Decoders in IHC steam locos

[orsonroy]

IHC steam is pretty easy to add sound to, considering the frames are plastic, and power's routed through wipers and wire. Everything's pre-isolated for you. Go to www.wiringfordcc.com for an online tutorial on adding DCC to an IHC steamer.

As for B&O steam, unless you go the brass route, your choices are really limited. The P2K 0-8-0 will work, as will the Rivarossi 2-8-8-0, various USRA light 2-8-2s, and the old Mantua 4-6-2. If you want to semi-freelance, go ahead and use the IHC Mountain for the backbone of your B&O fleet. They run and pull surprisingly well, and are easy to superdetail/kitbash.

[Anonymous]

I have installed regular decoders in my IHC 4-8-2 mountains, and seeing the room that there is in the tender, I would think it would be a relatively easy install. You would have to build/buy a speaker enclosure.

One word of advice, use very flexible wire (I get 30 gauge from Radio Shack) from tender to loco. I had to change to this because the IHC's do not like any kind of bind and would derail the rather light tender.

[Anonymous]

I just purchased a Bachman Spectrum 2-8-0 and installed a sound decoder. Steam sound is awesome, and I want more, but the selection of steam locomotives suitable for my line (B&O) is limited. IHC seems the best source. I must rely on mail order, as there are no good train shops within a days drive of my home. I certainly don't want to purchase a loco only to find it cannot take a sound decoder. Has anyone out there installed a DCC sound decoder in an IHC steam locomotive?
Fred