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What Decoder?

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  • Member since
    July 2013
  • 245 posts
What Decoder?
Posted by starman on Friday, August 12, 2022 12:56 PM
Hi all.  I have a Bachmann S4 diesel, DCC ready, switcher.  The item number is 63108.  What decoder, with sound, would you recommend for this loco?  I am using digitrax.  I know there is not much room under the shell, so I was wondering if I could conceal a speaker in the cab?  Thanks for your help!
  • Member since
    May 2020
  • 1,056 posts
Posted by wrench567 on Friday, August 12, 2022 8:00 PM

   I'm not familiar with that locomotive at all. A couple months ago I installed a Loksound Nano hardwired into a couple of P2K S2 locomotives with a small sugar cube speaker just before the cab.

  If you could post a couple pictures I could probably give you some ideas.

     Pete.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Saturday, August 13, 2022 9:55 AM

This is a DCC with sound ready loco. Should not be too difficult to find a small decoder & speaker to fit into it. Look at the Bachmann parts break down of the loco to give you some ideas.

  • Member since
    July 2013
  • 245 posts
Posted by starman on Thursday, August 18, 2022 2:26 PM

Thanks for all who replied.  For this engine, I have decided to have someone, who has a lot more skill than I do, install a decoder for me.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,771 posts
Posted by wjstix on Monday, August 22, 2022 10:56 AM

According to the parts diagram, the DCC ready S4 has an opening where a round speaker goes on the sound-equipped version. You can buy the speaker from Bachmann if you want, part #10080.

https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/HO_ALCO_S4_(DCC_READY).pdf

Keep in mind the sound-equipped ones aren't all that expensive if you shop around online - it may turn out that buying a sound one and swapping bodies could be cheaper than buying a decoder, speaker, and paying someone to install them for you.

Stix

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