I got the Zephyr unit and the Spectrum Shay in today. I put the decoder in the Shay in about 30 minutes, and this thing sounds and runs awesome. To all of you who don’t like Bachmann, you don’t know what you’re missing!
I have three Spectrum 3-truck Shays with SoundTraxx systems in them, and I agree – they are some of the best-running engines made today. Just don’t forget to adequately lubricate your Shay periodically to keep it in top-notch condition.
I have two 2-8-0’s made by bachmann and I’ve found them to be very reliable and very comand responsive. There my best engines right now. Oh ya, I also have a Zephyr unit. I love that too.
Few people have said that Bachmann STEAMERS are bad - just their poor quality DIESELS !
Why Bachmann can make good steamers and lousy diesels is one of the major mysteries in MRRing !!
I like my 2-8-0, too !!!
Agreed!
I’m glad to hear some nice things about Bachmann. My only complaint, if there is one, is that the sound ain’t loud enuff! Well, the exhaust chuff anyway. The air pump will overpower all the sounds if you don’t turn it down. …just out of curiousity, cacole, what did you do for coal loads? I still used the original coal load with mine. I cut off all of it that extended down into the bunker except the first 1/4". Then I dremmel tooled out a small pocket that projects the sound right into the cab of the locomotive. It works really well. There’s really no difference in sound with the coal load in and with it out. You can’t see my modification from the outside, either.
Rob, where did you get your Shay and decoder from? Did you have to do a speaker install?
Thanks,
Jarrell
i’m still waiting for my LHS to call me and tell me my soundtraxx decoder is in [sigh]
I posted this on the layout forum of this site, but here it is for those that haven’t seen it:
got the decoder from here: http://www.acculites.com/SOUNDTRAXX_pp.html
REAL nice people. FAST as HELL shipping. As you can see, they want 116 bucks for the same decoder most want 149 for. I got the Zephyr from Ebay. Here’s the link to the seller I bought from: http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZbrillianthobby
Brilliant Hobby is the business name. The man’s name is David Brilliant, and quite frankly, he is. He’s very nice and helpful. He also sold me the Zephyr for 149 bucks. I watch very closely who I do business with on Ebay. Look at his feedback. He has 943 comments, no neutrals, and one negative. You can reach him directly at 949 306 8627. Hope that helps.
Yes, I installed a speaker. It goes in the bunker right behind the cab. I just used the speaker plate. I didn’t use the plate with the holes in it, because of the way I ended up doing the coal load. I cut the bottom 2/3 off the coal load and machined out a pocket on the under side so the speaker wouldn’t be covered up. It works really good, because it directs the sound right into the cab and sounds like its coming from the locomotive instead of the bunker.
BigRedneckRob:
What do you think about the Zephyr? Maybe I will buy one too.
Hi Rob! I guess I’m missing where you bought your Shay from. The reason I ask is that I’m looking for one also. They’re fairly high priced little engines, so I’m trying to find a reasonalble price.
Jarrell
Rob, go to this page, scroll down to the 38 ton Shay and click on its picture. There is a sound file there…
http://www.phoenixsound.com/sound_library/american_steam/american_steam.htm
Jarrell
I the Shay off Ebay, too.
I tried to look at it, but it won’t work right on my computer. It looks like that site has some little java movies that play on their pages, and my computer blocks the. It does it in such a way that I cannot see the link to click on to download the sound file. Mine is the 80 ton Shay, though. I’m sure they would sound similar.