Enjoyed it. Liked the articulated log train, too.

Thanks for sharing.

Regards,

Jonathan

It is very, very likely your used GP-38 was programmed to a different address by the previous owner, maybe the loco number painted on the side of the cab.

The EZ command controller cannot reset the loco to #3.  You will need a "friend" with a more advance DCC system to reset the decoder for you.

Regards,

Jonathan

Gary,

I just did a quick search on the interwebs. 

There are many youtube videos, showing how to install sound/non-sound decoders in both the double motor and single motor 44-tonners.

A number of brands were used, including soundtraxx, Digitrax (DZ123), Zimo (whatever that is), and others.

I have never put a decoder in my 44-ton, so I can't speak from experience, but the information is out there.

Regards,

Jonathan

Yes. Very nice indeed!

Regards,

Jonathan

On the top of this web page, along the red stripe, is a tab for the catalog.  On page 61, you'll find the sound-value 4-4-0's being offered in 2021.  There are six color schemes/road names available.  They seem to change them a bit every year.  There was a nice blue one (B&O) the first year these locos came out.  I should have gotten one while I had the chance.

All manufacturers, not just Bachmann, stopped selling "undecorated" locomotives. Very few ever sold. So, they stopped production.

Regards,

Jonathan   

Ken,

Been on travel lately and haven't had a chance to check in.  Love the progress and photos.  Your layout reminds me of the cool stuff that used to be Model Railroader low these many years ago.

Thanks for sharing regularly.

Regards,

Jonathan

Fanatic,

I have a DC layout.  I also have a number of DCC Sound onboard locomotives.

I have run them on my DC layout with no ill effects.

Caveats:

This is just a once-in-a-while thing for me.  Usually, I reserve my DCC locos for the club DCC layout.  Right now, we're not running a club layout or using our mobile layout at train shows.

99% of the time, I run my DC locos on the DC layout.  I do like to run my sounders now and then on my DC layout, but it's usually for just a few minutes, perhaps once-a-month or so.

Don't know of any long-term affects if you run them daily on DC.

Regards,

Jonathan

One problem with plastic models:  plastic and metal shrink and expand at different rates in cold and warm weather.  While the model may withstand cold storage, some pieces may break loose due to uneven shrinkage. Individual parts probably won't break, but you could have some separation from pieces that are glued together.  Putting parts in a freezer is an old trick to separate parts that are uncooperative.

The last time I moved, I found a friend who was willing to keep a few boxes of my most precious pieces in his basement for a while.

I tend to store locos and rolling stock in their original packaging. Usually line the bottom of a moving box with something squishy to prevent shock from jostling.

Regards,

Jonathan

Thanks, Ken and Jward.

I did not know that about Oregon Rail.  I thought they were one of those defunct companies, whose leftover pieces still showed up on eBay from time-to-time.  I will look them up.  Thanks for that.

Regards,

Jonathan

More progress on the signal bridge:

This may have been the most difficult part of the build, as all the parts are very small, and I had to get in and just touch the leads with a soldering iron, without melting the signal head:

DSC_0586 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

Then it was time to trim the excess and connect the leads to the pre-wired bridge:

DSC_0587 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

I tested every step of the way. Don't want to lose a connection from this point on, as it gets pretty complicated. Difficult to see because of the backlighting, but I've got all three colors lit:

DSC_0588 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

DSC_0589 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

Tested again, as I attached the signals to the bridge. Here the yellow ones are lit:

DSC_0590 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

A few final shots:

I wired this bridge for 4 signal heads.  I have 3. I left some wires tucked in the bridge, if/when I find another b&o signal head.

Also, I had a tough time pulling the extra wire backwards through my wiring tubes.  So, I did the best I could with some black paint to hide wire as much as possible.  Will post again, once I have installed the bridge.

DSC_0591_01 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

DSC_0594_01 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

DSC_0595 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

Regards,

Jonathan

Staying away from the layout right now.  Taking on a few projects sitting on the bench.

I have a spot for another signal bridge on the mainline.  NJ International, who make various signals for the B&O, have been sold out of most of their equipment for a while now. Wondering if they're cleaning out inventory and shutting down... getting that vibe.

I managed to get a hold of a few Oregon Press signal heads, but none of their corresponding LEDs.  However, I did find some 2mm LEDs that may do the trick.  Got 100 multicolor LEDs, and resistors for approx. $13 including shipping... not bad.

They required some trimming to fit into the signal heads:

DSC_0581 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

I tested 'em after trimming, so far so good.

After tinning, I manipulated the leads so the positive leads will be a common wire.  The negative leads with have individual wires with resistors mounted under the layout.  The whole mess looks like this:

DSC_0583_01 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

I put a 2-56 nut under the positive leads.  Hoping I can manipulate a drop of solder down into the middle without melting the whole thing.

From the front:

DSC_0584 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

The blue LEDS will not be lit or wired.  They are there to fill in the hole, nothing more.

This is an old Bachmann double-track signal bridge I pre-wired for this project:

DSC_0585 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

Now the hard part begins.  It will require some pretty precise wire-cutting and soldering to get the whole shebang to work.  

Will post the final outcome when completed.

Regards,

Jonathan

Great stuff!

I enjoy watching a portion of your layout taking shape.  Thanks as always.

Regards,

Jonathan

Speechless...

Regards,

Jonathan

Gently pull the front steps from the boiler. The steps have a mounting post that fits sideways in mounting holes in the boiler.

Regards,

Jonathan

Can't speak to the Zephyr exactly.  But...

Our club layout ran on a Digitrax system.  Think Super Chief--too complex for my mind. 

Every once-in-a-while, we had to clear the system (wipe the memory). Over time, the program memory gets too full.  Locos won't respond to their address and/or, like your problem, parked locos will start running on their own, AND some locos that were once consisted, will think they are still consisted.

There should be something in your troubleshooting manual about it.

I'm no expert, but I definitely remember we had to clear the memory, especially if a lot of us were running trains in the morning... by afternoon it was time to clear the tracks and memory, then start fresh.  Not as bad as it sounds... usually a 5-10 minute operation.

Regards,

Jonathan