RCS system for Bachmann Shay.

Sounds like you've got a real bonus there!

The answer to your question is both yes and no ...

There are newer RCS systems available these days. If the one you have is that old, it may also be the old "blue" frequency ... meaning a lower powered transmitter. That doesn't mean it's obsolete, though, and it could probably run your locomotive very successfully; I have a system very like the one you're talking about that I bought in 2000 and then sat on a shelf till 2006 or 2007 .... and now runs my army diesel quite nicely. I did need new batteries .... that kind of shelf time is often unforgiving, depending on what batteries you actually have.

Sierra is pretty much unchanged over the last several years.... so that should be fine.

One last thing - if your Shay is first run, you may need to replace the trucks to run it successfully. If you look at the bottom of the trucks and see eight screws holding on the bottom cover plate, that's a sure sign you may have the problematic ones. Other trucks MAY have trouble.

If I were you, I'd go to: http://dnkgoods.home.mindspring.com/index.html and discuss what you want to do with Dave. He can tell you for sure what it's going to take to get you up and running, and if you're talking about having it done by someone else, he's the Shay specialist.

Matthew (OV)

came a complete RCS wireless system along with a Sierra sound system

I had the same pleasant surprise when I bought a Lionel Atlantic at an auction - it turned out to have a complete working sound system in the tender worth more than I paid for the loco.

As Matthew says, there are newer technologies, but the old ones still work. I have the same set-up as you just found; I bought some old Sierra sound systems from a pal who had changed to something else, and a complete RCS throttle from another pal who was moving to Airwire. My Bachmann 4-6-0 now sounds great and Soundtraxx undapted the other board to an EBT Mikado chip so now I'm ready for my RY model.

A couple of things you need to know. The lead-acid battery with the Soundtraxx Sierra is undoubtedly toast by now. If you decide to go the r/c + battery route you won't need one, but you will need a voltage stabilizer circuit to feed the Sierra, as detailed in their Tech Bulletin
http://www.soundtraxx.com/documents/technotes/sierra/technote6.pdf. It has wiring diagrams that you'll find useful. (I have a spare interface kit and Star Hobby still has a couple.)

RCS has a variety of useful articles on their "how to" pages. http://www.rcs-rc.com/?page=how_tos/index.html. There's one for the Shay with newer components, but it may give you some ideas.

Dave Goodson is definitely a resource to talk to, and I'll be happy to help talk you through the process - send me an email offline.

But first I'd get those trucks fixed.