Bachmann is advertising that their old time 4-4-0’s will have DCC and sound. Interesting to see how they will do this with the present tender drive locos.
Sound value for about $300.
They will have DCC ready with 8 pin NMRA socket. $230.
Figure a lot less if you know how to shop online.
I have converted some to DCC with N scale decoders but never tried sound. I converted the motors to small can type motors from an old CD drives.
Rich
.Forgot to mention before, motor being moved into the loco. The motor is going to be put in the boiler so the present gear drive can be used. The tender will only be for decoder and speaker.
Rich
I’ve converted one to DCC, Added all wheel pick up in tender, added front light, and added a flywheel. I love this era for playing around with. I have considered adding sound, but the only way is to remove the weight in the boiler and I’m not sure how that would work with tractive effort. The biggest problem with these locos have been their electrical pickup.
Richard
Are you sure you’re not speaking of the modern 4-4-0 vs the old time. I could only find info on the modern version.
Richard
You did not look close enough. Go to the Bachmann site and look for new products. Bachmann is putting the motor in the boiler and using the present driver arraignment.
There is a forum discussion on it also.
Rich
This is for anyone with the older tender drive version.
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/1879/bachmann_4-4-0/sound/
Rich
Great link and I’ve done most of those modifications, they really help. Yea, I didn’t look close enough and found them.
The motor in the boiler configuration may actually be better too because of eliminating the dogbone connection. Still wonder about weight/pulling power and don’t like adding rubber to my drivers–lol.
Richard
Has anyone done a sound upgrade for the new tooling version. Saw them at a train show recently and they look really nice but the version I want is only DCC ready. This seems to happen alot with the Bachmann line for me. The Soundtraxx site doesn’t have the appropriate information for this version yet. Thanks.
By the way, very old thread. Usually good to start a new thread and reference the old thread. Does happen with new members.
Put in a SoundTraxx Econami decoder with eight pin plug.An N scale decoder good for one amp and a little smaller than the Tsunami Micro which was sensitive to heat.
I think the company reps at the Bachmann forums can have a suggestion for sound and maybe the whistle.
There is a spot for a speaker.
Below is the diagram of the tender.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/HO4-4-0AmericanBodyAssembly(DCCREADY).pdf
You might add weight to the tender though.
The Golden Spike set with sound is available for $350.00. Jupiter and Union Pacific #119.
I have not looked up the DCC CV and sounds list at the Bachmann forums yet.
Rich
Be advised, the last I knew the Econamy comes with a variety of sounds. You choose the appropriate one. No idea what the CV’s and sounds are in the value Golden Spike set.
You might check LokSound decoders also.
Rich
Harold did the old tender drive but a lot of work. He has a You Tube video also.
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/1879/bachmann_4-4-0/sound/
Be advised. I can see someone trying to pass off the tender drive as the new tooling. Don’t laugh. I see similar in these forums about ebay sales.
Edit.
I just looked in the Bachmann HO forum and the new loco is being discussed and an administrator released the CV list.
Rich
Thanks for the advice. The version is the new one and it appears to be easy with the 8 pin plug available. The loksound and econami look like they would fit. There is a place for a speaker, now I just need to measure the speaker size since it appears that the weight for the tender has a hole for the speaker.
Looking at the diagram of the new sound value American as compared to the Spectrum 4-4-0, I am suspecting a 3/4 inch speaker.
I have the Spectrum HO 4-4-0 and 4-6-0 that have a 28mm, 1.1 inch speaker and the picture I see of the new American looks a little smaller.
You could join the Bachmann forums and ask.
Use a light steam decoder with air pump sound turned off. That era did not have air pumps.
Bachmann does not sell sound decoders.
Two or three in the Bachmann forums have them in DC version. Look in the HO forum.
Rich