It’s new today on the Bachmann site. Starting in 2007 Bachmann Spectrum loco’s will be available with Soundtraxx .
Soundtraxx had some Bachmann On30 outside frame 2-8-0’s repackaged with their name on the box at the Narrow Gauge Convention in Durango this past August. They were asking $300.00 for them. I had already picked up one without sound from one of the vendors ($135.00), and asked those at the Soundtraxx booth if they had separate sound decoders for the engine. They said no, they were only offering them already installed. I guess this wass the start of their partnership with Bachmann. Looks like I’ll have to go elsewhere for a sound decoder for mine.
You should be able to fit a SoundTraxx Tsunami decoder into the 2-8-0’s tender, and they are readily available.
BTW, for now they are only offering some of their steam locos with sound.
They said they weren’t going to offer them separately, only installed in the tender by them (or Bachmann, it wasn’t clear).
SoundTraxx Tsunami decoders have been available from Tony’s Train Exchange, Litchfield Station, Loy’s Toys, and other DCC dealers for at least a year now. Perhaps the Bachmann locomotives are not going to be using the Tsunami, but some other version of SoundTraxx decoder – they do make many different types.
According to the MR newsletter, certain Spectrum steam locomotives will now be availible with installed Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders. Hurray!