Hi all,
plan to buy an On30 2-4-4-2 and would like to add sound without complicated installation. The original plug-and-play sound module 44952 is discontinued and nowhere to be found. Can it be replaced by one of the still available modules 44957 and 44959 and will the sound files work with the 2-4-4-2 decoder? Am aware that this will NOT be the authentic articulated sound but that would be ok for me. Will have to know for sure because both items will have to be bought abroad with no economic chance to send them back if not compatible...
Regards
Peter

Hi from Germany,
after curing my Shays in 2013 with the offered free replacement gears I dropped out of 0n30 for some years. Now back and owner of a second hand Shay that shows definite signs of split gears. The free replacement gear program will certainly not be available any more, so I will have to buy parts from the parts department. They have complete trucks and drivelines for the Shay but cannot tell me if these are already the stronger parts made for the gear replacement program in 2013/14 or the weaker split-prone earlier parts. They do not know of any gear issues...!!!  Can the Bach Man or anyone else with better knowledge at Bachmann help with this information?
Best regards
Peter

Hi all, I saw a small rectangular Bachmann wood tank car/water car/fire car some time ago on a photo that unfortunately I do not have any more. It was painted something like caboose red/westside red and had although relatively short two trucks i.e. 4 axles. Does anyone have a Bachmann number for this car and/or a Photograph? Even better would be a source where to buy it. Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Peter

Hi from Germany, I was lucky to get one of the rare Large Scale Heislers some weeks ago. It is one of the coal-fired versions (Luken's Steel) and I would like to rebuild it into an oil-fired one. Bachmann is sold out of the oil tank that was included in the only oil-fired version of this loco as well as of the 2 air-tanks that hide some of the "empty space" forward. Does anyone out there have these parts as unused spares and would be ready to sell them to me? Or does anyone know a dealer who might have them? Will pay any reasonable price including full postage from whereever it comes via Paypal. Still hopeful, Peter     

Hi all, a surely silly question, but the plastic coal load on my 81197 Shay should only be fixed by snapping in but does not move. Any ideas? Thanks, Peter

Hi all, I consider buying one of the older 2-Truck Shay models (yes, those with the chronic gear problems...) Can anyone confirm that the readily available replacement trucks 88999 are compatible with these older models and that the gear problems are completely solved with the new trucks? Thanks, Peter 

Hi all, I just received one of the 2011-run Climax locos with factory-installed sound. It has a cooling fan in the tender which runs as soon as the loco sits on the track and gets current. The noise it makes is not very loud but when the sound is switched off you definitely can hear it and that is very annoying. Is this cooling fan really necessary on a loco that is only run short lengths indoors or can it be deactivated without danger to the electronics? Best regards, Peter

Still planning a small garden layout with just the new 2-4-2T and the latest generation Climax, both Bachmann large scale models. My question for the 2-4-2 is still open for answers, here the one for the Climax: My version will be the one without DCC and Sound, but DCC ready. Is there a plug and play Sound Decoder for this model on the market that can be installed without soldering including the speaker? Sorry if the question sounds a bit silly but I am completely new to large scale and used to my NEM652-equipped On30 locos which are ideally suited for someone like me with 2 left hands when it comes  to soldering or other more complicated electrics. Hoping for help and thanks in advance. Peter   

Hi from Germany,
I have a new 2-4-2T in the green/black version (91199) on order. As I plan to install sound my question is if anyone has experience with the sound-decoders from ESU (54400) and/or Uhlenbrock (36320) in these locos. I am interested in the way they may be installed (only plug in the NEM652 or is any additional soldering e.g. to the factory-installed speaker to be done?) and in the quality of the sound, especially if the volume is sufficient for the size of the loco? Any experience is welcome.
Regards
Peter   

Hi all,
just went from happy to sad about my On30 Rail Bus. Received the demanded replacement gears for it from Bachmann some time ago but started working on it only today. There were 3 split gears on the different gear-train parts. I changed them and the bus was at least moving then which it had not done before. It ran quite perfectly backwards but was "wobbling" from one side to the other when driving forward. I then changed all gear parts sent by Bachmann except for the gears in the gearbox (including the complete wheel-sets) but the running is still not better! Anyone with the same problem who could help?
Thanks
Peter

I have installed the Bachmann replacement gears in 2 of my On30 Shays in the past and they are running quite well now. The problem with both was that the small clips sent as replacement parts with the gears did not really fit to press the gears to the geared wheels, they just protruded a bit too far out. Reason was obviously that the original clips (broke when taken out) were not only clipped but glued. Anybody out there having experience with uninstalling the original clips without breaking and/or installing new clips with tight fit? I have ordered one more replacement gear for my last unaltered Shay and would be happy if I could do it this time without cutting and glueing the clips always afraid the super glue might fix more than the clips forever....!! Thanks for any advice. Peter

I plan to enlarge the cab of my expected On30 2-6-6-2 by lifting the cab roof. My question: Is the roof glued to the cab or (what I would definitely prefer) simply clipped in (if so where to press/pull to get it off?) ? 

Hi Bach-man, your post regarding this long-lasting problem was really good news and I will gladly use the solution offered for my Rail-Truck. But there remains one question: What about those of us who were desperate enough to buy replacement gears for the problematic locos from you  when they were not available for free? In my case I bought replacement gears for 2 Shays and 1 Climax from your Service department that were quite expensive because of the high postage to Germany... Best Regards. Peter

Completely confused by reading about 1000 (?) VERY technical posts here on the topic "current draw and dcc controllers" I have one VERY simple question: I have a Bachmann Dynamis infrared DCC controller without any booster (15.5 volts, 2.3 amp) and would like to use it to control a single brand new large scale Bachmann 3-truck-Shay factory-equipped with Tsunami-sound on a simple straight piece of track about 6 feet long, no load, no grades. Will it work operating the loco and the sound system?
Thanks for any SIMPLE answer...
Peter

I wonder when the new On30 Heislers will be available. Announcements are one thing, actual delivery another as we all know from past new On30 locos. In this case I am more optimistic that the little cuties will be on the tracks before Christmas because the log skidders, announced the same time, are already on sale. Is this optimistic view realistic?

Just ordered 2 of the Shay gear repair drivelines from the very friendly and helpful parts department (thank you Cynthia!) and wondered if the latest production On30 Shays (if they are still produced) are factory-equipped with the new and stronger gears?! Is this is the case does anybody know from when on they were so modified and whether there is any sign of this on the packages?
Thanks for any info
Peter

Hello all you much more technically gifted than me,

I own several On30 Bachmann Spectrum locos, the latest one a new sound equipped Porter (28203). It runs and sounds really fine, but I cannot find a simple (!!!) way to dim the very bright headlight. F7 as in the non-Spectrum Tsunamis does not work and F1 as directed in earlier Spectrum sound leaflets does not work either (both occupied by other pre-installed sounds). CVV 49 which seemed to me appropriate to try to configure it did not work, probably caused by my technical ignorance. Any help is welcome!!!

Thanks
Peter

Hi Mr Bachman,
is there any realistic date for delivery of the On30 2-6-6-2 DCC and sound equipped to the US by now?
Thanks a lot for any information.
Peter

Hi all. Is there anybody who can tell me if the new On30 Rail Bus can be operated without its trailer straight out of the box? If yes, are there any backup-lights on the bus?

Hi everybody,

I am planning an On30 Shay conversion (new tender) and would like to know which comercially available color is the closest match for the original loco color. Can anybody help?

Thanks
Peter