Decoder for Spectrum Baldwin 4-6-0 63" drivers

[Derek O]

Hello everyone. Its been over a year since my last post.

Playstation kind of distracted my now 9 year old son from full time model trains, but the TRAINZ PC simulator has renewed his interest. So he asked Santa for a steam engine to pull his Roundhouse Harrimann CN passenger cars.

Santa will be delivering a new Spectrum Baldwin 4-6-0 with 63" drivers dcc ready (cat 82307) but I want to install a dcc decoder. My sons layout is steel ez track with the EZ command system and a standalone sound (MRC 312 soundstation). Everything works great!

I see from this forum many options and technical discussions. This will be my first decoder installation. I am comfortable doing soldering etc. but I don't want to mess up this beautiful loco.

So best value options are?
- basic non sound decoder (Bachmann?) - which one?
- basic sound decoder (to use with the EZ command system) and would it require modifying the tender to hear the sound?
- anyone have step by step instructions
- or should I choose to have a hobby shop do the install. What should I expect to pay?

Thanks all in advance for your suggestions.

DerekO 

P.S. is anyone still trying to "FREE the 2" straights"?!

[pdlethbridge]

Decoder installation is ver simple. It's plug and play. To open the tender, there should be a screw under the front truck( not the truck screw ). Remove it and there are two hooks at the back of the tender that hold it back there. Once inside, there is a circuit board with a 8 pin plug and 8 pin jumper. remove the jumper and install a decoder that has the 8 pin harness.  Thats it. All you need is this.
http://www.gadgettom.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=DH123PS&Category_Code=D-H
Great instructions for a 2-8-0
http://www.members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/dcc/2-8-0/index.html

[Joe Satnik]

Dear Derek,

The latest EZ-Track layout book was released Jan. or Feb. 08, which caused a flurry of posts regarding the 2" straight.

Do a board search on "layout book" or its author "Chris Lane".   

Things have quieted down since, but we still all wish for the separate sale, and when I can think of it, sign off my posts:

'Free the 2" Straights ! (FT2"S !)'

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik 

[richG]

If you want sound, here are a couple suggestions, probably not so easy.

http://litchfieldstation.com/DCC-University/install/HOSS/InstallationExamplesHOSS.htm

I put a Micro in my low boilered 4-6-0 which has the small tender but special speaker enclosure and no PC board. Very tight fit.
More expensive this way. DCC ready, about $95. Add another $120 for sound decoder and speaker, plus time involved. Buying it with sound is less costly, about $178.

Rich

[Derek O]

Thanks for the information. For now, I think I'll install the Bachmann 8 pin decoder. We'll play with sound decoders in the future.

Derek O 

[richG]

Hi Derek

The 4-6-0 with 63 inch drivers has a larger tender, looks like the USAR medium tender.

The 4-6-0 with 52 inch divers that I have, has a smaller tender.

The 4-4-0 I have, has a slightly smaller tender than the 4-6-0. Nice thing is it was ready with speaker holes.

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/oNVPSf3Kc_iP-Y80Brq7_AZZk2ULg6BYJNH-f_fQZ5c2bDHBj_Ly9tvxSE7gi28U2n61xVHTRl07AB67xfE9CoMEKptaX_JJXQ/Bachmann%204-6-0%20Tsunami%20Install.pdf

It has the smaller tender but you get the idea.

I believe the idea below is the same tender as yours. Just a WAG.

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/oNVPSfiyi16P-Y803hX7ZWQpE2hAjC-oDxPkX9Nh_zHm-fbpdTGjhY5ZLI12ygFkifkFq6toiYGdxQQKzzwDAGVmTdKfdbeNlQ/Bachmann%202-8-0%20Tusnami%20sound%20nstall.pdf

Since I have the smaller Balwin tender for my 4-6-0, here is what I did.


The coal load will have a bunch of small holes drilled in it. A film of glue with coal sprinkled on it, will finish it up. I believe yours came witha small bag of coal.

Good luck if you ever try the mod.

Rich