Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

DCC Decoder Suggestion for Bachmann Locomotive (?)

3655 views
9 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,862 posts
Posted by Water Level Route on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 11:52 AM

If you can't get the small form factor 8 pin ESU decoder in there on the factory board (reading between the lines that you have the micro, yes?), and are not opposed to getting another decoder, check out TCS's website.  On their website they have a photo guide to install their set-up using a different board and their large footprint 21 pin decoder.  Everything fits.  I believe links are provided to purchase what they are showing you. 

Mike

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 1,519 posts
Posted by trainnut1250 on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 10:56 AM

It is possible to get sound decoders in the 4-6-0 with 52" drivers (I have installed sound in two of them).

In earlier runs, the 4-6-0 had two driver sizes - the 63" and the 52". The 63" driver size came with a big tender that was a fairly easy install sound decoders. The 52" driver loco comes with the smaller tender that has less space for the install.

I used tsunamis with keep alives - I gutted the original board and weights to make room for everything. The small tender is a tight fit but doable.

 

Guy

see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,775 posts
Posted by snjroy on Monday, November 8, 2021 10:53 AM

dennis461

 

 
snjroy

I own one of these. About 10 years ago, I installed a cheapo MRC sound decoder with a huge speaker. It fit because mine came with a longer tender. You can find tenders on the Bachmann online parts store.

Simon

PS: The decoder still works fine for those who wonder Smile

 

 

 

 

10 years ago? The brand new 4-6-0 i s different beast, near as I can tell.  I have an older one coming soon and will open it up for pictures.

 

I guess my point was that the current 4-6-0 offerings all seem to have smallish tenders, which can be difficult when adding DCC and sound. Looking at the Bachmann parts site, there are a few options (e.g., tender for the 2-6-2 model). One would need to check the measurements - which I did not do.

Simon

  • Member since
    May 2021
  • 56 posts
Posted by dennis461 on Saturday, November 6, 2021 9:18 AM

snjroy

I own one of these. About 10 years ago, I installed a cheapo MRC sound decoder with a huge speaker. It fit because mine came with a longer tender. You can find tenders on the Bachmann online parts store.

Simon

PS: The decoder still works fine for those who wonder Smile

 

 

10 years ago? The brand new 4-6-0 i s different beast, near as I can tell.  I have an older one coming soon and will open it up for pictures.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, November 4, 2021 6:45 PM

snjroy
I installed a cheapo MRC sound decoder with a huge speaker. It fit because mine came with a longer tender.

I just looked at some pictures of the 4-6-0 with a longer tender. What a nifty looking combination.

I have been lazily looking for a 4-6-0 I like on and off again.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,775 posts
Posted by snjroy on Thursday, November 4, 2021 1:54 PM

I own one of these. About 10 years ago, I installed a cheapo MRC sound decoder with a huge speaker. It fit because mine came with a longer tender. You can find tenders on the Bachmann online parts store.

Simon

PS: The decoder still works fine for those who wonder Smile

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Fullerton, California
  • 1,364 posts
Posted by hornblower on Thursday, November 4, 2021 12:48 PM

While I don't have the Bachmann 4-6-0, I do have three of the Bachmann 2-6-0 Moguls.  The pair of locos most recently purchased were DCC "Ready" so I had to install my own decoders.  Although the Bachmann PC board inside the tender was equipped with DCC plugs, the high mounting of the board (intended to clear a tall speaker?) meant there was no room to add a decoder.  Thus, I had to remove the Bachmann PC boards from each tender and hard wire the new decoders.  Bachmann does not follow the NMRA DCC wire color code (all wires between the loco and tender are black) so you first need to identify and label each wire before removing it from the PC board.  Fortunately, Bachmann did label each solder pad on the board so this is not an impossible task.  With the Bachmann PC board removed, there should be sufficient room for almost any decoder to be installed.  Good luck!

Hornblower

  • Member since
    December 2020
  • 7 posts
DCC Decoder Suggestion for Bachmann Locomotive (?)
Posted by Toth on Thursday, November 4, 2021 11:41 AM

Hi - I was wondering if anyone has put a DCC decoder in a Bachmann 4-6-0 Baldwin 52" locomotive (Item #52201 - link below). After some research on the Bachmann website it appears I found a speaker that will fit under the board that it is in the tender. I purchased a LokSound 5 (8-pin) DCC decoder assuming - I'm new at this and this is my first time trying to install a decoder - it would fit in the tender, but, for the life of me I can't get it to fit. So, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this particular Bachmann locomotive or knew of a small, good quality, DCC decoder with sound capability that would fit in the tender.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions/guidance.

NEW YORK CENTRAL #1238 - BALDWIN 4-6-0 (HO SCALE)

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!