant track power with an onboard control system such as DCC or battery R/C etc.
3. Where regular variable track voltage is used for power, Sierra can be used as is without any modification. 
4. If the Sierra is to be used with DCC or on board battery powered R/C, other components will be needed.

The only Spectrum loco that had the chuff signal back to front was the K-27 and that can be easily corrected.  Since then all Spectrum locos have the chuff signal polarity correct.

Installing battery R/C into the Connie is a snip. 
I can't help you with information about specific pcb's as I am one of those people who believe in leaving well enough alone and make very few changes to the stock wiring.
If you want a simple basic installation you could try this method:  http://rcs-rc.com/PDF/Acessories/Installation-kits/BIK-CONNIE.pdf

At long last I have had a customer send me a sample of the latest version of the Bachmann Lyn for conversion to battery R/C.
The Lyn is one sweet little loco.  It runs really smoothly and is quite easy to pull apart.
There are a couple of ways to install battery R/C and this is the way I have done it without sound.
It is quite small and there are some left over mouldings from the previous version inside the boiler which have to be removed.  Plus it is necessary to remove the smoke unit to get access to the boiler insides to remove the offending bits of plastic.
To start remove the four screws holding the chassis to the body.
The chassis simply drops out in one piece, making life very easy.

I then removed the stock Bachmann pcb from the chassis.  To get the chassis top as flat as possible I cut off the four pcb mounting lugs with side cutters.

The two part RCS # PRO-3 ESC sits snugly down on the chassis top held in place with non metallic silicone adhesive.

Next up was removing the plastic mouldings inside the boiler.  I did this with a long hacksaw blade via the front of the smoke box, finished off with a sharp hobby knife.

Just about the only place for the ON-OFF switch, charge jack and programming push button is between the firebox and cab wall.  These parts were mounted through the floor of the cab and are unseen from outside.

Access to the switch, jack and pushbutton is from the underside.  I will space them out a little further next time.

I used two 7.2 volt packs of ENELOOP hybrid NiMh - Alkaline made up three cells wide by two cells long.  These are mounted one in each water tank.  To do so you must remove the weights and the plastic weight locating stanchions.  I did that with side cutters.

The batteries will only fit if you cant the over slightly when gluing them in.


14.4 volts provides a nice top speed to compliment the smooth running of the loco.  I am amazed at how much traction it has.  8 pieces of scratch built bogie rolling stock on the flat.
Nice one Bachmann.

The Lyn comes fitted with a speaker mounted behind the rear of the cab.  It also has a proper mechanical chuff timer as well.
Although my customer didn't want sound I thought I would trial fit a MyLocosound, but there is not quite enough room under the boiler for it as well as the R/C equipment.
I have figured out another way of doing it using Li-Ion batteries mounted in the boiler instead of the side tanks. That will free up the two side tanks for the sound in one and the decoder in the other with the actual motor driver part in the smoke box.  That will be done with the next one that is coming shortly.

Hello macappin.
If you have a K-27 would you kindly check the length and width dimensions of the opening in the tender that gains access to the pcb socket in comparison to the C-19.