I have a decision to make.

Sarah Winfield said:
Could you tell me about how much it is likely to cost to convert the blue train, as below to DCC,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LGB-The-...652408?hash=item33e5dac738:g:ZicAAOSwxwRark6G
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Cost would be around £50 for a suitable decoder - something like a Massoth L:
http://www.gardenrailoutlet.co.uk/massoth-emotion-l-locomotive-decoder

Wiring it in is REASONABLY straightforward, the longest job will be pulling the loco apart; nothing that you can't handle if you can do basic modelling work and simple soldering, you might also have to take a hacksaw to the big lead weight inside the boiler. A Stainz of that age won't have ANY kind of preparation for DCC, you will basically be rewiring it from scratch. There's plenty of us on here who can give you a step-by-step talk through of what to do.

I've DCC-chipped an older Stainz than this, and it works just fine!

Jon.
 
theres a couple of digitised stainz on glendales site for 110 each,,, not bad to get going with,,, and one could be renumbered or re cabbed to make it a different number if both were bought
 
A decoder is about £35. Finding someone to fuss with a clamshell gearbox could be a lot harder, let alone what they may charge. You have expressed disappointment with some of your previous railways - may I respectfully suggest you walk before you run - keep it simple. - which this is not.
 
Sarah Winfield said:
In order to cheer myself up I need to make a decision; something I am not good at, I think.

Which of the following items regardless of finances would you buy?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LGB-The-...652408?hash=item33e5dac738:g:ZicAAOSwxwRark6G

or

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LGB-22620-DR-Black-Kof-0-6-0-Digital/152955033767?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

The first item has extras such as coaches, track etc. The track isn't important as I seem to be building up a quantity.

The second item has the advantage that it is digital.

Or is there anything else for my G scale interest on ebay at around those prices that I might consider instead, please?

Thanks in advance.

Sarah Winfield
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Hi, I just spotted your question, so wanted to give my opinion. I would always go for a Stainz! I just love the appearance of a Stainz and the carriages that go with it. The Blue Train does look to be at a good price, but bear in mind that these engines don't have sound or a smoke generator. I thought this set was fairly rare, but there was another one on last week too. I have two of these sets and the engines work perfectly. I tend to run one engine with all four carriages, but they are not converted to digital - I still use track power and I find the age of these engines does not affect their running ability.
 
Sarah Winfield said:
Thank you for your reply.

I decided to stick with my DCC. I have never been any good at sorting out electrics on a layout and since my other locomotive is DCC I'll now have two.

The seller agreed to a compromise on the price.

Sarah Winfield
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Well, that's good news on the price (it's always worth asking the question if you think that an item is overpriced), looks like a good result - and you should be able to run the new loco on address setting "3" on your control system as soon as you receive it! :)

Jon.
 
It wasn't a very large reduction but at least something.

I have also reserved the two digital Stainz locomotives at Glendales. I hope to collect them when I visit a friend in Peterborough later this week.

I trust this is not a premonition to some disaster to befall me!

Sarah Winfield
 
Sarah Winfield said:
It wasn't a very large reduction but at least something.

I have also reserved the two digital Stainz locomotives at Glendales. I hope to collect them when I visit a friend in Peterborough later this week.

I trust this is not a premonition to some disaster to befall me!

Sarah Winfield
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Sounds good! When you go to collect your two Stainzes from Glendale (or give them a ring in advance), ask Brian to change their loco addresses for you so that you won't have clashes with your two exisiting locos on addresses 02 and 03..... I don't know what kind of decoder programming capabilities your old Bachmann control system has, and in any case you're not yet used to changing these things, so much better to let someone do it for you where they have all the knowledge and the equipment to do it very quickly and easily!
As you've only got the capability to run DCC loco addresses 01 to 09 (I think that 10 is the "faux analogue" setting, isn't it?), I'd suggest probably putting the new Stainzes on 01 and 04, and put a little sticker on each one to remind you which loco address it is set to.

Oh, and I agree with Playmo, it's a slippery slope downhill from here - you'll be running out of loco addresses in no time..... ;)

Jon.
 
Sarah Winfield said:
View attachment 235190 View attachment 235191 View attachment 235192 View attachment 235191

I hope you see a couple of photographs, in case there is any doubt about my sincerity.

They show the "cab-forward" mallett without tender which is packed away. There is a "Berkshire" plus a standard Mallett.

These are just a couple of 30 odd Rivarossi locomotives I have collected over several years.

It's time for a change, hence my interest in G gauge.View attachment 235190 View attachment 235191 View attachment 235192 View attachment 235190 View attachment 235190
Click to expand...

I see an AC12 - the so-called Cab Forward, and yes, it is a Mallet. I also see a Y6B, another Mallet, and a J1H - the New York Central Hudson, but I don't see a Nickel Plate or Pierre Marquette Berkshire.

All very nice though. For the other gentleman asking what scale they were in - AFAICR, Rivarossi only made an 0 scale 0-8-0 Indiana Harbor belt switcher [as a kit], and a 'General' 4-4-0 from the days of the Wild West. but they DID make a good selection of European and US 0 scale coaches - DB and FS - and a few freight cars, now all very rare.

tac
 
@OP - seeing as how you are going to be near Peterborough this weekend, are you going to the show? Some of us are meeting up at the 16mm stand at about 1 o/c on Saturday. There may well be cake, but that has yet to be confirmed.

And Jon wrote - 'I'd suggest probably putting the new Stainzes on 01 and 04, and put a little sticker on each one to remind you which loco address it is set to.'

Good idea. Pal of mine with a lot of the smaller locos uses the cabside to show the numbers.

tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
 
tac foley said:
@OP - seeing as how you are going to be near Peterborough this weekend, are you going to the show? Some of us are meeting up at the 16mm stand at about 1 o/c on Saturday. There may well be cake, but that has yet to be confirmed.

And Jon wrote - 'I'd suggest probably putting the new Stainzes on 01 and 04, and put a little sticker on each one to remind you which loco address it is set to.'

Good idea. Pal of mine with a lot of the smaller locos uses the cabside to show the numbers.

tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
Click to expand...

16mm show..
Meeting at GSS stand at 1pm..

Cake if I can get there in time!! :):nod::nod: - Otherwise swing back a little later, but before Mike eats it all! ;):giggle:
 
Zerogee said:
Sounds good! When you go to collect your two Stainzes from Glendale (or give them a ring in advance), ask Brian to change their loco addresses for you so that you won't have clashes with your two exisiting locos on addresses 02 and 03..... I don't know what kind of decoder programming capabilities your old Bachmann control system has, and in any case you're not yet used to changing these things, so much better to let someone do it for you where they have all the knowledge and the equipment to do it very quickly and easily!
As you've only got the capability to run DCC loco addresses 01 to 09 (I think that 10 is the "faux analogue" setting, isn't it?), I'd suggest probably putting the new Stainzes on 01 and 04, and put a little sticker on each one to remind you which loco address it is set to.

Oh, and I agree with Playmo, it's a slippery slope downhill from here - you'll be running out of loco addresses in no time..... ;)

Jon.
Click to expand...
Might be worth taking your controller with you, that way you can see if everything will match and work properly.
 
Paul M said:
Might be worth taking your controller with you, that way you can see if everything will match and work properly.
Click to expand...
Nah, that'll be excess baggage!

I'm sure a couple of the layout operators can be persuaded to test the locos for you Sarah....
 
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