Standard Thomas converted vs bought DCC Thomas

[gigasaurus]

I have a standard little Bachmann Thomas HO loco I am using for a project. I wired a harness and put a decoder in Thomas for something my group needs to show off. Its a slightly larger decoder so I have it housed in the Annie car.

Everything works, but of course the motor isn't as nice as it might be. Also I had to add a bolt to give poor Thomas enough weight to pull cars.

If I spring for the $115 and get the DCC Thomas, will I get better motor performance? Are the DCC Thomas trains setup so its fairly straight-foward for me to set it up with a 9 pin harness plug in the trailing car? (This larger decoder with sound is part of the project, so I need the decoder to reside in Annie).

If anyone has gotten to experience both trains I'd love to hear how they compare.

The lights are nice.

[richg1998]

Check the Bachmann forums. There is a Thomas forum also. Loco diagrams. All knids of good info.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php

Rich

 

[cacole]

I know it's too late to be of much use, but instead of a wiring harness and large decoder, you should or could have used a TCS M1, which is only about the size of a dime.  I think Lenz and NCE make similarly sized decoders.  

An M1 is what I put into an HO scale Thomas.  It fit into the roof of the cab.

As far as running qualities, the decoder installed in the DCC On-Board version is a watered-down Lenz decoder that is not nearly as good as their retail version.  Bachmann's On-Board decoders are sort of hit and miss on running qualities.

 

[Phoebe Vet]

My grandson's Thomas has had a TCS decoder added.  It runs OK for what it is.  It is in Thomas, not one of the cars, and controls the motor and lights.  I thought about putting a sound decoder in one of the cars, but at age 6 he is losing interest in Thomas and would rather run the real trains.  We also have a DCC converted Hogwarts Express.

[kbkchooch]

cacole

I know it's too late to be of much use, but instead of a wiring harness and large decoder, you should or could have used a TCS M1, which is only about the size of a dime.  I think Lenz and NCE make similarly sized decoders.  

Yes, like this! 

I'm mulling over a redo, With a Loksound Micro and soundbits from the actual Thomas, D/Led from videos. My biggest challenge right now is the speaker, because I want it all contained within Thomas.

I'll get it, just need a little time to clear the workbench (yeah right) 

[gigasaurus]

Thanks very much Rich - I'll do that.

[gigasaurus]

Interesting to hear. This particular project centers around the particular decoder I'm using, So this one won't fit in the loco. Thanks very much for the decoder info though - I'll try those next.