decoder / p.c board heavy mountain n scale steam loco

[jpstrainyard]

These topics are from forum member extrucker, an N scale modeler and were incorrectly posted in the Williams Trains O Scale forum board:

1. Does this board, model# 825 p.c.b01, have a decoder installed already?

2. Will the decoder on the heavy mountain steam loco work in the 4-8-4 J class ? I have 2 of them and 2 heavy mountain locos. One has a vanderbilt tender I'm going to change to the long tender so can i use the decoder on the J class. I also have a 2-8-0 loco with dcc and the new 4-6-0 with dcc both run super. These are all n scale. Plus I have a 2-6-6-2 h4 steam loco

[skipgear]

1. I think it does but that is not the best solution.

2. Yes the decoder in the Heavy Mountain will work but why bother. You can get a replacement decoder cheaper and it will work better than the featureless Bachmann decoder. Installing a decoder in the J takes about 10 minutes. It is a very easy install and just requires a moderate ability to solder. You can get a Digitrax DN135 for under $20 that fits the loco just fine and will out perform the Bachmann decoder hands down.