After sitting in its box for a while, I decided to take out my spectrum Shay. When I put it in the box about 3 months ago it worked perfectly fine, but when I put it on the tracks yesterday, the motor shorted out instantly and started smoking. I have an MRC 1650 decoder installed running on a Digitrax Zephyr system.

I completely disassembled the shay last night and poked around with a volt meter, and I confirmed that the motor is shorted out. The decoder and light board work fine, just the motor that has problems. I know I can't order parts directly from Bachmann, so where would i be able to get a motor for this? (besides ebay, nothing there). Would Bachmann fix or more likely replace it if I sent it to them? It's a beautiful model and I don't want it to just sit on the shelf looking pretty- I bought it to use it.

I recently bought a Digitrax Zephyr DCC controller and have been trying to configure the CV's on the Bachmann decoders with no luck. I can't even change the addresses. I've had no problems with MRC and Digitrax decoders, but the two from Bachmann aren't cooperating. All I get on the display is a "d Nd" or "d NA". If it helps these decoders are from a 70 tonner and a GP40.

Also, would the CV tables from the 1-amp decoders be the same for these two?

Kevin

I remember reading on this board late last night that there was a train show somewhere in north Alabama (Gadsen? maybe Guntersville?) coming up soon, but now I can't figure out where I read this. Can someone point me in the right direction, or better yet- provide some information about this. Shows around here are rare, so this would be great if I could make it to one for once.
I tried a google search, but didn't get anything current.

Kevin


BTW, I'm in Huntsville if that helps

I was thinking of putting one of these:
http://truckairhorns.com/images/jepg/k3la_800.jpg

on this:


what are your thoughts? I wasn't planning on getting that horn specifically, but another 3-chime horn. 

edit: fixed red "x" in box

I tried to start up my EZ command system like I've done hundreds of times before, but this time it didn't want to wake up. I turned on the power (well, actually, I plugged it into the wall) and it made this loud POP, somewhere inside the controler. Then it started to smell like something was burning. So the question is, What did I do?
The power giong in (black wire) measures a constant 16.1 v AC, but none of the LED's light up, and there is no sign of life coming from the controller. The power coming out (red wire) measures a constant 0.0 v AC and 0.0 v DC. Can someone please shed some light on this?

Kevin

I'm looking for the model/type of SP #5204. I know it's Baldwin built, has 6 wheel trucks, and was in service around 1951 near Folsom, CA. What I can't find is the type. There have been conflicting sources saying that it's a DRS-6-6-1500, an AS-615, and an AS-616. Espee.railfan.net didn't have 5204 listed.

Then, after that's been figured out, I'll be looking for a model of whatever it is and will probably need help with that too.

thanks,
Kevin

I finally got around to getting some pictures of my layout. Camera is a Cannon Power Shot A85 (not mine of coarse, my dad's). Some with flash, some without. So, here they are. Please criticize, nitpick, compliment, or do whatever you want to them. Enjoy!

first up- an overview of the town of "Camino"


then, the town of Placerville (eventually). If you have any suggestions for this town, I would love to hear them. That round thing is the pit to a walthers 90' turntable, and the thing sticking out in the aisle is the station and parking lot.


scrap yard


Recently repainted CPLT 102. It's not quite done yet- the steps need to be moved and it needs some roof details like strobe lights and another horn.


102 leaving with a short work train


102 passing the 'headquarters' (trailer). note the Gremlin on blocks.


I don't think I need to title this one


from the station looking east


here's that work train



102


102 again


paint shop image of what 102 should look like


Camino Lumber Co. looking west


work train, again. the whole thing this time


construction site behind a business that I have no name for.


and the beginning of a caboose to go with that shay.


hope you enjoyed today's edition of - whatever this is...

I got 2 44 tonners for christmas, and both of them have a problem with the trucks not swiveling freely. They are so stiff that they do not turn back to straight after a turn. So my question is this- how can the truck mounts be loosened? 

thanks y'all

I'm looking for some decals for the CPLT (see signature). I came across
this:
Harold-King  B-1040 HO Boxcar Cascade Green 50' (5-77) Wht decal

http://www.trainweb.org/foothill/cpltmodels.html

is it suppposed to say "Hearld King"?

I've searched Ebay, google, yahoo, and, of coarse, good search. The only thing I found was the site above.

I just puled my 2-8-0 out of storage after about 2 years, and now it's running very poorly. Every time the right side siderods reach the bottom of their travel, something binds and the loco will kind of stumble then run fine until the siderods reach the bottom again. Until that happens, it will run very slowly without problems. I've taken this thing apart, lubed everything that moves, checked to make sure everything was straight and lined up, and put it back together-and guess what- NOTHING CHANGED.   I'm a little lost here...

All I know is that there's nothing wrong with the motor because I checked that seperatly- it ran at about 60 rpm smoothly, using a MRC Tech 4 260.

Has this happened to anyone else?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

One more thing- how long does it take these days for a loco to be shipped to B-mann and be returned?

thanks,
kevin

something you just have to watch

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/0F155674-EE59-473E-9D37-3E92A2B64E7A.htm

I inhaled my ice cream laughing so hard.

some poeple just don't think...

"don't bust a tire rod"

I've been searching and searching an have had no luck.. I'm looking for a spectrum quality (or at least not train set quality) 0-4-0 switcher, but I can't afford brass. Anyone out there know where I could find a nice little switcher?
I've even searched e-bay, reluctantly.

thanks in advance

kevin?

No, that second word is NOT real. It's fall break and I finally have some time. Taking apart a $175 model and putting it back together should fill up some of that time. I'm looking for advice on how to:

1. relocate the backup light from the water tank to the cab roof (see picture) and still work



and

2. replace the stack with a straight one. (picture) Mainly just where can I get a straight stack.

I know that the B-mann model isn't exactly the right type of 3 truck shay, but it's close enogh.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin

Ive had a problem where the 'piston'/'connecting rod' of the middle and left cylinder have gone missing. I don't know how long ago this happened or if it was like that when I got it, but I'm concerned that it will affect how it performs. Should I send it in? Will this be covered by the warranty? I've had my shay for about a month now, and noticed on friday. Thanks for the help!

Other than Ebay, what would be a good place to look for HOn30 locomotives and rolling stock?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin

I was wondering, do the 2-8-0's that come with the Bachmann Explorer and Frontiersman sets have sound? It says that they have DCC, but I also know that now there is a DCC/sound equipped 2-8-0 available. Do these sets have one of the newer locomotives, or do they still have the locos without sound? 

Thanks,
Kevin

I was wondering- when connecting the bachmann dc controller to the E-Z command center, can both 16V power packs be connected to boost power and still be 16V, or will this just create a 32V decoder-melting motor-burning vortex of doom? Also, can the black connnector wire be made longer? I'm sure it can- but how many wires are in it? it looks like three judging by the end connectors.

thanks

I was wondering if the older 44 ton switchers (with two motors) are able to be converted to dcc and if they run well. It would seem as if there would not be enough room for a decoder. I'm thinking about buying one and would like to know if I should get one of the older ones or just go ahead and get a new one instead.

I was wondering how to go about getting parts for bacmann locomotives, without buying the whole thing. I am trying to do some kitbashing/rebuilding of a HO scale 0-6-0 and a N scale 2-8-0. any help?