Re the classic American, yes Bachmann has colour coded wiring - of it's black, it's wire. 

My 4-4-0 has a Tsu750 in it with a HiBass 1.22" speaker. Fits, just keep the wires as short as you possibly can. These days I would use an Econami and a sugar cube, I did my install (above) about 6 or 7 years ago.

If you want to see the 4-4-0 in action as a yard goat on my Lumber Mountain RR, here's a link to a video I made with my youngest son. And yes, I know the slide bars on it are skew-wiff. :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqVz8Dx9fVA

And "Hi, Ton", the internet is a wondrous thing, God wot. I lived with my son and his family for a while in Netherlands when he was working for a company there (all since returned back to Oz). We lived in a village called Emness, near Hilversum. Didn't know about Utrecht and the railway museum then, otherwise ... :-(

Cheers

Steve Magee
Newcastle NSW Aust.

Inside frame or outside frame 4-4-0? The smaller inside frame version is a little more complex, but do-able without too much angst.

Steve Magee
On30 Lumber Mountain RR
Newcastle NSW Aust

My son and I made a video of an early morning turn on my layout. It was posted on Facebook, but I thought other On30 Bachmann users might like to see it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqVz8Dx9fVA

Steve Magee
Newcastle NSW Aust

Hunt

I agree with your second paragraph. It will not work in POM mode. I also just checked programming using a TCS WOW, a TCS T1 and an ESU Loksound V4. It is possible to go short:short and long:long on all EXCEPT for the TCS WOW V4, which displayed the same inability to reprogram (POM-wise) as the Soundtraxx. Yet the T1 I was able to reprogram. Go figure.

And yes, you are correct, I did not read all of your reply on 13/12 (or 12/13 to those not downunder). Please accept my apologies.

Steve Magee
On30 Lumber Mountain RR
Newcastle NSW Aust

Hunt

I must respectfully disagree. To check this, using my Power Cab stand alone programmer in POM mode, I was able to change the address from 23 short to 999 long, then back to 23 short. I checked that the loco used responded to both numbers. The loco used was a Bachmann sound equipped (Soundtraxx Tsunami, according to Bachmann) On30 Heisler. So unless the decoder in the Mogul is a very odd Soundtraxx, it is definitely changeable.

Steve Magee
On30 Lumber Mountain RR
Newcastle NSW Aust

The NCE Power Cab can change addresses on the main, but NOT short address to short address, or long address to long address. If you want to change the short address to another short address, then firstly change the short address to a long address - 999, for example - then change it to the short address you desire.

I won't get into NCE's short long addresses (or long short addresses) here. :-)

Steve Magee
On30 Lumber Mountain RR
Newcastle NSW Aust

Steam. Because diesels hadn't made it into the backwoods of Oregon and Washington states, on narrow gauge lines, in the 1920's. :-)

Steve Magee
On30 Lumber Mountain RR
Newcastle NSW Aust

Having looked at layouts across the world - well, a few parts of it - US, UK, Europe - I find very, very, VERY few layouts are operated as a Model Railway (or railroad) - that is, as a railway in model form. Because if we did, it would be so complex (think of the paperwork for a start) there would be hardly anybody doing it. Do you set out your front- and rear-end brakemen before switching? Allow time for air lines to pump up? Stop at water points for steam long enough to fill a tender? Etc. We all compromise, some more than others. Here's a link to my compromise, though it has detailed up a bit since most of the pics were taken:

http://www.nmra.org.au/Layout_Tours/Magee/index.html

And yes, in my travels in Europe I did visit Miniature Wonderland. I thought it was amazing. In the hours I was there, not one derailment, no uncoupling, no failures. I would have killed for their work bench. I enjoyed every minute of it, though I wish my then one-year-old grandson was just that bit older to really enjoy it, and help sway him to the path of the Light, even if its a Mars Light.

Financing Miniature Wonderland? True story, I am told. The two principles involved went to a bank in Hamburg, and told the manager they were going to build a big model train set and all the world would come and see it, and asked for the money to build it. "OK", said the manager, "Here's x million Euros". Sigh.

Steve Magee
On30 Lumber Mountain RR
Newcastle NSW Aust

Hi Gary

Yeah, chop 'em off. With one lead cut they are doing nothing, so no great loss. You might have a look on the board for RF chokes and if there are any, cut them out and replace them with off cuts of resistor leads or any other small gauge wire. You may play havoc with any warranty, but given how old the model is I don't think that's going to be a worry.

Cheers

Steve Magee
Newcastle NSW Aust

In most cases, backlash is due to the armature in the motor that moves back and forward due to motor being reversed. Mostly this can be overcome by dismantling the loco and installing a thrust washer on the shaft next to the worm to limit travel. I do not have my 4-6-0 in bits at this time, so I can't help you with washer/shim thickness or the internal diameter of the washer.

Steve Magee
Lumber Mountain RR in On30
Newcastle NSW Aust

Several years ago the lead up to the National Train Show was accompanied (at least on this board) by speculation on what might be new in On30 plus accompaniments of pleas for favorite prototypes to be produced. This year, nada. Zip. I guess that signifies that most On30 meddlers realize that nothing new is in the wings, and the end of the On30 range is nigh. A pity. But I will still remain loyal to the cause.

Steve Magee
On30 Lumber Mountain RR
Newcastle NSW Aust

I think you must have some sort of problem with wheels not all sitting equally on the track - something like a twisted chassis. Why I say this is my 0-4-0 Porter, the yard goat for Swamilla, can handle 8 B'mann skeleton log bunks with casuarina (swamp oak/she oak) logs as part of its duties in switching loaded cars to the log pond and empties back to the departure road for the Mallet to slog off back to the Halfway switchback. The Porter is unmodified.

Can you borrow one off a friend and try that?

Steve Magee
Lumber Mountain RR
Newcastle NSW Aust

Load transhipment (from log dump track back to falling area) is normally done by me, by hand, using my General Overall Director standing. Can get a bit hectic when both log trains are running and there is a delay for whatever reason on the high line! :-)

Steve Magee

Thanks all for the kind comments.

For Fred, a bit of my philosophy behind the layout was in the cover page to the pics, not sure if you saw that, but it is at: http://www.nmra.org.au/Layout_Tours/Magee/indexb.html. Only other comment I would make is to not overfill the layout room. I did this on my previous HO layout in the same space, you had to be part crab to sidle around in it and I could not have friends over to operate the layout. So the middle of the room is free space as the layout plan shows.

I have since developed an operations procedure for the layout which identifies "turns" and ascribes a loco to it. Because it is not a killer layout with hundreds of box cars, it focuses on correct operation of the train and locomotive operation (all locos fitted with sound decoders). It includes badges for everyone to wear to show their task/job (mine is General Overall Director - G.O.D.) but that is my weird sense of humor. :-).  I have a copy of the operations plan, which is bound into folder form for operators to study on the Lumber Mountain RR. It is in Open Office format, so if you want a copy contact me by email and I will send a copy.

Cheers

Steve Magee
Newcastle NSW Aust

It has been sometime since I uploaded a pic or two of my layout, but more can be seen on the local NMRA region layout tour page:

http://www.nmra.org.au/Layout_Tours/Magee/index.html

Cheers all

Steve Magee
Newcastle NSW Aust