The Bachmann budget-Tsunami-equipped ALCo S-4 is great value, and I recently picked up a UP-liveried one second-hand. Using Bob Dengler's picture of SP 1828 as a guide, I've just added a bell, more grabs, number boards, shades and air hoses, and then sprayed on some scarlet and grey and decals before giving it some weathering. It could do with bit more, details-wise, but it'll be "good enough" to run at the club, despite the fact that it was withdrawn by 1974, way before my "early-eighties" period. Model Railroading Rule #1 applies.

so last week I email Jeff at Central Valley and asked if I could order bridge ties cause I wanted the one that included guard  rails which the ones available don't have gaurd rails. Any way he emails me back the next morning and says sure is PayPal ok? I said yeah but could you also include a couple samples of your mainline and branchline ties? I'm thinking of using them on my layout. So here is a picture as he sent the bridge ties I wanted and a whole tie sample pack and a couple turnout kits to try, for free!

So these are supposed to be available in June? I am real tempted to buy a couple of the SP&S. It is the closest prototype to what I am modeling.

My question is about the turbine sound. I downloaded the manual from the ESU website but was unable to find anything about turning the volume of that specific sound down. All the sound samples I have listened to from ESU and other mfg's for the 539T make me want to rethink my choices. I just think the whining is too much. Sort of like the bells. After a very short time they can get annoying.

I'm searching E-Bay for a 2 Pin Connector to connect either wire to the strip or strip to strip.  I don't want to buy any of hte premade ones.  I found them for the 10mm 5050 LED strips, but the only ones I so far have found for 8mm 2 Pin is for the 3528, or that is what the tittle and descriptions say.  But I also have found other LED items listed for 8MM 2 PIn and it says it is for either the 3528 or the 2835.