"The Cost of Doing Business" doesn't hold water as they already have all the "Tooling", No R&D costs & at this point in time, I think they have just about all the features established that anyone could want, so what else are they up against    John

Thanks guys for all the info. This does have a "Fake" coupler in front, does run by itself & the rear truck (metal wheels) looks right under the cab. The bottom Drivers Cover is factory marked into the plastic "Bachmann". There are a pair of coil springs held on the front position for the leading Truck by a slotted screw. Looking at the current offering I have found a front Truck that may work p/n H11410 as a replacement for p/n 3004 (original) that they say doesn't exist??? I have left several message requests to speak to a "Supervisor" but I think they really don't care as they never have communicated with me. I can't even give them $$$ for "Smoke"!!! I do think 1970's is correct for this according to my friends recollection & the Original Box says U.P. but that was an option as well. I need to know more about the "Sound Board" & how they are "Powered Up". It says on the board "Kader 8011"  which is "Bachmann". It has 3 wires going to a "Uni-Directional Power Plug" but uses only 2 of the wires. This is a "D.C. Motor" as my Layout is. I can bring power to it from wheels, but as the "Polarity" changes, how does that effect the "Board" I guess they could use a "UJT" to make it go both polarities???  My understanding is that Sound Boards don't really have anything to do with Direct Computer Control Systems (not dependent upon), but that was the "Factory Girls Excuse" not to talk with me, sending me to a Supervisors answering machine. I guess they don't need my $$$?   John

Thanks to Rusty & Jay for all the help & Info. I have pulled the "Circuit Board" & will play with it at the Ham Radio Bench during QSO's. We have lots to do & I would love to pick up some more Steam Engines (NPR Berkshire my Dream) & other items at one of the Auction Sites for sure. For now I want to run down the front Truck p/n 3004 to make this complete & some "Smoke". We also need some sort of "Storage System". The "Board" is a "Homebrew" 4'X8' with a piano hinge folding scheme & wheels to roll it away for the season. All track is soldered & under wired at hinge for good current flow. Not yet decided on rural/city scheme but I think keeping it simple is best for a "Portable Layout". We have a while, the oldest grandchild is 4 yr. old girl with 2 boys due any day, 3 boys 1 girl. Hope I live long enough to play with the kids. Thanks again guys!!!   John & Tam

Long Live Steam!!! My Father was a Conductor for the NP out of Ft. Wayne & in the summer (school out) I would get to "Fire" one on the way to Chicago running freight between Ohio & Ill.. In Ft. Wayne, the PRR yard & NP are side by side out by New Haven & we had PRR friends as well. I loved to sit up in the Cupola, play cards & cook on the wood burning stove whenever I got the chance. My Father ended up here in Tucson as a Corp. Commission Inspector over SP & PFE in state. He later opened his own "Private Agency" Inspecting Railway Accidents. He last inspected an Experimental Steam/Diesel Engine using special Injectors processing Coal Dust, Lime & Water in a "Slurry" that gave off No Pollution & almost 40%  more power than the same Diesel on Petroleum !!! The only "By-Product" was Steam!!! So, Yes they can work together well.   John

Ok Jay 11, so what's Ur guess on the card? How can I find out more & perhaps get it working in some fashion. I already have a "Sound Car" that takes a 9v. battery & uses a "Special Wheel" with a "Brass 1/2 Axel" shaft that "Interrupts" the "Audio" circuit, so if I can find out some "Basics" I can mount it in whatever. I need to look at that "Draw Bar" situation as well & order a new front "Truck" that Tom lost. Right now with the "Board" out I can still run it. Where would U go to find out how this Unit "Should" be "Marked" I'm disabled & Tam & I are making this a "Pass Down Family Project" as we both grew up in Rail Roading, my Father was a Conductor for the Nickle Plate Road out of Ft. Wayne, Ind. & started my brother & I on American Flyer while Tam's Father started her on 1/2 "O" gauge but then she's 11 years my Jr.!!!   John 

I have looked up "Tenders"& found that this is a "Hicken" style with 6 wheel trucks (2 ea.) & is different in just 2 ways from pictures here. The "Baltimore & Ohio" as pictured is painted on the "Water Tank" & mine is just the Letters B&O in a "Capital Logo" only on the "Coal Bin". Also, the "Cabling" shown features 2 "Plugs" & mine has only 1! On my "Board" the "Plug" wiring uses only 2 of the 3 wires, but there is NO "Polarity" to the "Board or Plug". The "Board" is made by Kader & 8011 is on it. Old (60's) transistor radio wiring on "Board" with NO Ic's. & 2 "Pots" (variable resistors) to adjust something? Is it possible this could by an A.C. powered module, 12 v.   John

Tnx. Rust 4 quick response. The unit is in a Bachmann Box & on the "End Flap" is a Label calling it "Item No. 41-545-01" Mikado 2-8-2 & Vanderbilt Tender W/Smoke Union Pacific, which as I say is really a B&O Tender. Watcha think???  

Jay11, The box is "Yellow & White" trimmed clearly saying "Bachmann HO", & Engine # is 2528. No Plug on rear & is NOT DCC as my friend ran it on simple oval for about 5 minutes. John

I was given the above Unit & somethings not quite right. Box says it's a U.P. tender? Anyways, coming out by the "Draw Bar" is a Female Plug w/3 wires indicating "Sound"?, but no "Male Plug" is in rear of Locomotive??? I pulled the front of the tender apart & removed the "Board" (2"X1") & Speaker. The boards capacitors are rated @16v.d.c. & the unit has no "On/Off Switch" & only 2 of the 3 wires in Plug are used. I theorize then that it draws D.C. Power from either a Series or Parallel connection with the Locomotives' Motor as the wheels are all Plastic. The "Board" says "Kader 8011" which I find associated with Bachmann so I "Post" for help here. Thank U in advance.   John & Tam

I was given the above Unit & somethings not quite right. Box says it's a U.P. tender? Anyways, coming out by the "Draw Bar" is a Female Plug w/3 wires indicating "Sound"?, but no "Male Plug" is in rear of Locomotive??? I pulled the front of the tender apart & removed the "Board" (2"X1") & Speaker. The boards capacitors are rated @16v.d.c. & the unit has no "On/Off Switch" & only 2 of the 3 wires in Plug are used. I theorize then that it draws D.C. Power from either a Series or Parallel connection with the Locomotives' Motor as the wheels are all Plastic. The "Board" says "Kader 8011" which I find associated with Bachmann so I "Post" for help here. Thank U in advance.   John & Tam