I've had the DCC sound Thomas and Percy in my possession for over a month now, and I've had enough time to digest them and come up with a verdict.

I was pleased to discover that that they kept the added weights in Thomas much like his analog sound counterpart, and he's the smoothest running engine out of the two. Percy isn't nearly as heavy, but he still has some additional weight to him. I can't tell if it's from the speaker or not though. He's also a little bit more finicky than Thomas with his function responses, which I think can be chalked up to his short wheelbase.

Obviously, these both utilize the exact same soundfile used on the G scale variants. Bachmann confirmed this would be the case early last year. That's not much of an issue except that they didn't adjust the chuffs to match HO, which makes them severely out of sync with the wheels unlike the G scale ones. I plan on eventually going in and adjusting the CVs to fix this.

Overall though, these are fairly solid releases. And I do hope to see other engines in the line get the DCC treatment too.

I recently picked up the DCC Sound Thomas and had the opportunity to test it with Kelson (redtender5) while on a call with DCC Sodor. I can confidently say that Bachmann and SoundTraxx truly delivered on the sound quality of this model. I was impressed enough that I have already purchased Percy online, who is currently on the way.

The CV includes the same sound suites and character options found in the Large Scale DCC Thomas and Percy models, featuring engines 1–7, Emily, and Spencer. While many of these characters were never released in Large Scale, Bachmann addressed this by offering a standalone DCC sound module, allowing fans to add DCC and sound to other models such as James, Toby, and Emily: engines that never received factory-installed DCC and sound.

Unfortunately, this same option does not exist in HO scale. At present, only Thomas and Percy are available with DCC and sound installed. Given that Bachmann already has these character sound suites—both from the Large Scale module and within the HO Thomas and Percy models—it feels limiting that HO fans have no way to access these sounds for other characters. This raises an important question: why can't HO modelers have the same flexibility when all of the characters represented in the sound suites are already available in HO scale? Wouldn't it be ideal to have that same level of choice?


This is why I believe a logical next step, either this year or next, would be to introduce the same DCC sound module used in HO Thomas and Percy as a standalone item. This would allow fans to add DCC and sound to the rest of the HO Thomas range without requiring the purchase of entirely new locomotives. Even owners of non-DCC Thomas and Percy models would benefit from having this option available.

Such an addition would not only expand customization options but also help bring more fans into the DCC side of the hobby. HO Thomas models have been on the market for many years with no signs of slowing down, and the standalone Large Scale sound module continues to sell well. In fact, it outlasted the now-discontinued Large Scale DCC Thomas and Percy engines (with the exception of Thomas in a set). This suggests sustained interest in modular DCC sound solutions, a trend that could easily carry over into HO scale.


A standalone HO DCC sound module would be a strong asset to the hobby. Bachmann is already encouraging DCC adoption through products such as the HO DCC turntable being a required purchase for the reintroduction of Tidmouth Sheds, and Bachmann Europe offers Thomas models that are DCC ready. These developments further support the case for investing in an HO DCC sound module.



Speaking of Bachmann Europe, this also raises another opportunity worth considering. In addition to a module featuring the same sound suites as HO Thomas and Percy, there is room for a second DCC sound module dedicated to other popular characters that currently have no sound options. Engines 1–7, Emily, and Spencer have been proven sellers for nearly two decades, with many expanding across multiple scales. Beyond them, Diesel and Paxton now have a presence in every scale, including Large Scale, making them strong candidates. Duck and Daisy are already available in the UK DCC-ready range and would also be well-justified inclusions. Oliver, who has remained a consistently popular seller for many years, feels like a natural choice as well. Introducing a second module with sound suites for these engines—and potentially other strong sellers—would be an exciting and forward-thinking move.

Ultimately, the fact that HO DCC sound Thomas and Percy have only been available for about a month and fans are already asking for more options speaks volumes. It strongly justifies Bachmann exploring standalone DCC sound modules for the HO Thomas range in the near future. I know I would purchase several for my own collection, and I'm confident many others would as well. I hope Bachmann will consider this, as it would positively impact not only HO Thomas fans, but the model train hobby as a whole.

Thank you to the Bachmann team for taking the time to consider this suggestion, and to fellow forum members for the continued discussion and shared enthusiasm for expanding DCC options within the HO Thomas range. I look forward to hearing future thoughts or updates on this topic.

This is a wonderful suggestion. I always wanted to grab one of these for G. In HO I'd be even more tempted because of the large number of engines. Even though I'm old school and just love the sounds of the engines running along the track. 

With the new HO DCC Thomas & Percy models as top preorders and now top sellers at TrainWorld, I can confidently predict that an HO DCC sound module that applies to more Thomas engines would also do very well with sales. As mentioned, it would be a valuable product that caters to those who cherish DCC and the memorable sounds of the Thomas engines, which has only grown in the recent years.

Quote from: Chaz on February 01, 2026, 04:18:13 PM
I recently picked up the DCC Sound Thomas and had the opportunity to test it with Kelson (redtender5) while on a call with DCC Sodor. I can confidently say that Bachmann and SoundTraxx truly delivered on the sound quality of this model. I was impressed enough that I have already purchased Percy online, who is currently on the way.

The CV includes the same sound suites and character options found in the Large Scale DCC Thomas and Percy models, featuring engines 1–7, Emily, and Spencer. While many of these characters were never released in Large Scale, Bachmann addressed this by offering a standalone DCC sound module, allowing fans to add DCC and sound to other models such as James, Toby, and Emily: engines that never received factory-installed DCC and sound.

Unfortunately, this same option does not exist in HO scale. At present, only Thomas and Percy are available with DCC and sound installed. Given that Bachmann already has these character sound suites—both from the Large Scale module and within the HO Thomas and Percy models—it feels limiting that HO fans have no way to access these sounds for other characters. This raises an important question: why can't HO modelers have the same flexibility when all of the characters represented in the sound suites are already available in HO scale? Wouldn't it be ideal to have that same level of choice?


This is why I believe a logical next step, either this year or next, would be to introduce the same DCC sound module used in HO Thomas and Percy as a standalone item. This would allow fans to add DCC and sound to the rest of the HO Thomas range without requiring the purchase of entirely new locomotives. Even owners of non-DCC Thomas and Percy models would benefit from having this option available.

Such an addition would not only expand customization options but also help bring more fans into the DCC side of the hobby. HO Thomas models have been on the market for many years with no signs of slowing down, and the standalone Large Scale sound module continues to sell well. In fact, it outlasted the now-discontinued Large Scale DCC Thomas and Percy engines (with the exception of Thomas in a set). This suggests sustained interest in modular DCC sound solutions, a trend that could easily carry over into HO scale.


A standalone HO DCC sound module would be a strong asset to the hobby. Bachmann is already encouraging DCC adoption through products such as the HO DCC turntable being a required purchase for the reintroduction of Tidmouth Sheds, and Bachmann Europe offers Thomas models that are DCC ready. These developments further support the case for investing in an HO DCC sound module.



Speaking of Bachmann Europe, this also raises another opportunity worth considering. In addition to a module featuring the same sound suites as HO Thomas and Percy, there is room for a second DCC sound module dedicated to other popular characters that currently have no sound options. Engines 1–7, Emily, and Spencer have been proven sellers for nearly two decades, with many expanding across multiple scales. Beyond them, Diesel and Paxton now have a presence in every scale, including Large Scale, making them strong candidates. Duck and Daisy are already available in the UK DCC-ready range and would also be well-justified inclusions. Oliver, who has remained a consistently popular seller for many years, feels like a natural choice as well. Introducing a second module with sound suites for these engines—and potentially other strong sellers—would be an exciting and forward-thinking move.

Ultimately, the fact that HO DCC sound Thomas and Percy have only been available for about a month and fans are already asking for more options speaks volumes. It strongly justifies Bachmann exploring standalone DCC sound modules for the HO Thomas range in the near future. I know I would purchase several for my own collection, and I'm confident many others would as well. I hope Bachmann will consider this, as it would positively impact not only HO Thomas fans, but the model train hobby as a whole.

Thank you to the Bachmann team for taking the time to consider this suggestion, and to fellow forum members for the continued discussion and shared enthusiasm for expanding DCC options within the HO Thomas range. I look forward to hearing future thoughts or updates on this topic.

As much as a sound module for HO scale would be nice, I'm not sure how compatible it would be with much of the HO engines. A bunch of the chassis offer very little room in terms of sound decoder placement, let alone speaker placement. Bachmann Europe even had to go in and modify Edward's chassis just so it could be DCC ready, and even then, just for a barebones non sound Next18 decoder. Taking out the eye mechanism would allow more avenues to be explored, but I don't see that feature leaving anytime. And while you can always go the route of installing the module in the tender with the speaker, you still have to go the extra mile to drill holes and make connections.

G scale isn't as big of an issue since you have so much more added space to work with, even with the eye mechanism. Granted, I've only seen the interiors of Thomas, Percy and Toby, but I assume it's no different for Emily and James. They can make the sound module one size because they know it'll fit in all of their G scale range, but I don't think the same can be said for HO, especially when you look at many of the different shapes and sizes of each of the engines' PCBs. Granted you can make small sound decoders as proven with companies like ESU with their Loksound micro and nano decoders, but the price would be jacked up substantially as a result when compared to the more affordable soundtraxx ones that they currently use.

Im almost positive that this is why G scale made the jump to DCC way earlier than HO.

 

Quote from: CandygramforMongo on February 02, 2026, 04:43:30 PMAs much as a sound module for HO scale would be nice, I'm not sure how compatible it would be with much of the HO engines. A bunch of the chassis offer very little room in terms of sound decoder placement, let alone speaker placement. Bachmann Europe even had to go in and modify Edward's chassis just so it could be DCC ready, and even then, just for a barebones non sound Next18 decoder. Taking out the eye mechanism would allow more avenues to be explored, but I don't see that feature leaving anytime. And while you can always go the route of installing the module in the tender with the speaker, you still have to go the extra mile to drill holes and make connections.

G scale isn't as big of an issue since you have so much more added space to work with, even with the eye mechanism. Granted, I've only seen the interiors of Thomas, Percy and Toby, but I assume it's no different for Emily and James. They can make the sound module one size because they know it'll fit in all of their G scale range, but I don't think the same can be said for HO, especially when you look at many of the different shapes and sizes of each of the engines' PCBs. Granted you can make small sound decoders as proven with companies like ESU with their Loksound micro and nano decoders, but the price would be jacked up substantially as a result when compared to the more affordable soundtraxx ones that they currently use.

Im almost positive that this is why G scale made the jump to DCC way earlier than HO.

You raise some valid points regarding space constraints, chassis design, and speaker placement in HO. There's no question that HO presents more challenges than Large Scale, particularly with the eye mechanism still in place and the limited internal volume on many of the engines.

That said, members of the community such as DCC Sodor and redtender5 have already demonstrated that DCC installation in HO Thomas models is achievable through custom work and careful planning. While these installs aren't plug-and-play, they clearly show that sound and DCC can be successfully implemented at this scale, even within the existing design limitations.

I also think it's worth noting that Bachmann has already demonstrated a willingness to adapt chassis designs for DCC, as seen with Edward in the UK range. While that example is non-sound, it shows that internal revisions are not entirely off the table when there is sufficient demand. I wouldn't rule Bachmann out for getting experimental with a hypothetical DCC and sound release for James by allowing the many of the electronics to be in his tender.  Additionally, HO Thomas and Percy have already proven that sound can be successfully implemented at this scale using SoundTraxx hardware, suggesting that similar solutions could be feasible for a majority of the range.

Cost is certainly a consideration, especially when compared to micro and nano decoders such as ESU's. However, even a higher-priced, official sound module would likely find a market among fans who want a character-specific solution without the added complexity of sourcing third-party decoders and custom sound files.

I understand why Large Scale transitioned to DCC sound earlier: it's undeniably easier with the available space. However, with HO DCC sound now firmly established for Thomas and Percy and growing interest from the community, I think it's reasonable to at least explore what options might be feasible, even if they come with clear limitations.

I appreciate you bringing up the technical side of this. It's an important part of the discussion, and it's helpful for Bachmann staff to see both the enthusiasm from fans and the practical considerations being raised.

Quote from: Chaz on February 02, 2026, 06:22:09 PM

Quote from: CandygramforMongo on February 02, 2026, 04:43:30 PMAs much as a sound module for HO scale would be nice, I'm not sure how compatible it would be with much of the HO engines. A bunch of the chassis offer very little room in terms of sound decoder placement, let alone speaker placement. Bachmann Europe even had to go in and modify Edward's chassis just so it could be DCC ready, and even then, just for a barebones non sound Next18 decoder. Taking out the eye mechanism would allow more avenues to be explored, but I don't see that feature leaving anytime. And while you can always go the route of installing the module in the tender with the speaker, you still have to go the extra mile to drill holes and make connections.

G scale isn't as big of an issue since you have so much more added space to work with, even with the eye mechanism. Granted, I've only seen the interiors of Thomas, Percy and Toby, but I assume it's no different for Emily and James. They can make the sound module one size because they know it'll fit in all of their G scale range, but I don't think the same can be said for HO, especially when you look at many of the different shapes and sizes of each of the engines' PCBs. Granted you can make small sound decoders as proven with companies like ESU with their Loksound micro and nano decoders, but the price would be jacked up substantially as a result when compared to the more affordable soundtraxx ones that they currently use.

Im almost positive that this is why G scale made the jump to DCC way earlier than HO.

You raise some valid points regarding space constraints, chassis design, and speaker placement in HO. There's no question that HO presents more challenges than Large Scale, particularly with the eye mechanism still in place and the limited internal volume on many of the engines.

That said, members of the community such as DCC Sodor and redtender5 have already demonstrated that DCC installation in HO Thomas models is achievable through custom work and careful planning. While these installs aren't plug-and-play, they clearly show that sound and DCC can be successfully implemented at this scale, even within the existing design limitations.

I also think it's worth noting that Bachmann has already demonstrated a willingness to adapt chassis designs for DCC, as seen with Edward in the UK range. While that example is non-sound, it shows that internal revisions are not entirely off the table when there is sufficient demand. I wouldn't rule Bachmann out for getting experimental with a hypothetical DCC and sound release for James by allowing the many of the electronics to be in his tender.  Additionally, HO Thomas and Percy have already proven that sound can be successfully implemented at this scale using SoundTraxx hardware, suggesting that similar solutions could be feasible for a majority of the range.

Cost is certainly a consideration, especially when compared to micro and nano decoders such as ESU's. However, even a higher-priced, official sound module would likely find a market among fans who want a character-specific solution without the added complexity of sourcing third-party decoders and custom sound files.

I understand why Large Scale transitioned to DCC sound earlier: it's undeniably easier with the available space. However, with HO DCC sound now firmly established for Thomas and Percy and growing interest from the community, I think it's reasonable to at least explore what options might be feasible, even if they come with clear limitations.
 
I appreciate you bringing up the technical side of this. It's an important part of the discussion, and it's helpful for Bachmann staff to see both the enthusiasm from fans and the practical considerations being raised.

Of course! I'm a massive fan of DCC Sodor's work as well, and I've done a couple of sound installations of my own (James and Daisy). I hope I didn't come off as saying more DCC sound engines in future isn't happening, I too firmly believe it is. I was just saying I don't know how feasible it'd be to make a universal one size fits all module to be sold separately like in G at this point in time 

Quote from: CandygramforMongo on Today at 08:57:02 AMOf course! I'm a massive fan of DCC Sodor's work as well, and I've done a couple of sound installations of my own (James and Daisy). I hope I didn't come off as saying more DCC sound engines in future isn't happening, I too firmly believe it is. I was just saying I don't know how feasible it'd be to make a universal one size fits all module to be sold separately like in G at this point in time 

Not at all, we're all good! I appreciate you sharing your experience, and it's great to hear you've done installs on James and Daisy. Always nice to have these discussions and hear different perspectives.

It is great to hear that the DCC Sound Variants of Thomas and Percy have been big hits!  I thank you to those of you who have said you are fans of my work!  I hope to keep them coming from my side, I also hope Bachmann will release more engines in their DCC/Sound range!

I think it's a safe bet that more DCC is in the near future for the line!