I have a number of the Spectrum 4-6-0's.  I model the Tonopah and Tidewater RR and they had a number of locomotives with 62 inch drivers but with straight walkways and only 1 air pump.  The low boiler model looks about right.  It looks like a simple conversion but I was wondering if anyone has tried switching the superstructures on these frames, before I take a screw-driver to mine and try.  If no one has, I'll give it a go and report back. 

I want to switch cabs on a couple of the HO sound value 4-6-0's but after moving the screw between the cylinders I can't for the life of me figure out how the cab is attached to boiler and how to get the boiler off of the frame.  From studying the exploding drawing it looks like the is a screw from the boiler that goes into a post attached to the roof of the cab but can'f figure out how to remove the boiler.  It is just different enough from the previous spectrum 4-6-0's that it doesn't have the typical rear screws under the cab holding the frame on.  Any suggestions?

I have a Sound value 4-6-0 that I repainted for the Tonopah and Tidewater RR.  Great little locomotive but it is a little sensitive on dead frogs.  My other locomotives have these Keep-alive circuits added and this makes a world of difference.  I was wondering if anyone has looked into adding one of these capacitors to the Bachmann Sound Value 4-6-0's.  I know that they are Soundtraxx decoders which theoretically could use their Current-Keeper.  Before I take mine apart to look, I thought I would see if anyone else has all ready tried.  Thoughts

I have a Bachmann 2 truck Climax and it runs great and the sound is excellent.  The only issue is that it has a coal bunker covering the decoder rather than the oil bunker that a any locomotive running in the Nevada desert would require.  Does Bachmann or anyone else make an oil bunker that would replace the coal bunker?  Thanks.  

I have one of the new Porter Side Tank 0-6-0 engines and I was to add a new decoder and sound to it.  The only DCC wiring diagram I have is for the older Saddle tank model.  Does anyone have the wiring diagram for this model?  They are clearly different with a totally different circuit board and this one has a micro motor in it.  This is a great model but I really wish they would not hardwire the decoder in.  Thanks for your help.

Are the decoders in the Bachmann Spectrum 0-6-0 hardwired or connected with a 8 pin plug?  I've heard they are hard wired but am not sure since I haven't looked inside one.  I've got one on the way and plan on putting sound and a keep-alive in it.  Is there a wiring scheme published on this site if it is hardwired?  Thanks. 

I've got a Bachmann 4-6-0 that I have re-wired a Bachmann Vanderbilt tender to run behind it.  As with all Vanderbilt tenders, there isn't a ton of room in it.  I'd like to put a sound decoder in it along with one of these "keep-alive" capacitors.  Has anyone put sound into the Vanderbilt?  What decoder did you use?  Where did you put the speaker?  How did you get everything to fit?  Did you use a keep-alive type system?  Did you ditch the board and hard-wire it?  Thoughts?  Thanks.

I've got a couple of Bachmann On30 2-8-0's that I'de like to put sound decoders and speakers into them.  Any recommendations concerning which deocers work best with this engine.  What size speaker fits?  Thanks. 

I have a number of Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0 and 2-8-0 engines, some that have been modified with the Vanderbilt tenders.  I am trying to fit a wye into one yard for turning engines and the only way if fits is if I drop the minimum radius on the wye to about 16 inches.  Only the engines would use this wye so couplers aren't an issue.  Will these engines behave on that tight a radius?  Thoughts and opinions?

My HO 14x14 Tonopah and Tidewater must be moved from Reno to Las Vegas.  Fortunately it is modular and can make the trip relatively intact.  However, since I have to take it apart anyway, I am thinking about the idea of converting it to the On30 Yellow Pine Mining Co. RR. 

I know that I will have to widen the sidings but my question is what roadbed do you use?  HO or something else ( S scale?).  Is Micro Engineering track the best, or is there something else I should look at?  Are there other sources of turnouts?  I can hand lay track but I am not that enthusiatic about doing it unless forced.  Any other resources I should look into?  Thanks, Nevin

I'm changing the smoke stack on my Bachmann 4-6-0 and I've discovered that my bottle of Floquil Graphite paint is too dark the match their paint.  Any suggestions as to which paint matches the Bachmann 4-6-0 graphite paint on their smoke boxes?  Thanks. 

I finally did the work necessary to get the Bachmann Vanderbilt tender to work with the 4-6-0.  Here is my version of Bullfrog Goldfield #12.  I finally got the tender rewired and mated up with the 4-6-0.  It now consists of the Bachmann Vanderbilt tender attached to the 63 inch driver chassis and mounted on the low boiler body.  



Here is the prototype:



Eventually I have to move the bell and complete the striping.  

Now that the Vanderbilt tender is re-wired and working quite well, I've turned my attention to the Boiler of Bullfrog Goldfield #12.  The data I have info shows that it had 63 inch drivers like the Spectrum "high-boiler" 4-6-0.  Photos of BG #12 show it had straight running boards that much more closely resemble the boiler on the ""low-bolier" 4-6-0.  I've had the boiler off the "high-boiler" frame to replace the headlight bulb so I know it isn't too difficult to remove or replace.  Has anyone tried to swap the boiler castings on these two models?  - Thanks

This weekend I am going to finally complete the mating of the Bachmann medium Vanderbilt Tender with a Tsunami sound system and connect it to the Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0.  It will become Bullfrog Goldfield #12 when I am done.  I am well aware of the various wiring changes that must be made and figuring where I am going to put the speaker remains elusive but my question involves the front headlight.  On the 4-6-0 it looks like it is an LED but I am not sure.  The rear light in the Vanderbilt tender is a clearly a bulb.  What resistor should I put in to prevent burning out the the LED?  Do Tsunami's have any corrections built into them to correct for light voltage?

Bonus points for anyone who knows what the Bullfrog Goldfield RR is.   - Nevin

I've been looking for the oil tank that fits in the Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0 tender.  It comes with the accessories for the undecorated version.  I found the complete tender shell for sale in the parts section of this web site but it doesn't indicate if the oil tank comes with it.  If the oil tank is sold separately, I can't find it in the parts section.  Any thoughts or suggestions?  I like this oil tank better than my current ones.  -  Nevin

From studying some old photographs that I hadn't seen before It is apparent that LV&T #1 and #2 have boilers and tenders that would be almost dead ringers for the Bachmann Rogers 4-4-0.  The only problem is the they were small drivered 4-6-0s.  Can anyone measure the 4-4-0 boiler length and tell me if a swap with the small drivered Bachmann 4-6-0 is feasible?  My first guess is no, b ut I don't gave any 4-4-0s to measure.  Thanks -  Nevin

I know there have been all sorts of problems connecting the various tenders to different engines.  In my case, connecting the Vanderbilt tender to the 4-6-0 leads to a dead short.  My question is whether anyone has connected the tender with sound that comes with the new Baldwin 4-4-0 with the 4-6-0?  Does it run? 

Since the Nevada mining railroads that I model used the standard Baldwin pre-WW1 with Vanderbilt tenders it is time to start the process of converting the Bachmann oil tender so it will run with the 63 inch driver 4-6-0.  I have read and copied to files the discussions about doing this conversion but I have not seen anyone discuss installing a sound decoder like a Tsunami into the Vanderbilt tender and mating it to the 4-6-0.  Are there other sound decoders that are better fits?  What size speaker did you use and where did you put the speaker?  Did you gut all of the electronics and hard wire it?  Where did you drill holes for the sound?  All opinions and discussion welcome before I begin this process.  Thanks, Nevin

I am starting to serious consider converting my HO railroad to O scale.  One decision I haven't made yet is whether to stick with On30 or go to On3.  I understand that a number of On30 engines are easily modified to On3.  Which ones?  I bought a Bachmann 2-8-0  to play with and study.  What a nice engine.  How difficult is it to convert to On3?  Are there any that are not easy to modify?   Any thoughts about which one to go with?  Now that there is good flex track and well designed turnouts for both it does make it a more intriguing question.  -  Nevin

How difficult is it to move the domes on the spectrum 2-8-0?  Are they separate and held on with screws or part of the boiler casting?   I would like to model a UP (LV&T) prototype that had the sand dome positioned where the bell is now.  Otherwise it looks fairly close.  I have never disassembled that particular model.  Thanks -  Nevin