Bachmann Spectrum 2-10-2, Canadian National. DCC equipped.

Purchased new off of eBay, runs great right out of the box. Too large for my test layout, while it navigates 22 inch radius curves, it's not all that happy about it. DCC

Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-2 Mountain, un-lettered

I had forgotten about this model, which I purchased off of eBay years ago. I could never test it, and when I finally got a DC power supply, it refused to run. Well I found it again, and discovered it wouldn't run. I took apart the tender, and found it was DCC, with a Digitrax DH121 encoder. It would move 15 inches and stop, and than stopped completely. I put in a decodder from the Consolidation (see below), and still wouldn't run. Finally, after unscrewing the circuit board, I found there was a shoddy wire connection. Loose, as shown, the model runs great. I need to fix the circuit board, and add a Tsunami for sound. DCC

Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation.

Purchased new off of eBay, runs great at all speeds, right out of the box. Bachmann decoder does not like anything higher than 28 speed steps. Had a real problem with the tender, in that the tow bar was too tight, and lifted the front trucks off of the track. The solution was reverse the tow bar, so the biggest hole was tender side, now it works great. Need to replace the couplers with proper KaDees. This is also a strong pulling model, it can handle all of my current rolling stock on the 4% grade on my test layout. DCC

Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation.

Purchased new off of eBay. This is an identical model to the first, but this one ran poorly out of the box, very herky jerky. It's starting to break in nicely now, but had the same problem with the tender tow bar. Also needs proper couplers. I converted this model in June of 2008 to a Tsunami DCC sound decoder. DCC

Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0 American, Steel Cab.

The front truck on this model is a bit flaky, in that it floats almost too much. It also stalls at slow speeds over a couple of switches, I think it's because the tender has pickups on only one side. I need to fix that, as well as install new couplers. It's not the best hill climber, It will only pull 4 cars up the 4% incline on my test layout. DCC

IHC DC 2-8-0, Central Vermont #469

Bought new about 10 years ago. It runs...ok. DC

IHC DC 0-8-0, Central Vermont #501

New off of eBay. Like the Other IHC, it runs- ok. DC

Bachmann Gas Electric Doodlebug, Boston & Maine 1180

A brand new model that was DCC ready; an hour to remove the body shell, and I plugged in an extra Bachmann decoder I had lying around. Runs great, perfect for this small pike. DCC

Bachmann GE 70 Ton Switcher, unlettered.

This has been a flighty model, working,than failing, than working again. I only paid $30 for it, so it will have a home as long as it works - sometimes. The model, plastic wise, is crappy and toy like. DCC

Atlas Alco RSC-2, Central Vermont 3901.

I got this used, and it arrived in perfect condition. Too bad that same night it crashed to the floor with the typical results.

Due to this, I'm attempting my first DC to DCC conversion on this model.

Atlas Alco S2, Central Vermont #8093.

Used, ran great out of the box, Sergent Enginering couplers. DC

Atlas Alco GP 7, Central Vermont #4548

.Used, ran great out of the box, horn hook couplers. DC

Atlas Alco S4, Central Vermont #8081.

Used from an eBay purchase, ran great out of the box, making a lot of running noise. DC

Atlas Alco RS 11, Central Vermont #3611.

Used, runs fantastic. DC

Athearn GP9, Central Vermont #4442.

Used from an eBay purchase, a great model. It was $20, a total steal. Runs great. DC

Athearn GP9, Central Vermont #4551

Used from an eBay purchase, a great model. It was $50, a total steal. Runs well. DC

Athearn/Cary Switcher, Central Vermont. Athearn running gear with a Cary metal body.

The cab roof is brass. Used from an eBay purchase, it arrived damaged with one handrail torn off, and missing paint. Still it was under $30, so I'm keeping it. It runs well. DC

Athearn GP9, Grand Trunk #4447

Used from an eBay purchase, a great model. It was $50, a total steal. Runs well. DC

Athearn F7A, Canadian National 9032

New from an eBay purchase. Runs well. DC

Athearn F7B, Canadian National 9033

New from an eBay purchase. Runs well. DC

CN 9028
Walthers Proto 2000
F7A
QSI Quantum Sound DCC
Sargant Couplers

Bachmann Spectrum DCC 2-8-0, unlettered (foreground) I had real problem with the wires to the tender pushing the tow bar down so much it lifted the front truck of the tender off the tracks. I tried many things, but finally I widened the hole of the towbar and reversed it - the hole that mounts to the loco was much larger, and that allowed the bar to slide up and down the tender freely. A nice running model. The lights are currently not working.

Bachmann Spectrum DCC 4-4-0, unlettered, steel cab (middle). A very nice running model.

Athearn DC GP-9, Central Vermont #4442