I was just about to look for, and install a decoder in my Atlas 20 000 374 track cleaning car (the fancy looking one with the vacuum and all that.....) when I noticed certain comments here and there on-line about circuitry problems and decoder "issues" with this car - are these "old" posts and everything is fine now? Or should I expect problems? I bought it about 5 months ago.....Thanks.
I just put a decoder in mine, which is about as old (or new) as yours. I didn't have any problems, but I have done several decoder installations before. I also have not heard about the problems that you found during your research.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.