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DCC ready?

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  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 23 posts
DCC ready?
Posted by dustyg on Friday, May 1, 2020 9:18 AM

Forgive me if this question has been asked. I'm considering purchasing a Bachmann Spectrum 3-truck Shay, HO scale, model H81901. Does anyone know if this locomotive is considered DCC-ready? Specifically, does it come with an 8-pin DCC socket factory installed in the tender or elsewhere? Thanks.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Friday, May 1, 2020 9:52 AM

Mine did.
 
 
Mel
 
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
 
  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Friday, May 1, 2020 10:46 AM

Mine is packed up in the bottom of a box.   I had an early one, not sure what the model number, but I'm pretty sure I bought it pre DCC.

I had DCC Xpress install a TCS decoder.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,670 posts
Posted by snjroy on Saturday, May 2, 2020 8:10 AM

Mine did as well

 

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, May 2, 2020 8:17 AM

Mine well could have had a different model number.  Was the outside of the box marked DCC ready in any way?

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    March 2014
  • 114 posts
Posted by FowlmereRR on Monday, May 4, 2020 4:15 AM

I have two from the same series - 81904 (Ely-Thomas Lumber) and 81907 (Unlettered). Both were "DCC-ready" and had an 8-pin header in the tender. I have put a sound decoder in one of them.

BUT - they both had the well-documented split plastic gear problem. I have two sets of NWSL replacement gears to be fitted when I have the time and courage!

Bob

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 419 posts
Posted by UpNorth on Monday, May 4, 2020 1:17 PM

Have three of them. Once is sound equiped out of box. All had the same mother board that makes it DCC-Ready. 

PCB (HO 80 Ton 3 Truck Shay)

Unfortunately this is a pic of the botom side (from Bachmann) but it does show the 8 pin socket pins are present.  This board is in the water tank.

Marc

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