RFS

£59 at Hatton's without a decoder, but as it has a 21-pin socket then fitting one shouldn't be too difficult. He also has a "Lima train" and a "GWR train" available as well, but his minimal descriptions, plus his emphatic "no refunds, no returns" is not going to encourage any buyers methinks .... And Hatton's only charge £4 postage instead of his £9.

Some versions of the Bachmann decoder do not support 4-digit addresses. At one point I had two Bachmann decoders both of which looked identical: one let me use 4-digit addresses, the other didn't - presumably both identical hardware but different releases of the firmware. You'll have no problem in this respect with the Lenz.

As the OP said on his initial post - Hence his problem must be DCC rather than anything mechanical. Furthermore, the problem is very characteristic of a Bachmann loco with the standard Bachmann decoder - hence the need to adjust CV54/55 as recommended. Alternatively, use a better quality decoder, such as a Lenz Standard+ which will run the loco smoothly straight out of the box. I had several locos like this and eventually replaced the decoder with the Lenz and have never looked back.

I would suggest you need to adjust the BackEMF values as defined by Bachmann's documentation here - http://www.Bachmann.co.uk/pdfs/decoder_settings.pdf . In particular set CV 54=12 and CV 55=63 for starters, but you many need to adjust these until it runs smoothly. These values are not the default for the decoder, so if the decoder is reset you'll need to enter them again.

If you're into O Gauge, and have deep pockets, you can get a RTR model of this - http://www.electrifyingtrains.co.uk/html/sr_articulated_sets.html

In my 1948 edition (the facsimile - too young for the real thing!) it is indeed there as Dominion of Pakistan, but by 1953 it's Guillemot.

Kernow still have the NRM version in stock for immediate delivery - http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/product/39468/R3177_Hornby_2BIL_2_Car_Electric_Multiple_Unit_number_2090 . Slightly more expensive than some but nevertheless available.

Current version of Truecall handles this. The callers usually show up as "withheld" because they're calling from a switchboard. You can elect to have it screened via "shield" and "whisper" - caller has to press a key (which gets rid of silent calls and recorded message calls) and then say their name, and most cold-callers hang up at this point. We've got ours set such that all withheld numbers go direct to answerphone as though we're out. If the call really is for us they'll leave a message which we can pick up.

I realize this is an old thread but the problem has not gone away, indeed it seems to be getting worse. The latest "fad" is to use recorded messages as these don't require an operator and I believe do not breach the rules of the Telephone Preference Service. Got to the point where we were getting 3-4 junk calls per day: with caller display we've been able most of the time to ignore the call and let it go to answerphone, but even that is disruptive. I can deal with junk mail and spam at my leisure, but junk phone calls have to be dealt with there and then. Although I resent having to spend money to deal with these people, I've decided to splash out £100 on the Truecall telephone blocker. I've only had in place for a few days, but how the house is quiet now! No more junk calls and we've taken back control of our telephone line. Ours is configured so that International and Unavailable callers have to enter a 2-digit code which only our family know, unrecognized callers have to press a digit on their phone (which deals with silent and recorded message calls), whilst all phone numbers that I've had in the past from telemarketers are now on the "zap" list and "star" callers (friends and family) get straight through. I've no connection with this company - just a very satisfied customer. If you're buying now you need to get the latest version, as the original 2009 version was substantially upgraded recently. You have internet access too which means you can see easily set up your options and phone lists, as well as see what callers were rejected.

Got my units yesterday after returning from visiting daughter in Australia - what on earth did you guys do to the weather whilst I was away?? Anyway got a decoder fitted to the first unit with the usual faff of getting the body off and then started testing, but soon got two problems. Firstly, the lights in the motor coach keep going off - sometimes for a long period, but those on the trailer are always on. I suspect it's the copper strips to the ceiling that need adjusting but I've not checked that yet. But far more seriously the unit keeps derailing: it's both inner bogies and happening on various points, including taking the straight road. I've checked the back-to-backs and also that the close-coupling mechanisms were both working freely, but to no avail. The bar coupling is a very tight fit but I can't see why that would cause this problem, but changed to a different one without success. So I tried a pair of Roco couplings instead. With these the unit operates perfectly, including at full speed through complex points. I lose the internal lighting which is not really a problem for me, plus the illuminated headcode on the trailer coach. But now I have a real dilemma, since with these couplings the coaches look like this: On straight track the rubbing plates are touching and the join looks so much better! I have two units (1108 and 1115) and if I run them in multiple with the motor coaches on the outer ends I retain the illuminated headcodes at each end. I've turned off the internal lighting in the motor coaches using the under body switch. I think I'll stick with these couplings, but I wonder if anyone else has had this derailing problem?

It's worth a lot more than a tenner to "discerning collectors". This one went for £220. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wrenn-Brighton-Belle-2-Car-Set-W3006-W3007-00-Gauge-Choc-Cream-Boxed-N-Mint-/290807391904?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item43b578a6a0&nma=true&si=CImFkCIVuVIFbVD4w%252FopM5WhG8k%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Connectors 1 and 8 go to the switch powering the motors. 2-4 form one polarity switch (2 & 3 to the track or DCC bus, 4 is the frog) and 5-7 are the other switch (5 is the frog, 6 and 7 track/DCC bus). The wires to 2/3 or 6/7 may have to be reversed to set the correct polarity. Should be a diagram of this in the Tortoise instruction leaflet.

"Excellent unboxed condition". Really? Doesn't look quite right to me, unless the seller's overdone the photoshopping. Yet there are 18 bids? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bachmann-32-858DC-BR-BLACK-2-10-0-CLASS-9F-LOCO-92185-WEATHERED-DCC-FITTED-/111013267303?_trksid=p5197.m1998&_trkparms=aid%3D555001%26algo%3DPW.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D18%26meid%3D5747007259505370160%26pid%3D100017%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D200899052530%26

This one you mean (displayed by selecting "completed listings")? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hornby-oo-gauge-8-packs-of-track-fixing-pins-r-702-/121065671930?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item1c30138cfa&nma=true&si=%252F4e1WtMgZtW6pZq8sF4hWOFhI%252FE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 Hatton's price is £2 per pack so there's a slight saving there, but even so that's an awful lot of track pins!

The review of the model in BRM says "Current collection pick-up is fitted to all wheels of the MBTL, consisting of wiper pick-ups acting on the rear face of the wheels on both bogies." So are you saying there are wipers only on the trailing bogie? That would be a hugely retrograde step.

Just had a look both at my 2 models and John Russell's picture. The steps locate into a recess on the body side, but mine aren't glued - or perhaps they were once but then separated from the chassis when I removed the body and wasn't aware of this. Seems a stupid arrangement to glue these onto the chassis! I would have thought you might be able to release them by careful use of a screwdiver, making sure you restrain the pipes from snapping off. I don't think the glue used is particularly strong. I did originally have a DP2X-UK decoder fitted into one of them but I believe the latest incarnation of this decoder is just that little bit bigger and will no longer fit. But the engines run very well with the Lenz Standard+.

The plastic piping is attached to the body and not the loco chassis and therefore shouldn't prevent you from taking the body off. The only thing to be careful about is not gripping the piping when you take the body off as it easily detaches. Poly cement is then needed to refix iit (been there, done that ) The instructions also say to remove the weight from the boiler barrel in order to fit the decoder. This is only true if you are fitting a physically large decoder, such as Bachmann's own. I was able to fit a Lenz Standard+ without removing the weight. As this is a single-sided decoder it just needs to be slid into the boiler barrel with the "live" side uppermost.

Bachmann have admitted that it's their mistake in response to my query - "Unfortunately there has been a confusion with the paperwork of this decoder: our item 36-557 is indeed a SoundTraxx MC1 with 21pin connector. I do apologise for this error, however if this decoder is not to your requirements then the retailer from whom you bought will be able to exchange for another item for you." The decoder is a bit too basic for my liking - at least with the now-superceded 36-554 decoder you could set CV 5 max speed, but you can't on this one. So it'll be going back for a refund.

Yes - I read that thread but thought a separate topic was required, as Bachmann only provided the documentation on their website recently. The decoder I have is indeed marked MC1xxxxxxx despite Bachmann's documentation saying that it's the MC2 - both on their website and in the leaflet in the box. Waiting to hear what they have to say.

I've just bought one of these to install in a Bachmann 2-EPB. However, I've found that setting CV5 and CV6 (max speed) has no effect: the values are set in the CVs but performance is unchanged - ie still goes at 115 mph even though CV5 has been reduced from 255 to 25! I read back the CVs on the programming track and they have been correctly set, but seem to be being ignored. There are two Soundtraxx decoders - MC1 and MC2. In the documentation for MC1, CV5 and CV6 are not mentioned as configurable CVs, but they are in the MC2. The documentation on the Bachmann web-site clearly refers to this being the MC2, and the sheet inside the decoder package says that the manufacturer version (CV 7) is 96, which is correct for the MC2. The Bachmann documentation also explains how to configure CVs 2, 5 and 6. But when I display CV 7 on the decoder I have bought, it gives it as 81 and the documentation for the MC1 says it's 80 (perhaps 81 means the 21-pin version?). So it seems to me Bachmann are marketing this as the higher-function MC2 but shipping the lower-function MC1. I've raised the issue via the Customer Service and await their reply. But if it is indeed an MC1, it's going back for a refund. Anyone else bought one of these, in which case what does CV 7 display on yours?

The service sheet for this loco is here - http://www.Bachmann.co.uk/pdfs/cl_4_2-6-0.pdf . It's quite easy to get the body off and I've fitted mine with a Lenz Standard+ decoder.

Indeed the tender innards have been redesgined with a smaller weight - new tender at top with old underneath. Looks like I need to add some weight to the top one ...

I've also just bought a second Q1 for my layout - 33005 with later emblem to go with 33017 with earlier enblem. The pickup problems seem to be worse on the newer one but I think I've improved things now. One thing I've noticed is that the later tender is much lighter: 75 gm on the scales compared to 115 gm on the earlier so it looks like it doesn't have any weighting. The new Q1 runs much better with the older, heavier tender so I may add some weight to the newer one. If the tender pickups are doing their job they should eliminate any problems with the loco pickups.

Very reassuring that it's "engine driven"!

Still exorbitant though - Model Railways Direct are selling them for £59.65 - http://www.modelrailwaysdirect.co.uk/Hornby-R2981-Hornby-R2981-London-Olympics-1948-Train-Pack/