While the concerns about DCC are valid, personally, at that price, I don't think you need to worry it too much. It's inexpensive enough that you could simply set it aside if you ever want to use DCC. Or, with a Dremel and some skill, you could try to fit a decoder into it yourself.

As for the coupler question, it(the HO version) comes with EZ-mate knuckle couplers. The website messed up and showed a picture of the N-scale version, which is equipped with Rapido couplers*.

Timothy

*Once again, I must complain about how slowly Bachmann is proceeding with converting to knuckle couplers in N-scale. It's been nearly a decade since Atlas and Kato did it, why can't you?

Well, back in the 70's when Amtrak ordered the AEM-7's, there were still a decent amount of grade crossings left on the corridor. So, they were later equipped with the strobes as a safety precaution to prevent grade-crossing collisions. However, as part of the Acela project, Amtrak upgraded the corridor, which included extending the electrification to Boston, replacing wooden ties with concrete ones- and removing grade crossings. They were able to eliminate all but 4 crossings on the entire corridor. So Amtrak felt the strobes were unnecessary, since only having 4 grade crossings made car-train collisions must less of an issue.

The ex-Metroliner cab cars and F40's, unlike the Acelas and HHP-8's, are not confined to the northeast corridor. They frequently venture out onto the rest of the system, were grade crossings are quite common. Hence, the strobe lights are necessary.

Timothy

BTW, that's a picture of the N-scale model. Notice the Rapido coupler.

Timothy

The N-scale 4-4-0 has a reputation of being pretty finicky. However, it appears to me that your problem is that the wheels are not properly in gauge, a common problem. I'd recommend getting an NMRA (National Model Railroad Association) standards gauge (http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product_p/nmra-98-8.htm). It will make sure all your equipment's wheel are correctly in gauge.

If the wheels do turn out to be in gauge after all, the problem is likely more bizarre and more unique to your particular locomotive.

Timothy

Usually, unless it says Lionel on the box, not that much.

Timothy

Well, on a simple DC circuit here's what happens. Current flows out of the negative terminal of the power pack to one of the rails. One of the locomotive wheels riding on said rail then picks up the current. The current is conducted by copper strips to one of the electrically isolated frame halves. Since the frame halves are isolated, the electricity is forced to go through the lightbulb and motor since they are the only bridges between the frame halves. The process is then the same as before, but in reverse. The electricity flows through the second halve to the second rail, and then to the positive terminal of the power pack. This completes the electrical circuit. 

Does this answer your question?

Timothy

Proto has never made an N scale RDC.

Timothy

Here's some information about the Bachmann U36B in general:
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/u36b.html

Timothy

Yampa Bob's link is for the HHP-8, which has a different mechanism. The Acela does not have a 9-pin plug, but it does have an 8-pin NMRA plug in the back, under the red pantographs. http://www.tcsdcc.com/decoderpics/ba.html

Timothy

Not out of the box. The Kato Superliners use the newer Knuckle-type couplers, while the HHP-8 uses the older Rapido-type couplers. The two will not mate. You will need to convert the HHP-8 to knuckle couplers. Unfortunately, Bachmann has made this a fairly difficult procedure. Here's the one such procedure:

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=24023&REPLY_ID=251515

Timothy

From Mark Peterson's locomotive encyclopedia:

"To remove the shell, use a small screwdriver (or toothpicks, or whatever), to spread the sides of the shell apart at the trucks. This will free the shell from the metal studs on the chassis that hold it in place. The shell should lift up and off readily at that point."

Timothy

What type of work train are you envisioning? The PRR was a huge railroad that many different, very specialized pieces of MOW equipment. For example. here's a car that was used for catenary maintenance: http://crcyc.railfan.net/mow/misc/prr489696.jpg

The fact is, any car, heavy weathered, with MOW stencils on it could be a passable maintence car. Don't forget the weathered part- MOW cars, on every railroad,  were rarely cleaned, and they showed it.

If you want some inspiration, check out the work trains of other railroads. The Conrail Cyclopedia (http://crcyc.railfan.net/) has a whole section of their website devoted to MOW- and a good portion of Conrail's MOW equipment was inherited from the PRR

Timothy

Micro-trains has no conversion for the Amfleets.

Timothy

The Bach-man beat me to it, but Bachmann train sets are worth very little to collectors. You might get around $20 at most. Still, you might be lucky and get more for it, but don't count on it.

If you want to know the age, you will need to describe the set in more detail. What scale is it, for example.

Timothy

Try Spookshow's locomotive encyclopedia.
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/locolist.php?diesels=6&steam=1&traction=2&nonbrass=3&sortby=2&Submit=Submit

Scroll down past Athearn and Atlas to Bachmann.

Timothy