Thanks dutchbuilder! I believed it had to be that sound exciter, to crank so much noise from a dime-sized speaker without an enclosure is pushing the envelope. I'll mess around with the CV's and find a place to install a better speaker (whether it be a tender car or hidden under the frame.)

  I recently purchased 2 new 0-4-2 Porters with sound & a 2-6-6-2 Mallet along with sound. The Mallet sounds absolutely spot on just like the rest of Bachmann's sound equipped lokies, but the porters have a tendency to to make crackling sounds when multiple sound effects are played together. (Ex: Chuffing, brake squeal, & whistle.) Does anybody know if this is a problem with the sound exciter(s) or should I purchase a DCC system that can toggle the volume settings of my engines? Any replies are much appreciated!

I'm pretty sure Backwoods Miniatures has a porter side tank conversion kit that comes with bulky metal endbeams. Those and a metal cast stack instead of the default plastic ones could also help. (you could also add some fishing line weights inside the largest of the 3 stock porter stacks as well.)

I don't think so, the gas mechanical wasn't in this years catalog. It's too bad so many On30 engines aren't returning. But according to the site they may still have some in stock from Bachmann's last run of the gas mechanicals. I'd contact them to find out. Good luck!

  Thanks Both of ya for your answers. If The connie's sound components fit then the ten-wheeler's should fit, someone told me they were the same size. i also have a few porters with sound, which could be an alternative as well. Too bad bachmann isn't producing this 1890's 4-4-0 anymore, since that's in my era I'd like to have more. But the new heisler and the 4-6-0 with fluted domes are good candidates for this era. Once again thanks!

Yeah, I would like another chance to snag a k-27 so it can work along side the c-19. Especially the later c-19's wtih electric headlights and long tenders. The two would look great side by side.

I'm Thinking about purchasing the Inside frame 4-4-0, and am wondering if the factory installed tsunami and speaker from the On30 ten-wheeler will fit into the 4-4-0's tender with out major modification. I tried looking threw the parts diagrams here on the bachmann site, but the inside frame american's pdf takes me to the modern outside frame 4-4-0's. Just wondering if anybody knew. Recently bachmann stopped producing this 4-4-0 and I need to pick one up before they're all gone!

Thanks! ;