Recently, I had a subscriber ask the following question on one of the videos on my youtube channel that features the ET&WNC #14 4-6-0 with factory installed DCC and sound.
He asked"Why is the chug(I'm sure he meant "chuff") rate so off for factory installed sound?"
I honestly don't know the answer to that, and I've never messed with the settings for this loco on my NCE Powercab controller.
I was just wondering if someone has a better answer than mine, which is currently going to be "Because they made it that way."
Thanks!
Mike

Hi.
Thinking about buying one of these.
Just wondering if anyone has bought one of these yet,or similar,and if so, what your impressions of it are so far.
This is new to the market, and selling for around $220.00.
Plus shipping,tax,etc.
Thanks!
Mike

Hi, Mr. Bachmann!
I took advantage of the Labor Day sale to stock up on some new parts for my On30 trains.
I also wanted to perhaps get a few spares for my Version 6 4-6-0.
I noticed that it's not even listed on the parts website.
So, when is Bachmannn  going to offer spare parts for this new version?
How many parts from the Annie are compatible with it?
It would be great if you could give us some idea of when parts will become available for this great new locomotive!
Thanks!
Mike

A look back at a classic and very cool commercial for the Bachmann Big Hauler.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FURkRy1uYog
Enjoy!
Mike

Hi, Mr . Bachmann.
I'm here to report an issue with uploading photos to this website.
When I try to upload an image, the website says "There was a problem during the uploading of... The upload directory is full. Please contact an administrator about this problem. "
Why is the website doing this?
Will it be fixed soon?
I'm trying to help a forum member with a DCC install on an On30 2-8-0,and I need him to be able upload some images of the decoder he has.
He thinks it is generic, but he's not certain what he has.
So, having a few photos of the decoder in question would be very helpful!
Many thanks for your time.
Mike.

Hey everyone!
I bought a Bachmann D&RGW #138 Mogul brand new on Ebay a few months ago.
It is the newer model with DCC.
So, for $100.00, it was a great deal.
The DCC board is a 21 pin model made by Soundtraxx.
Decided to put a sound decoder in it using the factory board.
I bought, and installed, a TCS 1525 Steam 121, 21 pin decoder in the tender.
Just like the Bachmann sound module, it is basically drop in.
Except for one thing:
You will have to turn the factory board around in the tender due to limited space.
After that, you're good to go.
And ,for those who don't know, the TCS decoder is far superior to the Bachmann sound module as it has far sounds and features at a price that is generally lower than the sound module is(if you can find one other than on the Bachmann website).
It's pretty fantastic!
I don't know what I've done , because the headlight no longer comes on.
I'm not certain what might be going on as I've checked out the wires in the tender,and they all look good.
I installed a TCS sound decoder just like this one in my 2-6-6-2, and it works flawlessly.
I'm thinking that I might have loosened a wire somewhere,but I don't see anything.
Any ideas what might be different with this one?
Thanks!

Hi,Mr.Bachmann!
I recently bought a very slightly used new model 4-6-0.
On page #9,figure #14,the manual describes 2 different knuckle couplers.
One high.
One low.
The seller only included the low coupler installed on the tender.
The high coupler is nowhere to be found.
I need the high coupler,but there are no parts listed for the new model yet.
What do you suggest?
Thank you!

Hi, guys ! Here's a video of my brand new 4-4-0 and 2-4-4-0 running on my track for the very first time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgNXJliAfuo

Both seem, rather slow to me.
Is there any way to adjust the top speed of these locos using my DCC controller, or am I stuck with them the way that they are?
Thanks !

I just bought a new Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0 on Ebay. I also bought a new Bachmann 4-4-4-0 from Train World (ya gotta love their prices! ).
I would like to order the sound card for the 4-4-0, but I'm uncertain as to what I need to buy for it.
I already know what to buy for the 2-4-4-0, as Bachmann lists this loco as coming with a 21 pin decoder installed in the tender, along with a factory installed speaker( might upgrade that ).
So, the 4-4-0 using an 8 pin DCC decoder.
Is there a simple "plug-and-play" solution for this little train from Soundtraxx?
Or should I remove the factory DCC board ,and replace it with a TCS kit, like I did with my ET&WNC 4-6-0?
What do you think?
Later!

Hi everyone. I just purchased 3 of these On30 flat car kits on Ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/North-Alabama-Models-flat-car-kit-SR-RL-prototype-28-On30-On2/393157706093?ssPageName

They have wood decks.
I was wondering if anybody could tell me what color the ET&WNC flat car decks are, and if using stain on these wooden decks would be a better choice than painting them with my airbrush.

Thanks in advance!

Hi guys! Here are the videos of my 2-6-6-2 and 4-6-0 with their respective DCC sound systems installed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EONBm8B3aA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y6MkEz7sYU

And,yes :TCS does have sound files that they claim are of the real Tweetsie 4-6-0 !
I tried to load them to my 4-6-0 before I made this video, but I'm not certain that I was totally successful.
TCS uses what they call "Audio Assist" instead of CV's for user programming, and you do that with your DCC controller by pressing the #8 four times. A pleasant female voice then walks you through all of the various files that are available for the decoder that you chose.
I find it somewhat confusing, and I'm not sure that I like it...

I just finished the install of the TCS kit in the tender of my #12 ET&WNC 4-6-0.
Watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRA_xex6lDg

I lost the rear headlight as there is no dedicated contact point on the board for it since this kit is meant for the Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0, which doesn't have a rear headlight.
But the sound is excellent, so, it's wort it until I can get a hold of the support tech at TCS and talk to him to see if there is a way to get it to work with this system.
Unfortunately, he's on a business trip and will not return until February 2.
Bummer. But oh well.
I'll make do do now.
Later !

Hi, guys! I have invested in a TCS DCC WSK-BAC-8 WOW Kit for my Bachmann #12 ET&WNC 4-6-0. The kit is as seen in the following link:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TCS-DCC-WSK-BAC-8-WOWKits-WOWSound-Decoder-For-Bachmann-4-6-0-Baldwin-1922/254807097872?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

This kit includes a 21 pin motherboard,sound decoder, and speaker. I have studied the wiring configuration on the motherboard that's installed in my 4-6-0, and the conversion operation looks to be pretty straight forward.
And, who knows, I may like it so much that I'll upgrade the other 4-6-0 to the WOW system as well !

I have also purchased this item for the 2-6-6-2 :

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TCS-WOWSound-WOW121-Steam-1525-21-Pin-DCC-Sound-Decoder-Version-4-New/254000600018?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

This item should be virtually plug-and-play. The only thing that I have to add is a speaker. To that end, I have purchased a Soundtraxx Mega Bass 27mm diameter round speaker to install in the tender.
It should be a perfect fit,as the speaker opening in the tender measures 27.2 mm in diameter.
I just purchased these items today, and they should arrive within the next week!
And I'll post the usual videos to my youtube channel to show the results of my work.
Until then,
Happy Railroading!

Hi,guys! I received my 2-6-6-2 locomotive. When I put it on the track ,it just sat there. The seller I bought it from did say in his auction text that one of the wires on the little 2-pin connector was loose.
I checked, and sure enough,it was indeed broken off in the plug.
Fortunately, I finally remembered that I had one of those plugs in a bin of On30 spare parts. It was taken from the headlight of the first Bachmann 2-6-0 D&RGW locomotive that I bought earlier in the year ,and have been using for parts.
I installed the replacement pug on the wiring, but the loco still wouldn't move,although I did notice that the drive wheels would rotate when I applied power directly to the wheels.
So, I figured that there was a short.
I then reversed the wires on the 2 pin plug,and tried again.
Nothing.
I then reversed the wires again,and was back to being able to get the wheels to go. But only when it wasn't on the track.
One thing that I noticed is that the DCC system in the tender isn't the standard Bachmann unit. I couldn't find any identifying information, but it is a 21 pin motherboard with an 8 pin JST adapter plugged into it.
The control module is larger that the Bachmann unit, and it is 1.05 L x .64 inches wide.
There is no identifying info to be found on either unit.
After several more attempts,and more experimenting, I found that the loco will only operate as long as the 2 plug pin isn't plugged into the bottom of the locomotive.
Everything seems normal.Lights work, and it runs well in both directions.
Just as long as the 2 pin plug isn't plugged in.
It's a rather interesting problem,and I'm wondering it it presents an issue for adding sound to this loco.
Any ideas,guys?

Merry Christmas Everyone!
So, What trains did you get? I got 2 On30 locomotives.
The first one is a #22Colorado Southern 2-6-0  locomotive w/tender. Used,but in mint condition. The other one is an On30 2-6-6-2 Articulated Loco w/ Tender Colorado Mining Co #46. It is used ,but in excellent condition.
Both came in their original boxes with all paperwork.
Now, it's your turn!
What did you get?

Later!

I'm still here. I haven't been doing much with any of my trains as of late. What I have mostly been doing is buying a few cars in both G and On30 scale here and there, most of which remain unrun. For now.
I've also been upgrading my G Scale trains to Kadee #831 knuckle couplers.
I also finished building a Gabriel 1/20th diecast model of a 1909 Ford Model T Touring car just this morning that will go along splendidly with my G Scale trains when I finally decide to run them again.
The train in the following video is the first one that I have run in nearly a month:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLTBIX3PuYc
The stock car is new, and I added the berrels to the gondola a couple of months ago.
I'm still thinking about adding a flanger to the D&RGW #268's consist to replicate the train at the Gunnison Pioneer museum in Gunisonn,Co., but I can't decide on which of the 2 flanger kits that are available to buy.
I like both of them. I'll decide soon and will post a video of the entire train running on my track.
Probably after the first of the year.
I'll probably set up my Bachmann G Scale North Star Express train for Christmas.
I don't know.
I'm going to Lake Tahoe with my wife for Christmas Day. We are not getting ,or setting up a tree this year, so, I may possibly not even run the G's any time soon.
Are any of you guys setting up a train around your tree this year?
And, if so, which scale, type, and road name will you be going with?
Merry Christmas everyone!
Later!

There is a new addition to my little On30 locomotive collection.It is the Bachman ET&WNC #12 4-6-0 locomotive. It has DCC,and needs a sound system.
I can't find the Bachmann sound board for the 4-6-0.
Has anybody ever installed a TCS WOW V4 DCC system in one of these Bachmann 4-6-0's? And can you please post instructions on how to install it in the 4-6-0.
Do you think that I would better off to wait until I find the proper Bachmann sound board?
I really like the MRC Loco Genie DCC System that I've installed in the other loco, but the TCS WOW V4 sounds so much better than the MRC does.
Here's a video of the #12 on it's first test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDwb2mgbxus

Thanks, guys!

Well, I swore that it was the end when Bachmann Customer Service replaced my original On30 4-6-0 locomotive with a locomotive and tender frame that was even more broken than the original locomotive and tender frame that I had sent to them for warranty repairs.
I was really annoyed at them, and who could blame me?
Their warranty repair services have apparently gone downhill over the last few years,or so, and this was not the acceptable standard of customer care that I had come to expect from them over the last 15 plus years of owning their G , HO,and now On30, scale trains.
I was extremely disappointed to say the very least ! Bitterly so.
So, I decided to sell the one that they returned to me.
It was sold shortly thereafter on Ebay. I did get most of my money back on it, so that worked out.
I had really enjoyed that little locomotive with the MRC Loco Genie DCC system that I had installed in it.
I thought about it,,and decided to give the Bachmann On30 4-6-0 another shot.
So, I bought another one on Ebay, along with a brand new MRC Loco Genie DCC system, with remote, to go with it.
I'm just going to have to baby it, and leave it connected to its' tender at all times in order to (hopefully) avoid breaking any wires in the future.
I may have to find ,or build a special, box for it , but C'est la vie !
Sometimes you have to do what you have to do in order to enjoy certain things in life, and,for me,this little loco is one of them.
Video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9rt7HBiXh8&feature=youtu.be

This may be my last post here.
I sold the 4-6-0 last Sunday on Ebay. I got most of my money back on it, so it's not too bad.
The buyer posted positive feedback, so it's definitely his now.
for locomotives, I am left with the BLI Consolidation, and both of my Bachmann moguls.  I also have an extra, nearly complete, running chassis, and  some extra parts for the moguls.
From now on, I will order parts from the parts department for my G Scale locomotives,and service them myself.
I will, however, continue to buy Bachmann cars, track, and other accessories, as I have no issues with those items.
Bachmann cars are pretty much the standard of On30 scale trains, and are hard to beat for their quality, and durability.
Otherwise, I'm pretty much done with On30 scale trains.

Hi, all. I talked to the very nice people at Bachmann Customer Service this morning, and my 4-6-0 is going in for warranty repairs.
It will be sent out via USPS Priority mail tomorrow afternoon.
She said to expect a turn around time of about 4 weeks,but that's just fine with me. I'm getting my locos' tender wiring fixed, and that's great!