Prototypical, schmototypical....I love it.  Great addition to the layout.  I especially appreciate the no-flicker lighting system.   Go Bachmann!

I put a decoder in a 0-4-0.  I believe it was an NCE  D13SR.  It fit (just barely) crosswise  under the cab floor.  I added a "backup" light to the roof and everything works very well.  If I were going to add sound I would probably get the 0-4-2 and put the speaker in the coalbin.  As for the 0-4-0, a speaker could be placed in the fireman's space alongside the boiler or up underneath the roof...but might be somewhat obvious in both places.  Good luck.....the Porters are "cute" and always get a cheer from the audience (especially kids) when one takes off with a half dozen or more cars in tow.

I just left Star Hobby in Annapolis, MD.  They have two "Dismal Swamps" on display for $20.00 each and claim to have more in the "backroom".  This is a family owned LHS that normally has a hugh array of On30 equipment IN STOCK for very good prices.  A good place to look for scarce items.
Cheers, OldStone

John:
In my experience......Atlas code 100 is, by far, the least expensive.  If you can doctor this up so that it doesn't offend you, you might, on a medium sized layout, save enough to buy a sound-equiped loco.  This assumes you plan the layout to the point that you can buy all the flex track at one time.  Dealers like to sell it by the box (25 pieces) and will give an even better discount for 4 boxes (100 pieces).  If some of the layout is high enough, far enough from the eye, or in tunnels....you can at least economize there.
You can save big bucks and end up with a beautiful effect by hand laying your track....but if you're my age..."You ain't gonna live long enough" ....unless, of course, your layout is small.

For those like us who prefer hand-throwing turnouts (like the real RR's did it) I recommend Peco.  They have a very positive spring-action and good quality.  No need for turtles, hares, tortises, or other expensive wildlife and their attendant wires and switches (some folks spend a lot more on this stuff than on the turnouts themselves).

Cheers, OldStone

Website for the meet:

http://midatlanticng.railfan.net/modmeet.html

Do not use www.

Cheers....see you all there.

OldStone

I don't remember the stockcar, but, yes, they did make a O,R & W caboose round roof. no cupola).  I have one.  It is no longer made, I believe, since it was dropped from the 2007 catalog.  Probably will not be repeated.
Cheers

At about what time did 55 Gallon steel Drums (now found all over the world) first appear on the narrow gauge railroad scene?

Dear Bach-man:
You see?  You already have a trustworthy, loyal, helpful, etc. research assistant.  I believe Andre has volunteered and seems quite knowledgeable on our subject matter.  Can you imagine someone with the courage to name his product "Moose Drool"?  Out west, men are men!  Can you imagine a whole boxcar (reefer) of "Moose Drool" parked in the logging camp or at the Ophir & Oro Mine?  Once discovered by visiters, it would be the hit of the layout!  I suspect that once you give the word other assistants will come forth with suggestions equal to Andre's.  It could take weeks, or even months, to "sample" all the possibilities and finalize the necessary agreements.  But...you did say you were ready to sacrifice!
Cheers

Dear Bach-Man:
How about taking up a collection at the office....to send out West the guy who does the "hand-shake deals" with small breweries.  To somewhere  such as Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, etc.  Some of them have great logos (moose, elk, bears, snow-capped mountains, etc.) which would look great on a reefer intended for one of our western logging or mining layouts.  It's un-American to keep him locked up on the East Coast.  You could even go yourself, if you had to!
Cheers

Mike:

I cover the plywood with Homosote (glue or drywall-screw) and fasten the track to that.  Homosote (at Lowes, Home Depot, etc.) holds nails much better than cork and probably deadens sound better....it's thicker.

Cheers

Dear Geoff and Mike:

I recommend reading "DCC Made Easy" by Lionel Strang (an MR publication).  See pages 32 and 33.
Peter is right....the orange wire goes to No. 1 on the 8-pin socket (and the red goes to No. .  I haven't tried it, since my Climax was clearly marked, but if you get it in 180 degrees off, Strang says,"the locomotive will most likely still run, but the lights won't work".  In that case take the plug out, reverse it, put it back in and all should be well.

Cheers

Nematode:
5' x 5' plywood is available from any commercial plywood supply co., but not Lowes, Home Depot, etc..   It is called "Baltic Birch" and has no knots in any of the plys.  It is made in Finland and/or Russia, comes in mm thicknesses (rather than inches...but they are close enough it makes little difference) and is quite high-priced.  It is, frankly, much higher quality than what you need for a train table.  The idea of cutting down a 5' x 9' ping-pong sheet is probably your best bet, if you insist on using a single piece.
OldStone    O & W RR

I'm told that all new cars will now have the "hunkered-down  look".
Cheers,  OldStone    O & W RR

GovB:
Check figures closely.  Many makers seem to make ALL their O Scale (more or less) figures a scale 6' to 6'-6" tall.  In On30, especially if you are doing an "old time" RR, they have the "wrong look" (too tall).  Arttista are great.  Too bad they don't do cowboys and horses.
Cheers,  OldStone   O & W RR

trmwf:
I should have asked if you wanted sound in your Mogul.  It is, of course, an easier job if you don't....but....the Mogul is not "DCC Ready".  This means that, unlike the Climax or Shay, there is no 8-pin plug in there somewhere waiting for you to plug in your decoder and go.  You must take the loco apart, disconnect some wiring, connect (solder) decoder wires in the appropriate places and reassemble the body.  Harold's website should give you some idea of what's involved.
I would add that the Mogul/Tsunami combo is one "mean machine" and a "joy forever"!  It still impresses me and everyone who hears it.
OldStone    O & W RR