Call the Bachmann Service department

20 years ago  I got back into model railroading again after 41 years out.  Seeing DCC operation with sound just astounded me.  I got started with DCC using Bachmann's EZ command controller, the same one that comes with their starter DCC train sets, and I have to sound a second to the advice of the learned posters above about what a great way it is to start out.  Everything you need is there to run a train and enjoy the sounds and just begin to see how wonderful all this really is.  About a year and a half later I graduated to a more advanced DCC system, but by then the EZ command had more than done its job getting me started, and I did the best thing with it that I could, gave it to a kid who was just starting out himself.

So I also say, go ahead and get one of those Bachmann DCC starter sets.  You'll be happy with it for a pretty good while and you may just leave it how it is if a kid is going to be involved with it, it's a pretty simple entity out of the box.

There is certainly a tech somewhere in the UK who can reassemble it for you. A Google search will probably turn something up.

Google Kadee couplers

Try the Digitraxx forum

I don't know if one can be had that will fit into a N scale locomotive, but current keeper capacitors are used all the time in HO scale for just this exact problem.     They carry just enough charge to get you over an unpowered frog or a short stretch of dirty track.

You can call Soundtraxx in Durango, Colorado and talk to the customer rep about your exact locomotive and what will fit in it.  They will speak at length to you about helping solve your issue, I guarantee that, they are very customer friendly.  I do fear that there is not one made small enough to fit inside an N scale locomotive though.

There are other makers that you could try just as well, I just happen to have a long experience with Soundtraxx and know people there.

Are you the same Sheldon that's on the trains.com forum?

There was a greasy joint something like that across the driveway from the place I used to work.  There was always cats around the back all the time.  The joke was, those cats better look out. 😮🫨😱😂

" DCC friendly" switches are a myth that needs to stop being perpetuated.

I'm in HO but I have a good many EZ track switches on my layout. If yours are anything similar to mine, there's a little jumper wire underneath to, when plugged in, powers the frog. And eliminate stalling if all of the wheels from rail's  pickups sit on the frog at the same moment.

It's quite possible that your switches currently don't have the frogs powered.  If your locomotives are diesels that only pick up on one side of the truck, it could be that unpowered frog completely isolates one of the trucks from picking up on one of the rails..... if that makes sense.  A powered frog eliminates that tissue.  See if there is some little jumper wire under the switch to power your frog.  It's an entirely possible that N scale switches only have an unpowered frog, period.  Someone more knowledgeable than I will have to answer that question.

At the risk of talking about the competition's products, I also have some Kato Unitrak switches that have the same power/unpowered frog capability.  Except with their switches, there's some little set screws underneath you can change around to set the switch the way you want it, achieving the same end result.

I'm looking at the green peeled paint on the burger parlor door that's really good, really well done.

I like the water tank without a roof. That was a very deep south thing, the Missouri Pacific tank in my hometown was like that.

It appears that the tank is a petticoat junction reference.

Verily, verily I say unto thee.  Bewarest thou of the pig in a poke known as the used model railroad locomotive.  Knowest thou not of the travails the lamb has suffered in its previous life, from dropping off the table to being a weapon with which to assail the younger brother. Seeketh thou rather the path of righteousness of the new purchase, often with warranties, to avoid the weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. Selah.

You need this book if you don't have it already. It's pricey, but really worth it, I have to say.  It took me a couple of weeks to really get down deep into it, it is so detailed along with countless great photographs.

https://mopac.org/product/the-missouri-illinois-railroad-2nd-printing/

It really operated like a short line divided in half by the river.  I liked their consolidations hauling two car passenger  trains. Perfect for a layout. Even though they had a couple of really neat light Pacifics.

Are we talking about the old  Missouri-Illinois?

I've seen a couple of Missouri Pacific cabooses on your layout. What is the connection? If any.