Dcc Decoder for Amer 4-4-0 & Tender B&O HO

[nostalgictraingirl]

Hi,

Does anyone know if the Amer 4-4-0 & Tender B&O HO is Dcc compatible and what type of decoder would be required to make it dcc powered?

Thank You.

 

[cacole]

What is the brand name (manufacturer) of the locomotive?  Without knowing this, it's impossible to provide an answer.

[nostalgictraingirl]

Hi Cacole,

Thank You for Responding.  It is a Bachmann Steam Locomotive and Tender, American 4-4-0.  Any information you can provide on the decoder would be immensely helpful.

Also, do you know if  hobby stores provide help with the install of dcc decoders?

Thank You again.

 

[cacole]

More questions --

How old is your Bachmann 4-4-0 -- is it one of the new Spectrum engines or an older one that has the motor in the tender and a plastic drive shaft between the tender and locomotive?  I have three 4-4-0 American locomotives, all from different manufacturers.  One is a Bowker, one is a Bachman, and one is a Rivarossi.  All three have the motor in the tender.

Only a very small N or Z scale decoder can be squeezed into one of these if you can figure out how to take the tender apart to get to the motor.

If it is one of the new Spectrum 4-4-0 engines, DCC installation is simply a matter of opening up the tender and plugging in the decoder.

There are several companies that do decoder installs but this locomotive is probably not worth what they are going to charge.

Tony's Train Exchange; Litchfield Station; Empire Northern Models; Ulrich Models Hobby Store are a few. 

[yankee flyer]

Train Girl  Hi

The way my Bachmann American 4-4-0 picks up power from the track is bizarre. The front truck picks up from the left side and feeds to the headlight, the other side of head light is grounded to the boiler. The drivers pick up from the right side only. The tender picks up from both sides. One tender truck from left side and the other truck from the right side.
I used a Digitraxx DZ123 (I think) Then I wired the front truck to pick up from the left and feed the decoder along with the drivers and tender in order to get a longer foot print.  Now this is all a moot point if you have a different model. My Bachmann item # 51101 below.
By the way I fried one decoder because the light is grounded to the boiler. The light is disconnected untill I take it apart again and unground the head light. untill then, no light.

Good luck

Lee

 

[nostalgictraingirl]

Hi Cacole,

Thank you for responding to my question.  My 4-4-0's are both brand new. I literally just got them a few days ago.  I don't believe they are spectrum b/c I notice the spectrum trains are much more expensive.  I was able to find a local place to change them to dcc, but like you said it does sound a lot more involved than the other trains.  Thank You very much again for all your help.

 

[nostalgictraingirl]

Thank You Yankee Flyer for the information.  Nice pic! 

[richg1998]

The old time 4-4-0 with the drive shaft between the loco and tender are not Spectrum's.

I replaced the motor in mine with a can motor out of an old CD drive. Same shaft size.

Put Kadee wipers on all the tender wheels.

A DZ125 decoder works just fine. I opened up the loco and made the driver axle bearings a little narrower to cut down on a little friction. Put bird shot in the tender shell for more weight.

Rich

[nostalgictraingirl]

Hi Rich,

 

Thank You very much for this information.  The specific decoder and bird shot for weight were just the information that I needed.  I hope you have a wonderful day!