You guys are fantastic.  So here's one I've been curious about but didn't think I'd be able to find any details on.  I have the three F7's pictured below, neither of them are the same.  When I bought the "Digital Commander set" way back when, it came with the 4 circular window F7.  I already had the 2 circular window version and the no window version. 

We all know that they are all F7's but is there any additional details you could provide regarding each of these, such as, their different year manufactured or why the windows were added or removed, or due to what the different railroad companies specified, etc.



The info you provide will support my museum on the layout.   And yes, my museum is still under construction, which I might add these locos to it.

Dr. JonJet, I agree with your assessment that Bachmann's packaging for the newer released locomotives will have the NMRA designations.   
 The best thing that I have learned that Bachmann and no other manufacturer has instituted is labeling their DCC locomotives on the underside (diesel tanks on diesel locomotives) with "DCC on board".  This is a fantastic designation when combing through swapmeets and on-line items.  It provides an instant designation as to what one may find internally on a locomotive.  Mind you, that for second-hand items it doesn't mean that the decoder is installed/damaged/missing.  It just means that at least that locomotive had at one time or another the capability to operate on DCC control.

I wish to add a few $ cents to this topic.  I have wrestled with this decoder issue for the few locomotives that I have purchased.

The manufacturers of locomotives, including Bachmann may be starting to add the type of decoder but few, if any, actually place the type of decoder plug installed on their packaging.  What is meant by that is whether it's an 8-pin plug or 21-pin plug or even hardwired.  I for one really don't look at the manufacturers catalog at the moment of purchasing to determine if the decoder in the locomotive has an 8-pin or 21-pin decoder.   
When you examine the box (packaging) the locomotive is in, I haven't found any wording or indication as to what type of decoder plug is installed.  The packaging only states whether it is DCC ready (requiring a decoder as an extra purchase).  As for Bachmann's packaging it's DCC Ready and the packaging states (Sound Value, Wow or TSU2).  Other manufacturers only state DCC control (no indication as to what type of decoder pin arrangement).

In conclusion, in my book of intermediate knowledge of DCC operated locomotives, all the manufacturers are very deficient in informing all hobbyist of the internal working of DCC and non-DCC components in the packaging of their respective locomotives.

The first two replies are exactly correct.

Quote...rethinking track plan for 2 operators:  2 track layouts for 2 locomotives with one DCC Bachmann command system for one operator. Then a second track layout for 2 locomotives with ANOTHER, a SECOND DCC Bachmann command system for a second operator.   TWO SEPARATE INDEPENDENT TRACK LAYOUTS, NOT CONNECTED IN ANY WAY TO EACH OTHER....EXCEPT SIDE BY SIDE ON THE SAME PLATFORM.

Bachmann did not foresee the future of two control stations operated by two independent individual controllers.   Bachmann did start into that realm of controllers but alas, I believe their marketing dept. screwed it all up.

Now, from your second reply, (see quote above) you are correct.  That is, if you have 2 individual DCC controllers (EZ Command controllers) each controller on electrically separated track where one controller controls its own track and the other controlling its own track, again electrically separated (i.e. tracks and EZ command controllers are physically separated), this will work.

Of course, having a system where you can have independent controllers would be great.  I'm still waiting for Bachmann to get on board with two separate controllers that they had in the past.  And yes, I'm still using the old controllers shown in the link.
If you want more info on old Bachmann EZ command controllers- click on this link. 

2 DCC Controllers


Hope this helps clarify Bachmann's latest operations for EZ command controllers

testing

Here's a suggestion that's maybe way out there, that is, not in the ballpark, but it works for me.

In the sewing community, there are sewing pins that I use that are 2 inches and in some cases one can find them even longer.  EZ track from my experience produces no movement on straight sections of track.  My experience has found that the track will move in curves.  This is where I employ the straight pins in the curves and at the EZ track connectors.  If I'm too lazy to place the pins right at the track connector, I will place them at the edges of the ballast of the curve.  If you're thinking that the head of the pin will interrupt the image.  I actually place a piece of brush that hides the pin head, and the pin head holds the brush in place, along with the track.  No glue is used.  The base of my layout is foam, so it's fairly easy to insert sewing pins.  
My emphasis is to use as little glue as possible.  Why, because I consistently like to change my layout.  But that's me.

Maybe this suggestion might be of help.... or not.

I will submit that the double-sided tape suggestion is one that I'll look into.

Correction,

Quote...link 2 loops using DCC #5 Turnouts 44132 & 44133 but try as I might find a way to make them fit.

Mr. Sanchez indicated that he was using #5 left and right turnouts, not the #6 crossover's which are models 44575 and 44576.    Even Len indicated using no 5 switches not #6 crossover.
Did I read this correctly?

Okay, on the serious side, why are we not suggesting using the EZ crossover #6 (model 44575 and 44576, left and right respectively) on this layout track plan?  My curiosity as to why this was not suggested has got me wondering!

Is it possible to connect two-EZ Command Plus Controllers to the same layout but at different places on the layout but not to each other?
This is a resounding answer of "NO"   There is a high possibility of damaging either or both the Decoder and/or DCC controller.   For additional information on this topic see the following topic> (click on topic to go directly to the topic).


2 DCC controllers

Hopefully this will answer and clarify your question.

The professional DCC controllers take the fun out of consisting.  Excerpt paraphrase from a previous topic:
 "Doesn't consisting of individual engines take the fun out of railroading?  Now if you are talking about having two engines on the same track and you want these two to stay spaced apart as they move around the track, that's one thing.   But if you are using them in a consist configuration, that's where all the fun is.  You can take either the first and/or the second engine and manually control their speed as a part of the fun to keep them at an equal stance with one another.  The real fun comes in descending or ascending a grade where one engine may need assistance to support the other.  To me that's a lot of fun keeping pace with the movement of the entire train, and it's an artist that can control both engines, keeping them from jerking along, but produce smooth movement".

Understand that the professional DCC controllers will allow you to do that consisting, or set the two diesel decoders to the same address,  the way the other responders have indicated.   I have the older Bachmann DCC controllers that allowed for two separate controls for each engine. Sorry, Bachmann doesn't make them anymore.  But for me, I have great fun taking a lead engine with 10 cars, and a second engine in the middle with a trailing 8 cars and move them in unison on my layout.  I perform speed matching on the fly. 
I also was told, and I quote:

Quote"Why do all that to get two locomotives to run together when you can program them to do so? The way you are trying to do this, every time you want to speed up or slow down you have to adjust both locomotives, and until you make those adjustments, they will fight each other. Can you imagine what would happen on the real railroads if the engineer had to keep running from unit to unit adjusting throttle settings?"

So to me that's where the real fun comes in. 

Whatever you decide- keep the fun in it!  I have!

 

Here's my 2 cents' regarding EZ Track.    I've had EZ track since 2015.  Being an intermediate modeler, which to me means, one who isn't working the model to perfection, or expect to maintain the layout in one configuration for a long time. With that said, I my choice to use EZ track is mainly because I am constantly changing my layout.  If I get tired of an industry at a siding, then I can easily remove that industry and replace it with something else or run more track in the area.  EZ track is easily removed and replaced. Mine you, that I've broken some of the connection pieces taking them apart and sometimes connecting then, but that doesn't stop the ease of changing, adding, and modifying my track layout.

In comparison, the work that goes into laying, say 'Atlas track, flex track, and some others.  You would need to lay roadbed, glue it, lay track, anchor that, and with that it becomes more permanent than the EZ track any day.

So, If you put together a layout, and need to change it, EZ track to me hands down, is the best.  Is it long lasting?  I've been using my EZ track for 10 years and only replaced a few steel track and ones where I broke the connectors.

Hope that helps.

Okay, I guess where I've gotten hung up is the "OH" and the "UG".  I believe that the "OH" actually stands for Overhead.  But the "UG" doesn't seem to fit.  I tried "Underpass, Undergrade" but is this correct?
Also I could not figure out what the decimal line indicates.  It starts out "-1.01 then goes to -0.77, -0.63 then -1.52, etc.

Maybe if I ever decide to stop modifying my track layout or when I get tired of relaying track and moving thing around.  I 'll make a engineering document like this for my more permanent layout.

Gentlemen, this was very enlightening to say the least.   The track charts from my point of view are basically engineering drawings.  Something I am very familiar with in the electrical field.  Of course, your drawings although interesting, I was never associated with the railroads, understanding them will require some thought.

The way I have experimented with EZ track is to use the smallest sectional track and many of them to bend to the vertical change.    The problem I found with EZ track is that Bachmann didn't make a very short curved sectional track.   Therefore, in my experimentation I have to make the curve more straight than curve.  It looks more like 33-inch curve with a straight section in it.   It works, but I don't seem to be able to get it to look ecstatically correct.  Lastly, I didn't think about cars near the incline on the turnout...would roll away, that is, Engines don't cars do.   

Interesting!  When I was a wee lad, it was my older brothers who were into model railroading.  It was 4 of us to 1 bedroom and the train layout was under one of the bunk beds.  They had those steam locomotives (I was able to hang on two of them).  I got a Tonka truck for Christmas, and I went Tonka crazy every Christmas after that.  As I got older, I found my fascination was with diesels, and steamer's I had no interest in.  It's ironic how at some point our brains latch onto such things, like you did for steam loco's, I did for diesel locos, and my kids playstation.     

For those who remember that I'm always changing my layout.  With that, I have a curious question. 
Is it feasible to have HO track turnout on an incline?   I currently have an incline (basically 2 %)  and want to add a turnout just below the top of the incline. 
In my experimentation using EZ track, I note that the turnout track will have an angle.  I'm using several short curves and 5 short straights to flatten out that part of the track that's at an angle.  The curve and short tracks have enough bend (flex) in them to flatten out that portion of turnout track.  Oh! I thought about using "flex" track to make that transition but that would require doing more work, like setting up a road bed, anchoring the flex track, etc.
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Then again, after thinking about this a little more, in real life- are there no turnouts on inclines of real railroads.  That is, are all turnouts made on level grade?  Frankly, I haven't seen any in photos or on railfanning videos on u-tube to indicate any turnout on an incline.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.