try removing the rear bogie on the
locomotive Henry and Gordon share
a chassis henry can make a 18"

I had the same problem one or the rail pick up wires came out of the board with the black clip so i went in and soldered al mine to the board and i removed the stupid quick plug

Yeah I know that But the decoder only cost me $15 because some one was trying to get rid of it will be a sound project for later, ANd I hade done some dcc  work the owner

I just bought a set today for $35 and put a Tsunami light steam Tsu-100 in it took me about an Hour. it easy depending on the Which type you the Bachmann or Hornby.

To fix mine i used a staple and bent it to an "L" then bent the other side down to a Sig rune (it looks like one of the symbols for the nazi SS) then i cut the excess parts off untill i had a new pin. i small y could also work

Programming is easiest with a PC and digitrax pr3 with a tsunami sound booster... but i find that a lot of people are happier with the easier to use systems. Plus digitrax is such a pain to get help from(i have bought several systems from frustrated owners who gave up after digitrax called them idiots).{Sorry for the angry rant but my local club is fed up with 1/5 the decoders installed  instantly malfunctioning, we are voting whether to drop there decoders.}
But the one thing i noticed is that with the dynamis is that it is the same as one of the ESU systems, but at more affordable prices. so i tell people to go with them, because they are user freindly

Broadway limited sells a small box that connects to your dc power supply that lets you freely use the horn and bell as long as you leave the minimum amount of power for the sound. in my store we sell them for under $30

What i think is that Bachmann Should create a similar one that allows you to use 12 functions with a shift key to get to the higher functions

I have 6 tsunami sound steam locos and they all needed a computer reset and adjustment before they run the was they do now.

Ferro trains make the locos (HOn3z) that are actual cog Engines but turnouts start at around $100 and up. and locos start at $300 and you could get the ertl culdee and remover the face and apply it to the Ferro engine
http://www.reynaulds.com/products/Ferro-Train/1005-102.aspx

The large pinks erasers I was for my college math class

Replace the whole pc board and decoder with another brand (i used digitrax on several) it works alot better.

post some pictures of it if you need to glue the use a plastic weld such as tenax 7r or ambroid

The  18000G means how much water it holds, and the 40T refers to the amount of coal it holds in tons.
Does it have a extra button on the under side like this http://www.flickr.com/photos/86150435@N04/11697692843/

And did it come in a box? if so what colors and look for a trademark date

http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/
i use them the are in walthers but its cheaper to order from them directly. you can get the dcc ready stuff that has all the resistors in it
to remove the varnish on the wire dip the leads in s dot of hot solder

With Games workshops green stuff(a two part epoxy that hardens to a plastic like state) i have rebuilt several locomotives. and mini-war gaming is were my modeling career started.