What engine is this?

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I have a Buchmann Santa Fe ( bull nose ) loco and would like to know what it is so I can make it DCC. Engine number is 215 if that helps.

2

dusther:

Your question is a bit unclear. Perhaps if you could explain what you mean by “what it is” it would help us answer your question better. Are you asking how to put a decoder into the locomotive, and if so, do you want sound as well as DCC control? Pictures are good too, if you can post them.

By the way, welcome to the forum!![#welcome]

Dave

3

Anytime I have a question about what a locomotive is, I google it. For example I have CSX locomotive #2558, I googled it and figured out it was a GP38-2

4

I am first wanting to know what engine is this, is it an F 5,7 or 9, or is it an E series? How can you tell the difference?

5

You mean Bachmann.

It is an N scale F-unit, probably older than you are - - - LOL.

It is not DCC Ready, so it will take some doing on your part.

Rich

6

Post a picture.

7

I believe that this is the loco he is referring to.

Rich

8

Yes. That is the engine. I want to put DCC control on it but wasn’t sure what the engine type was. Which would be better to wire in the pig tail plug then plug in the decoder or hard wire in the decoder.

9

It is definitely an F7A or F9A. In HO Bachman only has made F9’s. One of the only external differences is the location of the forward side vents. The F9 vents are further forward than the F7’s.

Larry

10

That depends upon your skill level. It is not DCC Ready, so first you have to make it DCC ready so that you don’t fry the decoder when you install it and apply power. Once it is DCC Ready, the key will be to find the proper decoder that fits nicely inside the shell. Finding room under that shell may pose a problem as well.

Rich

11

Hi,

The OP’s loco might also be HO. To the OP… if the loco is about 8 inches long, it is HO, if its about 4 inches long, it is N. In any case it is an F unit, possibly an F7 or F9 - but given its an older Bachmann, its probably more generic with less specific detail. FYI, F units had 4 axles, and E units had 6 axles.

OK, here is the part you don’t want to hear. The older Bachmanns (not the spectrum models or more recent basic models) are just not worth the time/effort/money to convert to DCC. They were more on the “toy” side of the hobby and just don’t have the performance or longevity to make them viable DCC candidates.

Now I’m sure that some folks will attack the above and say they have made the conversion and their locos run like a top (which means in circles), but trust me, I would avoid this project like the plague.

12

Mobileman44 is about correct. It may NOT be worth converting.

I have one that I want converted soley for sentimental reasons, though it is in no way accruate to my livery choice! I have resisted doing it {atually having it done, as I can fry a toaster taking it out of the box}because it is simply NOT WORTH IT.

Even with the new Bachmann F-series diesels, they are not so expensive, really. Here they range for a mere $21.00 without DCC and to a max of $120.00 with sound and DCC for certain versions/models:

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/HOProducts2.asp?Scale=HO&Item=160FAB

Here is the red/silver F7A one as mentioned/pictured above, available in DCC already equipped AND SOUND for about a $100:

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?Scale=HO&Item=160FAB&ID=200883034

It may venture to be an improvement over the “toy” one you may have.

Depends on your budget, abilities and fondness for the one you have already.

Next: if you have a choice and really really want to convert it, why not just wire in the harness and skip the “plug in step”?? To what value would the plug in socket add?

Up to you.

Have fun and enjoy the hobby!

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