Humor me on this one...

[SpaceMouse]

I figure I have a month or two to figure this one out. I need to get DCC with sound into a Hogwart's Express. If I can get it all in, insulate the frame, stick a speaker in the tender, I'm going to have as jetrock put it, an expensive toy.

But what if I were to treat this like a 38 Ford and yank everything but the the body and chassis. What would it take to make this "toy" ride along beside the new Broadways with pride ( and take them by 3 seconds in the 1/4 mile?)

[NZRMac]

I've squeezed a soundtraxx dsd 100-lc decoder in a diesel, you can also get them for steam about $80 plus a speaker and your away (apart fron the rest of the DCC of course!!

http://www.tonystrains.com/index.html

Ken.

[Fergmiester]

I would check out Soundtraxx and Loy's Toys. Fred at Loy's is very knowledgable and might be able to tell you exactly what you need. They also have quite an extensive catalogue with pictures and details.

Fergie

[Anonymous]

If you plan to replace the mechanism, you're in for a lot of work. There's a company named Comet over here that offers new etched brass frames for Bachmann locos, so you'd need those, a motor, wheels, gears, etc - to the best of my knowledge it's not possible to buy a complete kit. I would say stick with the Bachmann chassis - they're pretty good when properly set up, the only problems I've had have been out-of-gauge wheelsets and incorrect quartering, both of which make it "lumpy" - if yours runs smoothly then there's no problems. The secret to these chassis is to oil the motor bearings and put a dab of grease in the gearing, they run very nicely after this has been done. A Bachmann loco that's had a few hours break-in and has been lubed is a beautiful runner and will creep along very nicely.

If you do decide you want to rebuild the loco on a new chassis, www.mainlytrains.com should be able to help you, they do mail-order and are thought well of over here. email them and explain the situation, they should be able to help. They also have loads of detail parts that you might be interested in - you could super-detail the loco, repaint the tender (the huge crest on the Bachmann model is nothing like the one in the film) and model 5972 "Oulton Hall" in its film guise as "Hogwarts Castle". Hope this is of help!

P.S. one small point. The Bachmann model is a "Modified Hall" - a variant of the "Hall" class. I'm not sure whether the real 5972 is a normal Hall or the Modified version though! www.railwayscene.co.uk have photos that might be of use to you in detailing the loco. Good luck!

[tomwatkins]

It might be an "expensive toy", but it would be a cool one. The analogy to the '38 Ford is a good one. I'll second Fergie's suggestion to contact Loy's Toys. They're both very knowledgeable and very helpful. Keep us informed on your progress.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[mikebonellisr]

Not familier with the hogwarts express,but have you looked into the possibility of finding a mechanism that the hogwarts shell could fit on.Maybe a BLI,orBachmann Spectrum ?

[SpaceMouse]

Thanks guys. I'll look into it.

QUOTE: Originally posted by mikebonellisr

Not familier with the hogwarts express,but have you looked into the possibility of finding a mechanism that the hogwarts shell could fit on.Maybe a BLI,orBachmann Spectrum ?

That is a great idea. I think I shoot Bachman tech support an email.

[SpaceMouse]

Reply from Bachman:

Hi Chip: Bachmann will not have a ten wheeler chassis to fit your engine. your engine is a Great Western Railway Hall-class ten-wheeler called 'Olton Hall' painted red to match the one in the movie and it is OO scale. Backmann makes HO scale. Your only hope is to get a Hall class ten wheeler from an importer of British engines or via internet and do a body swap yourself. It will not be cheap.

David

[SpaceMouse]

I wrote back:

]i]The reason I am asking is that my autistic son wants DCC with sound. He will not be talked into gettting a differnt locomotive. I wanted t be sure I was not throwing money at something that would breakdown quickly.

How would you rate the quality of the Hogwarts Locomotive? Is it a cheap toy or something better?

A reply:

Hello Chip. I collect OO models made by Bachmann-Branchline, and a brand new Hall model is expected this month. The 3 models are dark green.
The "Blue Riband" range of locos are DCC ready ( or at least DCC friendly). The problem could be the lack of space in the boiler, but the tender collect power, so you can mount the sound kit there.
They are a little bit expensive now because the weakness of the dollar against european currencys.
Best regards from Uruguay-South America,
Gastón[/i]

[Anonymous]

Well, I put a dcc decoder in my Hogwarts Express. I put it in the tender. There's plenty of room in there for a speaker, so I don't see why you couldn't put sound in there as well.
You do need to run wires from the loco to the tender, but it can be done fairly easily.

Gary

[SpaceMouse]

Gary,

A pard on the Bachman site agrees with you.

Hi Chip: why not convert your existing Hogswort to DCC and add a Soundtrax decoder? As for quality of the engine, I bought one for my son 2 years ago to run on his layout and with some minor modifications and diligent wheel and track cleaning with good lubrication, it has run flawlesly. It needs wieght in the tender and over the front truck. It even can be seen running occasionaly on my layout pulling soom CP and CN boxcars.

[Anonymous]

SpaceMouse--

I recommend Litchfield Station for DCC products. E-mail Bruce--he's very helpful. http://www.litchfieldstation.com/ Perhaps he's done it already or could recommend a decoder.

Gary

[Don Gibson]

IF your 'Hogswart' is British 00 gage it will not run properly on NMRA HO track.

2. Our HO Hogswarts' are continually breaking down with contiuous running at our club's annual show
.
COCLUSION: 1. This Bachmann product is made for the 'toy' market, not modeler's, 2. Will never run right on non 00 gage track. 3. would be a poor investment to convert to sound.

If you still want a 'HOGSWART EXP.' better to buy a new one and have a DCC sound unit installed,

That said, Bachmann's SPECTRUM LINE steam have gotten much higher marks - particularly the 2-8-0 and 2-10-0.

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

IF your 'Hogswart' is British 00 gage it will not run properly on NMRA HO track.

2. Our HO Hogswarts' are continually breaking down with contiuous running at our club's annual show
.
COCLUSION: 1. This Bachmann product is made for the 'toy' market, not modeler's, 2. Will never run right on non 00 gage track. 3. would be a poor investment to convert to sound.

If you still want a 'HOGSWART EXP.' better to buy a new one and have a DCC sound unit installed,

That said, Bachmann's SPECTRUM LINE steam have gotten much higher marks - particularly the 2-8-0 and 2-10-0.

I have no doubt that you are correct, but no matter how you explained that to a 7 year-old autistic kid, your not going to convince him that there is a better train thatn the Hogwarts. Bachman no longer has the Hogwarts contract. It looksd like I have 4 choices.

1) Put a DCC with sound in the one I have. I buy up a few Hogwarts junkers and keep it running as long as I can.

2) Buy a British 10 wheeler and put the Hogwarst body on it.

3) Get an Markle 3 wheel AC and gut it. Put a DC motor and new trucks.

4 Use the Hogwarts Body and build it from scratch.

I think, I'm leaning toward #1, but I'm open to better ideas.

[trolleyboy]

Chip it's a lon shot but if you stick with option one check out your local Toys r us they carry or carried the hogwarts sets up here in Canada TRU sold them off real cheap like $60 CDN so it may be worth a shot. TB

[Jetrock]

How about just not putting DCC in it, and getting the kid a Soundtraxx sound-effects generator so he can make all the bell, whistle and steam engine noises he wants?

Failing that--try installing DCC in a similar but cheap and expendable engine (like your fake FEF) to get the hang of it, and so if things don't work right you won't be out your Hogwarts Express engine.

Don Gibson: British OO gauge is the same as HO gauge in the States (16.5mm)--the same Peco switches that Brits buy for their OO layouts is sold in the US for HO railroads, and it works just fine. Obviously clearances might not be the same, but most Brit stuff is smaller than its US counterpart.

[Anonymous]

As I said before, I'd advise sticking with the chassis it came with, assuming it's the same as the one they fit on their British "Modified Hall" - these are very well-regarded over here, there are a lot of large, finescale layouts that use large numbers of Bachmann steamers with varying amounts of added detail, they work very well. The only problems I've found with these chassis are with wheel quartering and gauge, though these can easily be fixed. Keep it properly lubed and the wheels clean and it should run for years.

If you do have a major mechanical failure it's possible to buy the chassis seperately for most British Bachmann locos - www.ehattons.com/Stock.asp?SID=9691 would be the part you need in this case, though when shipping is included it might be cheaper to buy another loco...Hope this is of help!

[SpaceMouse]

Talk to me about Soundtraxx. I went to their website and all I could find out about was DCC decoders. They are out of production of their sound systems--working on an upgrade with no release date. They have no description, so I can't get an idea of what they do.

[Anonymous]

You can listen to clips of soundtraxx decoders here:

http://www.soundtraxx.com/dcc/sound.html

[Jetrock]

SpaceMouse: Do you have a local hobby shop? I just note that you tend to order everything via the Internet--but sometimes there is no substitute for going to a hobby shop and seeing & buying stuff in person--and being able to handle something before you plunk down the cash!

[SpaceMouse]

Jetrock,

We have a slot-car internet business that has a hobby shop. The focus is slot cars but they have a very small selection of train stuff. I found out today that they can order from Walthers so that's a plus.

[robengland]

I can run a James loco (from the Thomas the Tank series) on code 83 track in DCC address-0 DC mode, with only a few problems on turnouts. It is a big lumbering thing with chunky European flanges. One of these days i am going to "machine" down the flanges with a file. I will also install DCC and possibly sound, for the amusement of visiting kids.

SpaceMouse, go the path of least resistance first - put a sound decoder in the tender.

I reckon it will run OK on code 100 track. If it gives you trouble, either:
(a) lay it on its back, power it up and take to the flanges with a file, then clean it up VERY carefully afterwards - what do you have to lose?
(b) make your turnouts DCC-ready www.wiringfordcc.com
(c) go for your plans of installing the shell on some other frame
(d) There is another option not mentioned yet: fake a Hogwarts. Buy something similar that does work OK with DCC and sound, and paint and modify it. Just how discriminating can a 7 year old be re the details?

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: There is another option not mentioned yet: fake a Hogwarts. Buy something similar that does work OK with DCC and sound, and paint and modify it. Just how discriminating can a 7 year old be re the details?

I like it. I like it a lot.

[Don Gibson]

SOIDTRAXX is only making product for the DCC market

Their THROTTLE UP units were analog DC sound generating throttles (diesel / steam) that they have 'talked about' re doing. PBL in Eureka CA made a both diesel and steam unit s - presumably DC - to replace the PFM generators. They might still have some.

Both were state if the art throttles. Prices of $400 - $900 should scare off the un-dedicated,

[TurboOne]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse

Talk to me about Soundtraxx. I went to their website and all I could find out about was DCC decoders. They are out of production of their sound systems--working on an upgrade with no release date. They have no description, so I can't get an idea of what they do.

Hiya Chip. MRC has a stand alone sound system call MRC Sound Station 312. We have a similar issue except ours is Thomas the train. The only sound and DCC that might fit would be n gauge if that. But I put the sound system under the table, and have the controller where my 6 yr old can get it. We have whistles, and horns, chuffs and track click. No wiring other than plug it in. Worked immediately and no fuss. Less than $80.00 in walthers catalog, so I am assuming local is even less.

Tim

[M636C]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse

QUOTE: There is another option not mentioned yet: fake a Hogwarts. Buy something similar that does work OK with DCC and sound, and paint and modify it. Just how discriminating can a 7 year old be re the details?

I like it. I like it a lot.

Spacemouse,

The "Hogwarts" locomotive is an English Great Western Railway "Modified Hall" class. This was one of the last Bachmann UK models with a "split frame", in which the frame is made from two sections insulated from eachother. The locomotive used in the movie was No 5972 "Oulton Hall", painted red and named "Hogwarts Castle". At the weekend I looked at a British magazine "Model Rail" which indicated that Bachmann UK are producing a model of the original "Hall" class with an entirely new mechanism. Bachmann UK are making all new mechanisms DCC ready, so I would advise checking their website for any information on this locomotive, and that you buy one and swap the standard body for the "Hogwarts" locomotive.

Bachmann do not sell the "Hogwarts" model in the UK, because Hornby own that franchise there (as they do with the "Thomas" models).. Hornby use a slightly larger 4-6-0, a "Castle" class for their Hogwarts model.

Bachmann UK do sell versions of the "Thomas" models without "faces" with DCC already fitted as a starter set. One of these would give you chassis for a DCC "Thomas" and "Percy" by swapping the US Bachmann "Thomas" bodies to the UK chassis. Of course the Bachmann US "Thomas" units may already be DCC ready!

I hope this is some help - it would be the technically simplest way to get a DCC "Hogwarts Castle", assuming the UK "Hall" is released soon. "Model Rail" indicated they had pre-production samples for review.

Peter

[Anonymous]

There are a couple DCC-ready "Hall" locos in the Bachmann Branchline list on the UK site (http://www.bachmann.co.uk/). Also possibly of interest - they make replacement chassis available. Of course, if the current Halls are a new model, there may be changes that make the Hogwarts body unable to fit.

Regarding your concerns with reliability - did you see the post on the Bachmann forum, titled "Harry Potter Engine" by AllanL5? His report confirms the prior post assertion about split-frame design. He found simply cleaning track fixed a problem he termed "cogging" .

regards,
Scott

[Anonymous]

IThe Bachmann UK site has basic information on converting their locos to DCC, at http://www.bachmann.co.uk/dcc2.php4

They seem to imply it's not desirable to put the decoder in the tender, but i believe that is the usual procedure where sound is also part of the picture, as you need a place for the speaker.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse

Reply from Bachman:

Hi Chip: Bachmann will not have a ten wheeler chassis to fit your engine. your engine is a Great Western Railway Hall-class ten-wheeler called 'Olton Hall' painted red to match the one in the movie and it is OO scale. Backmann makes HO scale. Your only hope is to get a Hall class ten wheeler from an importer of British engines or via internet and do a body swap yourself. It will not be cheap.

David

HO and OO are the same.....OO is british for HO.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE:
HO and OO are the same.....OO is british for HO.

It's a little different - British OO uses the same track guage as American and European HO, but the scale of the models is 1/76 rather than 1/87. I have seen two reasons given for the difference, both related to British prototypes of the time being smaller than European:
1) the models at 1/87 looked too small/wrong for the track.
2) the models at 1/87 were too small to fit the available motor technology.

Now OO is far too entrenched to change.

Scott.