I've fiited a Soundtraxx Tsunami to a Bachmann 9F. I prefer the sound from the Soundtraxx decoders to the Loksound decoders and I think the difference in motor control is hardly noticable. So here are some pictures.


The Bachmann 9F tender. I've just clipped the supports off the coal load.


The decoder installed. I had to cut two holes to allow the decoder to fit and to pass the wiring harness back into the tender.


I drilled some holes in the tender chassis to let the sound out. I'm going to modify this to one large hole to prevent reflections and I'm going to install a sheet of brass on the tender floor as extra support.


The speaker installed on the tender chassis. This is a 20x40 Ultravox speaker that gives good base response.


The Bachmann 9F after installation. I've still to tidy up the wiring and I'm still figuring out how to install an axle mounted chuff cam due to the narrow diameter axles Bachmann use.

Ozzie21

As my US steam love is the Chesapeake and Ohio railway all my US steam is along this line.



This is an H4 2-6-6-2 mallet. They were used on mine runs and shifter duties. Their short wheel base and light axle loading allowed them to traverse the light branch lines out to the mines.The first one was delivered about 1906 and the last about 1948 and were Baldwins last steam locos for a US railroad. This is brass model from PFM.


This is a K-4 Kanawha 2-8-4. They were used on fast freights, coal trains and passenger duties. Delivered by Lima and Alco in three batches from about 1941. On other railroads they were called Berkshires but C&O being a good southern railraod couldn't use a yankee name. This is brass loco from PFM.


This is 2-10-4 Texas type. They were the C&O's first superpower locos from Lima loco works. They could produce around 5,500hp with a tractive effort of about 116,000lbs which allowed them to haul 11,000ton coal trains at high speed. This is Westside brass model.



This a J-3A 4-8-4 Greenbrier type, named after C&O's major hotel at White Sulpher springs. This were Lima built superpower locos used for hauling heavy passenger trains over the Allegheny range. One, #614, still survives but hasn't run in some time. This is a Key brass model.



This is K-3 2-8-2 heavy mikado. This is an Alco built loco from about 1923 and were used on heavy fast freights and coal trains. This is PFM Crown series model and is about the best you can get.

All these models are converted to run on DCC, as are all my models, and are fitted with Soundtraxx Tsunami's, GME axle mounted chuff cams and lights.

Ozzie21

Some more NSW steam.



This is a C30 class 4-6-0. They were converted from 30 class tank engines for working light branch lines. This Footplate kit.



This is 30 class 4-6-4 tank engine. They were used in the suburban network on commuter trains and out to the outlying areas which are now suburbs of Sydney. This is brass model from Bergs.



This is roundtop firebox C36 class express passenger loco. They were rebuilt with a belpaire firebox and taper boiler. This is a Footplate kit and i don't have a belpaire one yet.



This is D59 class 2-8-2 freight engine. They along with the Garrets were the last locos steam locos deliveried to NSW railways in the 1950's. They were built by Baldwin in the US and were basically USRA light mikados with a very short tender to fit on 90ft turn tables

Well it's time for some Australian models mostly steam as most of the RTR diesels that were available were rather horrible Lima models that were no better than toys.



A NSWGR D57 class heavy mountain 4-8-2. A 3 cylinder engine that use Gresley conjugated valve gear mounted on the front of the engine to drive the middle cylinder. These opertated on lines south from Sydney and over the Blue Mountains hauling coal and frieght.



A NSWGR D58 class. A later incarnation of the D57 but without the Gresley valve gear. These engines appeared in the early fifties but had fairly short working lives. Life was cut short with electrification of the Blue mountains lines plus the onslaght by the diesel.



A NSWGR D50 class 2-8-0. These engines formed the bulk of the NSWGR frieght engine fleet. The first entered traffic in may 1896 and built by Beyer Peacock and the last, #5069, taken out of service on the 23 December 1971 was a Beyer Peacock built loco.



A NSWGR D55 class. A variation of the D50 class with Southern valve gear and a oil burner. These engines has Schmidt type superheaters and ran a slightly higher boiler pressure.

Horn hooks are ugly things that shouls be left on toy train sets for the kiddies. I'm in the process of fitting up some of my english stock with Kadee couplers. Again there not thew most fashonable for english locos but they do work and if you know how to fit them it's relativley easy.


This is set of Hornby Gresley coaches with standard couplers. Note the toy train gap between diaphragms.


Same coaches with Kadee Nuber 18 NEM couplers fitted. The gap is almost gone.



A Hornby A4 with a Kadee Number 20 NEM coupler fitted.



Same loco and train on a curve. The coupling mount does open up slightly on a curve so buffer locking isn't so much of a problem.



The coaches halfway through a curve. Curve radius is 30" with 40" easements.



Bachmann A1 with a Kadee number 19 fitted. The 20 was too short on the Bachmann loco so I used the 19 which worked satisfactory.

Well as this is the first entry I'll kleep it short. As my interests lie far afield I'm going to split this up into English, Australian ( New South Wales) and American. I'll add things as they come up.