All the steamers have chimed in on my recent rant on the Bachmann 2-6-6-2 and the quality issue. Now I've got it broken in and running fairly well. I am wondering if the motor performance can be improved with a TSC/Digitrax/etc replacement decoder with BEMF? I am sure one of us know.
I don't have that locomotive but I changed to the short tender on my Bachmann 4-6-0 and installed a Digtrax DZ125 and it performs better. I also changed my 2-8-0 to a TCS M1 after seeing the improvement in the tenwheeler and I'm happy with the results. I will be changing the decoders in my heavy mountain and 2-10-2 also.
Have you guys seen the keep alive technology from TCS? It looks like this could be pretty awesome for n scale steam, but you would need a big honkin' tender to put it in! http://www.tcsdcc.com/public_html/Customer_Content/Web_Tools/Videos/Main.html
I've used a lot of different decoders, but none has done the trick quite as well for me as the Lenz Silver mini/Gold mini models. I use them exclusively now simply because of their superior motor control (I'm told that Zimo is as good if not better, but never used them; TCS is good, but my own opinion is that the Lenz is better). I even use them in diesels (I take the stock board out and hard wire a Silver mini with 3mm LEDs). By the way, the Lenz Gold also has a keep-alive capacity. If you want an example of slow-speed control with a Lenz, go take a look at the first minute or two of my video of one of my Berkshires; you'll see how slowly I pull it out of the roundhouse and onto the turntable, then back it off the turntable. Or take a look at my "switching video" with a Walthers 0-8-0 also powered by a Lenz. http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUryHlnCSg_HXMoRcEupZWZw&feature=player_detailpage&v=kudjM0qjeS0 (Berk) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&list=UUryHlnCSg_HXMoRcEupZWZw&v=SJiOVw2aX2I (0-8-0) John C.
I put the TCS M1's in my Heavy Mountain and 2-10-2 yesterday and they definitely run much better. The Heavy Mountain also makes a lot less noise then with the stock decoder. I wish Bachmann would just make them all DCC ready and have a socket with a jumper in the tender so you could just plug in your decoder of choice without buying there's.
