Hi, guys. I went to run my 4-6-0 today. It hasn't been run for a while. I placed it on the rails. It made the usual sounds from the DCC system, so I thought everything was fine.
I hit the power button on the IR remote, and it started backwards. So, i started it forward with the idea of having it gently pushing the 3 passenger cars forward a little ways,since they were on the curve.
Fine. Got that done.
I put in in reverse. It moved backwards a couple of feet. Then it stopped. The chuffing sounds continued. The rear tender light stayed on. It just wouldn't move.
I tried forward again ,and it still wouldn't go.
After a few more minutes of working with it, and not getting anywhere,I decided to pull it off the tracks for inspection. A wire on the 4 prong plug was hanging on by a thread.
I tried to gently unplug the tender from the loco, but 2 wires broke off.
I then tried to fix the first one by pushing the pin holder out of the plug. I got it out, but I had to solder the connection. I then pushed the pin holder back into the plug. I no sooner had it back in, and the wire broke off again.
So I started over. I noticed that the wire I was working on was now shorter than the other 3. So, I decided to try replacing the entire wire with a spare that I have.
Well,that worked out real great, as the pin holder is closed to the point that when I tried to plug it into the locomotive, it pushed the pin down.
Grr!
I'm at the point  where I thinking seriously about sending this thing to the landfill tomorrow when they pick up the trash.
These plugs and wires are so fragile. And I know that even if I get the thing fixed, it will happen again. And again.
I have to unplug the wires from the tender after running it to put it away. I was not expecting this thing to be so fragile where the wiring is concerned.
Not only that, the whole thing breaks easily.  It derailed a while back, and 2 of the pins that hold the drawbar on the front of the pilot broke, forcing me to remove it in its' entirety.
And Bachmann doesn't even offer the parts needed to fix either the wiring or the drawbar.
Sure, I could spend $70.00 to get a new tender frame with the DCC board installed,but I only paid $80.00 for it when I bought it brand new a few months ago.I can also still get a brand new one for about $90.00, but why bother as I'm already unhappy with this 4-6-0?
And I don't think that Bachmann will honor the warranty in this situation and repair it.
So, what am I left with?
A useless locomotive that will not work at all because it requires connections in the tender ,and a DCC system just to run.
Can I take it apart and rewire the internal wires inside the loco? Or am I stuck with a worthless hunk of garbage ?
What do you guys think?

Hi,guys!  
I finally went and upgraded one of my combines to an LED light to replace the standard germ of wheat bulb that these cars come with from the factory.
I used a prewired 5mm warm white LED(fits the hole for the original light bulb perfectly!),a 4 prong bridge rectifier, and a 1000uF25v condenser, and a little hot glue to get the job done.
And as you'll see in the accompanying link. it was a job well done!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG50YUnUnCc&feature=youtu.be

I hate flickering lights, so I'm going to do the same thing with all of my On30 passenger cars. Next up: I'll be upgrading the observation car that I've in the middle of repainting.
I'd have already finished it, but I had to buy a replacement airbrush. I'll post a video of that finished car on this link when I complete the project.

Hi. Would somebody please be kind enough to explain the differences between on3 and On30 trains? I'm looking at trains on Ebay, and the description often says "On3/On30.I find this confusing, and the information I'm finding doesn't really explain the difference, or the conversion process.
So, what is the real difference? It is size of the cars, or is it in the wheelsets? Can I mount a set of Bachmann On30 tender trucks on a On3 car,and be good to go?
I can't find any information online about the conversion process. It looks like it may be in the distance between the rails, with On3 being wider than On30.
Is that correct, and if so, can I just put On30 trucks and/or wheelsets on the car ,and be good to go?
Thanks guys!

Hi, guys!
Just a couple of questions, and link to my newly posted youtube video showcasing my two Bachmann 2-6-0 Moguls.
First, the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu5n6HDeZXI
Please note that these 2 trains are not historically accurate representations of trains that were/are actually operated on the D&RGW , or Durango & Silverton lines! Yes, Ton,I'm talking to you my friend! LOL!
Now for the questions:
These trains have been derailing at higher speeds than what you see them running at in my video. I believe that it's due to their perhaps needing a larger amount of weight in either the cars, or tenders.
They always derail at the tender/combine when the train passes over the rerailer, so I'm pretty sure that it's also a contributing factor to the problem.
The rerailer does not rerail the train,either.
I've noticed my H.O. scale trains also having a problem with the E-Z track rerailers as well,so perhaps a more traditional style of H.O. track will fix the problem?
Also, I recently replaced/ upgraded the couplers on 2 of the 5 cars with Kadee #148 "whisker" knuckle couplers. These couplers don't spring back into position like the original Bachmann E-Z Mate couplers do.
So, did I buy the wrong Kadee's, or is it just that way with these couplers? They still seem to hold on just as well as the originals did/do.
Lastly, the lights flicker pretty badly on all 5 of these cars. The track is clean, but the flickering is a problem.
Is there any way to solve this,short of taking them apart and replacing the lights with LED's, bridge rectifiers, and condensers like I did for my Bachmann G Scale Jackson Sharp cars?
Thanks guys!

Hi. I just bought this set on Ebay. I got the #138 2-6-0,a combine, coach,and observation car in the set box for $78.00 + $25.00 shipping. No track,power supple,or video is included int the box.
Everything shown in the pictures looks to be in mint, undamaged condition.
Here is a direct link to the actual auction so you can see the item I bought:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BACHMANN-SPECTRUM-ROARING-RIDGE-RTR-On30-TRAIN-SET-AS-IS-NR/233536048580

I'm wondering if anybody knows how old this set may be,and if this is a newer version of the Bachmann 2-6-0,since the running number on the cab is #138, and I know that there is a very similar locomotive to this one that is numbered #136. Are there any appreciable differences between the 2, or is it only the last number?
Please tell me what you think!
Thanks guys!

Hi,everybody. As you know I am new to the On30 segment of model railroading. I have been looking for cars to add to my 2 locomotives. The problem is that they are so expensive ,and also there's not all that much to choose from when it comes to road names. I do all my hobby shopping online on sites like Ebay,Amazon,TrainWorld, etc
.
DCC On30 Locomotives can be found for good prices, but the rolling stock to go with them is expensive.
Boxcars for $40.00 plus shipping.
Cabooses  for anywhere between $38.00 to over $50-$100.00,or more.
It's just ridiculous.
Even G Scale rolling stock often doesn't go for that much.Unless, of course, it's a rare,hard to find car.
I've never paid more that $50.00 for any G Scale car,passenger,or freight car (with one very rare and exceptional caboose,that is).
I've even managed to pick up Big Hauler 4-6-0 locomotives on Ebay within the last year for less than what most of these On30 cars sell for!
So, what's up with the high prices for On30?

Hi,all. I have a problem with my 4-6-0. It's squealing when it goes around the curves. It started doing this on the 18 inch radius curves, so I bought a set of 22 inch radius curves in an attempt to stop the squeal.
Well,it's still squealing on the curves.
So, what's going on? Is the radius still too small? Or is there a problem with this locomotive? I already tried lubing and cleaning it ,but nothing changed.
Do any of you know what's going on?
Also, I'm concerned about the little plug wires possibly breaking when I unplug them. I found a 4-6-0 locomotive set up on Ebay. Do you know if the plugs for the HO scale 4-6-0 will fit the On30 model?
Thanks!

Never mind. I found the problem. It was a bent down contact on top of the motor frame. It had gotten bent down too far to make proper contact with the circuit board where the wiring for the headlight goes during the last rebuild after I finished painting the model.
Once I figured that out ,it was a simple matter of bending up both contacts to make a better connection with the circuit board.
Now it's running perfectly again.
Thanks!

Hi,again! I just picked up this little beauty from an on-line retailer for an incredible $69.99 (plus $9.99 Shipping) . It is a brand new Bachmann #28657 Spectrum On30 Baldwin 4-6-0 Steam Loco - DCC on Board, Greenbrier & Big Run Lumber Company.
I plan on relettering it for the Rio Grande.
My question is this: What do I need to buy to add sound to this model?
Thanks!

Hello. I am new here . I recently bought the above described On30 locomotive and tender on Ebay. It's missing the smoke stack and the whistle. I didn't see either part available on the Bachmann parts site,so I'm wondering if anybody here might be able to help me to find replacement parts.
I found a C&S Mogul style "Bear Trap" with spark arrester on Ebay :
https://www.ebay.com/itm/O-On3-On30-WISEMAN-BACK-SHOP-BRASS-PART-BS-064-C-S-BEARTRAP-LOCOMOTIVE-STACK/133277939031?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
Does anybody know if that would be a god fit?
I can't find a whistle, so , am I just out of luck getting that part, or does anyone have a suggestion?
Thank you!
Railman63