I fell for a scam, but it was called Wall Street and i had no recourse...

Wendy,
I found this thread helpful, though I have to admit I have not opened up my locomotive to see what's what inside.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,7949.0.html

Quote from: jonathan on February 08, 2011, 07:57:38 AM
...my Connie pulled a 19-car train, all day, with no problems.  Never even got warm.

Mine also goes all-out at our club open houses without a hitch.  I want the brighter light because I love to run this thing so much.

Jonathan,
I do like that fix.  It has been in the back of my mind to do something similar.  Thanks!

Sean

After searching the forum, I am going to "bump" this topic back up.  Any changes since 2009?  I have the Spectrum 2-8-0 and like it a lot except for the really dim headlight.  Now, i looked at the parts diagram, and the part # for the headlight is "LEDXX-10084", which I am guessing means it has an LED.  Or am I wrong and that not the case?  I have not popped it apart yet and would rather not. 
So, I guess the basic question is two-fold.  Does this locomotive have an LED headlamp, and is there any DCC-friendly method to increase brightness?  Thanks in advance, guys and gals.

Welcome to the asylum...er, hobby.  I started with the Bachmann EX DCC and then graduated to the Lenz Set100.  I'm very happy with it, but you have to shop around for good prices.  I also had no problem at all selling my used Bachmann DCC on craigslist for almost what I paid for it, though I wish now I had kept it for a "spare".

Sounds like fun.  No racing, now...

Welcome the the asylum!  It sounds like you are already having a lot of fun and you will have a lot more.  Don't be afraid to ask questions, but try to search for the answer first.

Quote from: BaltoOhioRRfan on October 16, 2010, 03:46:28 PM
...Considering the end of my model railroad career is probably near due to high rising costs at an alarming rate (and lack of a local hobby shop that care about the walk in customers that i can get to) I'm gonna have to drop out of the hobby....

To paraphrase Nike - DON'T Do It!
What else are you going to do as a hobby, that you enjoy as much, for less money?  You can't simply sit on your rear and stare at the television.  I've been inspired by your modeling, and I can tell it comes "from the heart". 

You will miss it too much.  Figure out a way to stay and play for less $$.  If you can figure out how to do those trains, you can figure this out.

To Ken - work it, dude.  I rebuilt the entire electrical system of a '67 Barracuda for $40.  It was a pain in the you-know-what, took a long time, and required much internet research and pestering of compadres for knowledge, but in the end I had a deep sense of satisfaction.  You can beat a toy, man.

Our club has fluorescent, incandescent, and (it seems in some corners) kerosene lanterns.  None seems to affect the wireless DCC, though the security comm upstairs in Union Station seems to.

DCC would certainly be easier, but block wired DC would be a more educational (at least for trainpapa!) start.  So many kids today can handle the most complicated computers, but have no idea what comes out of the wall to make those computers hum!

That said, I'm just glad to see two new young'uns potentially in the hobby!

Quote from: Doneldon on October 06, 2010, 02:05:10 AM
...You can make lots of problems for yourself if you decide to get unpleasant or ignore lawful instructions... 

My problem is with the UNLAWFUL instructions.

A country music video celebrating completion of the Heartland Corridor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUFpx91KKWM

The line dance is cheesy, but I like the singer's voice, and the shots of work along the line are cool.

Nice work.  Sounds like fun, too!

Thanks for the help, everyone.  I Found the problem and reprogrammed the loco (so I'm more successful than the US soccer team). 
This was the problem -
Printed manual says "...Next, press button 3 (figure 8; the locomotive's default address) AND the "Stop" button (figure 9) at the same time, then release them together..."
But online manual says

   1.Activate the locomotive by running a short distance and bring the locomotive to a stop.
   2.Press button 3 (ie  the button for the locomotives existing address)
   3.Keeping button 3 depressed, press and release the STOP button
   4.Release 3 (the address button) - the Power LED is now flashing quickly
   5.Press and release the button for the new address the locomotive is to be set to - the locomotive moves slightly to indicate its response and the power LED is now flashing slowly.
   6.Press and release the STOP button.

Found this at http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/ezcommand.php?ezpage=1