Thanks for bumping Bill and thanks for helpful advice Kevin,
I found out that the loco indeed has the 8-pin-standard NEM652 connector and a speaker as well. So I probably will try the ESU decoder because of its better sound volume compared to Uhlenbrock. Is there a US-made alternative plug and play decoder with a little more "power" available?
Regards
Peter   

Still planning a small garden layout with just the new 2-4-2T and the latest generation Climax, both Bachmann large scale models. My question for the 2-4-2 is still open for answers, here the one for the Climax: My version will be the one without DCC and Sound, but DCC ready. Is there a plug and play Sound Decoder for this model on the market that can be installed without soldering including the speaker? Sorry if the question sounds a bit silly but I am completely new to large scale and used to my NEM652-equipped On30 locos which are ideally suited for someone like me with 2 left hands when it comes  to soldering or other more complicated electrics. Hoping for help and thanks in advance. Peter   

Hi from Germany,
I have a new 2-4-2T in the green/black version (91199) on order. As I plan to install sound my question is if anyone has experience with the sound-decoders from ESU (54400) and/or Uhlenbrock (36320) in these locos. I am interested in the way they may be installed (only plug in the NEM652 or is any additional soldering e.g. to the factory-installed speaker to be done?) and in the quality of the sound, especially if the volume is sufficient for the size of the loco? Any experience is welcome.
Regards
Peter   

Hi all,
just went from happy to sad about my On30 Rail Bus. Received the demanded replacement gears for it from Bachmann some time ago but started working on it only today. There were 3 split gears on the different gear-train parts. I changed them and the bus was at least moving then which it had not done before. It ran quite perfectly backwards but was "wobbling" from one side to the other when driving forward. I then changed all gear parts sent by Bachmann except for the gears in the gearbox (including the complete wheel-sets) but the running is still not better! Anyone with the same problem who could help?
Thanks
Peter

Hi again, I have received one more pair of Shay trucks with the new gears and now all my Shays are running like Swiss watches and are a pleasure to look at running. Many thanks to Bridget and Laura and their teams, they certainly have done a great job during the last couple of months. And all you out there without gears at this moment: Be patient, I am sure help/replacement will be on ist way to you as well very soon!

Had not considered calling until now because of the costs (Germany-USA)... Will perhaps try it now when there is no other chance to get the right parts.

Hi Yardmaster,
still no reaction from any of the contacted departments regarding replacement trucks for the On30 Shay...
What now?
Peter

Can contribute to this never-ending-story myself. As advised I contacted the service department and the special gear-replacement department for getting one more pair of the improved Shay trucks but no answer from them up to now...
Peter

Do I contact the special email-address for the replacement-gear-program or contact service through the "normal" address" to get the trucks free of charge?
Regards
Peter

Good to hear! I was one of the lucky guys (in Germany) to get complete trucks to remedy my Shay's faulty gears. Now that my last Shay shows problems as well I was told that the trucks are not available a the moment. In my opinion they are the only effective method of getting the Shays running because the gear clips coming with the alternative replacement gears do not hold because of the original clips being glued factory-side. Will the trucks be available again soon? 

Follow -up to a seemingly never-ending story: Just got to know from service that the complete replacement trucks are not available at the moment. Anybody out there (preferably in Europe) who has 2 of these trucks left to give away? 

Hi Peter, I found no definite fix until now. Fortunately the free replacement gears for the Shay Bachmann promised (and delivered to me today, thanks very much!!!) come as complete assembled trucks including the new stronger gears, so no need to installing the clips in this case. That leaves just one newly bought Shay for which I have the seperate replacement gears. Perhaps someone has a fix for us?! Regards, Peter

Hi again from Germany, really nobody out there with the same Problem?? Still hopeful, Peter

I have installed the Bachmann replacement gears in 2 of my On30 Shays in the past and they are running quite well now. The problem with both was that the small clips sent as replacement parts with the gears did not really fit to press the gears to the geared wheels, they just protruded a bit too far out. Reason was obviously that the original clips (broke when taken out) were not only clipped but glued. Anybody out there having experience with uninstalling the original clips without breaking and/or installing new clips with tight fit? I have ordered one more replacement gear for my last unaltered Shay and would be happy if I could do it this time without cutting and glueing the clips always afraid the super glue might fix more than the clips forever....!! Thanks for any advice. Peter

Hi Joe,
late but hopefully not too late. Have the same problems with fitting the little clips to hold the gears. Did you find a solution?
Thanks for any help.
Peter