Quote from: Pierre_Escargot on December 15, 2015, 07:20:47 PM
The seller of this locomotive claims it "ran like a champ" for him before he listed it, so I don't know what to think here.

Perhaps a long time passed between running and listing?

Did you try lubricating the motor and gears?  Perhaps the oil/grease dried up and now it's seized.

HOn30 is HO scale equipment running on N gauge track.

Track made specifically for HOn30 has larger ties spaced further apart than N scale track to look more realistic.

Quote from: Chuck N on December 15, 2015, 04:39:34 PM
I think that means it runs as is with DC, but it has a socket that will accept most DCC boards.  No wiring necessary.  At least that is what I think I means.

Chuck

That's my understanding of the term "DCC Ready" as well.

It worries me too, but you can lessen the chances of it happening by 'opening' the joiners so they don't grip the rail.

I know Bachmann sells replacement joiners, but I haven't used them personally.

I do know that getting the original Bachmann joiners off isn't easy and often breaks the set of plastic 'spikes' holding them in place.

Nevertheless, my method for removing joiners is to grab them with pliers and tug until they give, praying that the rails don't come off with them.

I think those are both DCC-equipped.  You can either set them to the same address or as a consist and they will run together.

It can be done, assuming there's room in your locomotive to hide the decoder and route the wiring.

Bachmann sells decoders in their web store.

http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=264_274&page=1&sort=3a

The Mark II couplers have metal springs on the part that opens, and in my experience they're more reliable than the originals.

The original E-Z Mates and the Mark IIs will work together, so you won't need to upgrade all your stock at once.

The green wire plugs into the top of the turnout controller, and the red wire plugs into the left side.

Here's Bachmann's instructional video cued to the part where they attach the red turnout controller wires to the accessory ports on the speed controller:  https://youtu.be/na5HRxZAmaI?t=5m37s

What scale track are you using?

Your vintage locomotives will run fine on those tracks with a modern speed controller, just don't get one that sends digital signals (DCC) because your equipment is analog.

Bachmann's analog HO controller looks like this: http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=879_604_782_783&products_id=3172

But any non-DCC controller should do the job.


Does that track pack come with switches that have green wires attached to them?  If so you'll need to verify that the controller you get has AC terminals.

Quote from: monte1000 on December 08, 2015, 04:15:07 PM
I do not have the analog controller.  I will now go get one.

I hope I'm not too late, but make sure the controller has AC terminals before you buy it.


Some cheaper models don't have them.

Quote from: monte1000 on December 08, 2015, 03:55:39 PM
But the package says "Remote Turnout".  It says "a three-wire green cable with plug is attached to the track section.  Insert plug end of the green cable into the "turn-out controller".  Is this a separate controller I need to buy?  Thanks very much.

The "Turnout Controller" is a slide switch you press down on to activate the motor and is supposed to be included with remote turnouts:  http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=2480

This needs to be connected to the AC terminals of an analog controller like this one:  http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=879_604_782_783&products_id=3172

Quote from: billgiannelli on December 08, 2015, 03:22:14 PM
Can a single DCC controller and power transformer power and control multiple loops that are physically separate?

My DCC controller powers a single train on a loop-to-loop layout with a roughly 30-foot mainline without any fuss, and each loop has its own automatic reverse loop module.

I imagine it could handle a third loop too, but again I'm only running one train at a time.  If your layout struggles to keep up with the power demands you can get a power booster:  http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=264_274&products_id=1823