in regards to your query i too had 1 n gauge steam loco that had similar issues in that it would run for 2 ft &stop run 2 ft&stop etc. i was using a nce power cab and even when trying on dc it would still had the same issues as above. i assumed it was a decoder issue & sent it back to bachmann for repair&or replacement,which they did as it was like yours fairly new and was covered under warranty,for which their service is excellent. DID YOU TRY IT ON DC to confirm it has the same problem.
regards&later KEWATIN

in response to poor service,you must in all fairness remember that the xmas season is bachmann's busy time off year, i sent my loco in for repair &or replacement in mid nov &got it back dec 20/12. in my 3 times of using their service and now a 4th time as i am resonding to   this post i  cannot say enough good things about laura and all the service tec's etc.as i am an older person &per haps a little patience GRASSHOPPER goes a long ways. i am sure the end result will be pleasing.bachmann has come a long way in regards to mfg process and standards demanded by todays modellers, are they there yet,i think they are getting very close, even to kato and i model n scale. these are just my observations based on my dealings with bachmann and no way represent an endorsement for them in any way.just a satisfied customer.
  regards&later KEWATIN

got mine to,but has the spookshow bump along as per his review. runs fine just looks odd lumping around .will consider sending it back,seems their are some q c issues ? sometimes you get a good one some times not.still a nice addition and i am sure my problem will be rectified as per their excellent warranty and service dept, handled all past repairs, replacements etc. can't thank them enough.
regards &later  KEWATIN

KEWATIN UPDATE APRIL 25/12
Called laura customer service manager and explained my problem,can't say enough about the professional manner she handled my complaint. she is going to exchange my 2nd unit with a new one bench run by a technican and send it out to morrow if possible ,even without having my old unit yet in hand. this kind of servicewill definately retain me as a loyal BACHMNN CUSTOMER.
THANKS AGAIN LAURA and have a nice day.you certainly made mine brighter.
REGARDS&LATER  KEWATIN A.K.A R. PARKES 

KEWATIN HERE,
well recieved my 2-8-0 dcc loco this morning and yes it was earlier recieved then when card said it would be. they replaced it with a new one? put it on layout to run &it ran 2 inches &quit, checked loco over &found loose bottom plate screws &tender trucks scews alos loose &a flopping vertical piston rod off of right side valve gear,snugged srews&tried to position valve rod &re tested moves but at from 3/4 throttle to full throttle and intermittently stops and won;t restart, tried on dcc and its just as bad. to make sure i wasn;t having a senior moment i got my other BACHMAN DCC steam locos out and tested all on dc and dcc all ran excellent ,so i wrapped this new unit up with a nice but dissappointing letter asking for another one, hopfully the next one will work/ surely their must be some form of quality control before shipping tocustomer. i have now expende $23.00 in shipping fees&the rate i am going maybe it would be cheaper to buy a new one from a local hobby shop so i can test run it first,sadly these shops tend to inflate the prices drastically,espesally up here in canada.  usually twice the rate as in the usa. i normally order in the us&have shipped to in laws across the river. sorry to rant just diisappointed as i recieved it to-day apr.24/12 &sent it back same day.
regards &later KEWATIN

GREETINGS
First time using BACHMANN'S WARRANTY SERVICE from what i understand is excellent but i sent my n gauge dcc 2-8-0 in for a claim on mar28/12 and got a confirmation tag with repair no# on it saying the turn around on this claim would be 8 wks. i appreciate the notification but 2 months to repair seems a bit long. i would expect this ammount of time after xmas but not in april. the only logigal reason i can think of is there is no replacement stock,i noticed a lot of retailers are also out,possibly this is the reason. i have had nothing but problems with this specific unit from day 1 and followed various forum Advisories ie loosen bottom plate screws a tad etc.etc. all my other BACHMANN purchases are excellent. would any one  care to comment on your turn around time or am i being not to flexable. your imput would be most helpfull understanding this time frame. regards&later KEWATIN

Greetings , i contacted bachman via there automated phone messaging and got all particulers for sending back a loco for warranty. my question is this #1 i was under the impresion one needed a claim # before shipping? sure i read somewhere way back on this forum about that?
#2 any of you folks care to respond about weather you put insurance on the locomotive.it makes sense for me do do it but then again i am frugal. any comments on my issues would be most appreciated.
  REGARDS&LATER KEWATIN

GREETINGS&update.
well irecieved my new replacement power panel and sure enogh the layout is up and running. it is pretty obious that i had back feed of dc thru to it. thank goodness my hand held power cab was not plugged in or it would have been disasterous as well as expensive. ishall live dangerously though as i have to much quality dc stuff to ignore. i have installed a dc  power light on with a toggle switch to completly isolate the dc from the dcc system. i thank all whom responded for their ideas &help.
REGARDS&LATER KEWATIN

gret info,could you elaborate on the tweeks&tune-ups you did as i too have some bachmann 2-10-2,2-8-0 &some 4-8-2 mountains. what specificaly do you do to the valve gear? after break-in my units have about 15 to 20 hrs and after resetting the start voltage to 0 as bachmann likes to set their;s at 10 i find my slow speed  control is so much better. these locos are trmendous operators and smooth running to this point.i agree about miminal motor noise ,but in my case i believe their is a certain ammount of sound being transferred from loco thru kato track and 1 in base pinf foam board. looking forward to seeing your tweeks post and will thank you in advance. excellent post.
REGARDS&LATER  KEWATIN

Good day, i have several steam locos that have now been broken in and some have at least 20 hrs running time on them and am wondering what the majority of you modellers use for a lubricant &time wise when you shedule it. also i will give an update on my bachmann 2-8-0 that would not pull more than 3 cars when new, it is so much better now that i took the bottom plate of and put back on and snugged up the 3 screws. also another factor is i set the start voltage from 10 to 0 , biggg differenceeee. i did did this with all my bachmann steamers,also they work just as good on dc. my 2-8-0 will now pull approx 20 cars& slow speed throttle responce is very good. any help with the lub item&shedule would be most welcome.
REGARDS&LATER KEWATIN

TONY thank you for your reply.my old kato e-8 is dc and in via rail colours &hasn[t been made in yrs. i found on on-line price of $95 with decoder installed,saving me the repair&updating as i am an older modeller with 2 eye implants making decoder installs difficult for me personally. thank you again for clarifing the issue for me, i shall order it and change out body shells when it arrives.
regards&later  KEWATIN

Would some one please clarify for me the following  KATO E-8 KOBO SHOP EXCLUSIVE INSTALLED KOD8-A DECODER INSTALLED. does this mean its a sound decoder or is it a dcc decoder to program &run the loco. also as i have &older KATO  E-8 DC that has a broken gear and in via rail colours with complete passenger car consist,it is my aim do replace the body shell &step this tain set up to join my other dcc equipment.
AM ion the right track? before odering said loco which is new&at a good price i would like to have clarifying evidence that its not sound only and is dcc decoder installed. as this is my first dcc layoutand foray into dcc i would appreciate a go ahead or not.
regards&later KEWATIN

I have a feeling that i might have damaged my nce power panel, the power cab was not plugged into the power panel when i accidently switched from dc to dcc. .my layout is wired for dcc &also dc as i have a lot of locos that are dc&not all are upgradable. when i plugged my power cab into the power panel every thing went fine,ready lite came on recalled loco address &throttled up NADA no headlight etc. tried another loco, selected loco # again nada. would i be correct in assuming that idamaged the power panel if so i can get another from my favourite on-line store for $18.00.OR IS THEIR SOMETHING ELSE I SHOULD TRY, any help or suggestions would be most appreciated.
regards&later KEWATIN
P.S i know i should not be running 2 systems on my layout but at 71 danger is my frugal middle name. maybe time for a change

could someone please reply to the spacing for telephone poles on a n gauge layout as i don't have a n scale rule. thanks in advance
regards&later KEWATIN

thank you gentelmen, tony you have it right,regarding my question,thats exactly what i did. now i will try &clear the decoder per your reasoning  cv8 and reprogram the long address except when it says do i want the dc option  i will press yes. thanks again folks for your help it is greatly appreciated. regards&later KEWATIN