What are your thoughts on the new GP40-2 announced from Atlas? I'm thinking of reserving a pair of them. Are they good runners? It looks like they will have ESU decoders in them. What is the difference between Silver and Gold lines?

Hi everyone,

I'm finally taking the dive into DCC with a Sprog One/Raspberry Pi 3/JMRI set up. I hope to install my first decoder with sound and new lights on my older Proto 2000 Great Northern SD9. (Not DCC friendly)

As for decoders I am looking for recommendations. The Tsunami 2 PNP seems like a good option, but the ESU Loksound decoders appear really nice as well. Both offer 567C Prime Mover sounds but neither have the RS3K horn, sigh...  Anyways here is the recommended Tsunami set up.

I am just about to commit to changing my couplers to Sergent.  I bought a few to try and am really impressed with them (and the support from the mfgr.).  They obviously look way much better than Kadees, however, I don't have a layout (yet) to test them on and am wondering about using them on an operating layout.  I prefer to cut the "hoses" off the Kadee couplers and use a skewer for uncoupling, so using the wand won't be a problem.

I'm interested in any and all responses from those who have tried them.

Bart Hollis

I'm in the process of building a proto-freelance switching layout in HO that is based on a very active industrial ally that is in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Having arrived to the point where I can start creating my operations plan, I have decided that I want to be as prototypical as I can be about sending the correct type of boxcar to a particular customer. i.e. an insulated car with plug doors would make sense to be going to a cold storage warehouse or food producer.