July 13, 2023 - Eureka!


After being disappointed by Erik Fiske of Tony's Train Exchange, I was up very late on July 11, 2023, searching online for persons/companies that could convert my Standard-DC Bachmann 0-6-0 Steam Locomotive to DCC. I found Train Freak Hobbies and emailed them through their support email. I told them the following:
  • Brand
  • Wheel Arrangement
  • Purchased From
  • What I Generally Wanted - DCC Decoder/Sound/New Lighting
  • Provided Pictures Of Product

I checked my email on July 12, 2023, to find that I had not received a response from Train Freak Hobbies. That's when I contacted my friend, Daniel Waite, in Colorado who has a YouTube Channel called Dan's Grand Valley RR. I emailed Dan hoping that he or his friend, Mike, could help me convert the Bachmann 0-60 Steam Locomotive to DCC. I explained the situation and sent the same pictures I had sent Train Freak Hobbies. Sadly, Dan and Mike are equally knowledgeable as I am when it comes to converting DC locomotives to DCC.


On July 13, 2023, I received an email from Jason Wilson of Train Freak Hobbies. I was almost afraid to open it, to tell the truth. I could have been knocked over with a feather when Jason told me that it could be done with some additional work.

From what I was told in the email, everything in the steam locomotive would have to be rewired and have the wires run through a harness to the tender. Jason also uses decoders that have both DCC and Sound in one decoder. With the tender not having wheel pickups, I'd also need a current keeper attached to the decoder so that it wouldn't lose power on turnouts and such. The funny thing is that Jason didn't say anything about replacing the bulb lights using LED lights in the steam locomotive and modifying the tender light.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

June 29, 2023 - Locomotive As A Load Project - Part One

Image
Associated Hobby Manufacturers MDT/35-Ton Plymouth Diesel Switcher I finally got an email from Erik Fiske of Tony's Train Exchange. The bad news is that they had to decline to take on the project of converting the AHM MDT/35-Ton Plymouth Diesel Switcher to DCC as it wouldn't make a reliable, cost-effective conversion. The good news is that I always have a Plan B. Since converting the model to DCC seems impossible, I have to model the locomotive as a load on a flat car. Purchasing another Walthers Trainline 50' Flat Car was a good idea.
Read more

July 10, 2023 - Done With Tony's Train Exchange

Image
I'm officially done trying to give Erik Fiske/Tony's Train Exchange my business. How can a business claiming to be DCC Specialist find an excuse to not convert Standard-DC locomotives to DCC? First, I asked if he could convert an AHM Plymouth Diesel Switcher to DCC. Erik stated that it wouldn't make a reliable, cost-effective conversion. I chalked it up to the model being too old as it was built in 1965. Second, I asked if he could convert a Bachmann 0-6-0 Steam Locomotive to DCC. Erik said he stayed away from all Bachmann products built before 2003 but left me a link to purchase DCC steam locomotives in their stock.
Read more

June 24, 2023 - AHM MDT/35-Ton Plymouth Diesel Switcher

Image
1965 Associated Hobby Manufacturers MDT/35-Ton Plymouth Diesel Switcher It has been a long time since I purchased any locomotives, diesel or steam, that would interest me. On June 23, 2023, I purchased an AHM MDT/35-Ton Plymouth Diesel Switcher on eBay. I was well aware that it was a Standard DC model, but I had been following a few websites that either showed how to install a DCC decoder or were directed to professionals that could do it for me. I emailed Tony's Train Exchange to inquire if it could be done and get a quote ahead of time for parts and labor for converting this locomotive to DCC.
Read more