Converting Northern 4-8-4 Vanderbilt Tender N Scale from DC to DCC

[Jim-41]

I am a newby after a 25 year hiatus. Can a Northern 4-8-4  N Scalew Item No 58161 be converted from DC to DCC.
If so what type of decoder with sound is required & how do you go about it

[the Bach-man]

Dear Jim,
The basic answer is "yes", but with caveats. Any loco can have DCC added by isolating the motor from the track current and allowing it to get power only via the decoder. However, some motors are hard to isolate, and in many locos, particularly in N Scale, space is an issue as well.
Perhaps someone who has done this conversion will post an opinion on this loco specifically.
Happy Holidays!
the Bach-man