My relatives that went to Alaska just got back a few hours ago. My Grandmother suprised my with a very nice gift from the White Pass and Yukon railroad in Alaska, and IHC 2-8-2 Mikado in the scheme of White Pass #73.
Now, I’ll ignore the fact that is a standard gauge mikado in a White Pass scheme. But even for that fact it is very nice. With a few modifications it chould look very close so a White Pass mikado.
I’d like to add DCC to the engine, which I know how to do, as I have an article from Model Railroader on how to do it, but I’d like to add a Soundtraxx Sound decoder (which one is yet to be decided) into the engine.
Can this be done? Is there a certain decoder I should get for it (I want to get a Digitrax decoder) to be compatible with sound? Anything at all will be helpfull.
My story is identical to yours…relatives doing the kind thing. I did not install my own, but the fellow who does them for me intalled a Tsunami, and it sounds truly wonderful in that tender.
Unless you are fairly adept, there will be at least four wires running openly between the tender front bulkhead and the locomotive. My installer felt that it would have been inordinately difficult to manufacture something reasonable, like a stocker chute that would articulate with the loco, to hide the wires. So, I have them in the open and painted black to hide them.
I could ask him if he would be willing to guide you via emails if you would like.
I didn’t expect such quick replies. If you could Safety Valve, could you please give me some more details on decoders that have RTC? A short description would be nice.
I don’t think I will do it myself, as there are many DCC experts at my local mrr club. Maybe during one of our hours long meetings I’ll see if someone can take a look into the engine and maybe do some work.
Sound can come later, but DCC is a must.
I agree on the Relatives thing, as in their trys to help, they sometimes do the wrong things. However, I actually wanted this engine. I asked a few weeks ago to see if they could pick one up for me, and I had forgotten all about my request until they got back. I was suprised and happy.
The DCC only install in an IHC steamer is actually quite simple. I used a TCS MC2 decoder as shown in this photo. http://www.tcsdcc.com/decoderpics/ihc_asa_packer_4_6_2.htm there is not a lot of room in the IHC, but the MC2 is such a small decoder that you can fit it in the small space behind the cab weight. The motor is isolated, so the only issue is what to do with the headlight. I replaced mine with an LED and a resistor.
I have also installed one of the low end Soundtraxx decoders into a different IHC steamer. Again not hard, but you have to install it in the tender along with the speaker. As mentioned above the issue is getting the wires to the loco/motor. IHC tenders actually have a cut out hole to run the wires. I covered the wire bundle with black shrink tube as mentioned above. It works fine and is not too obtrusive.
if you’re going to add sound just buy a Tsunami , it is a DCC decoder with sound . you don’t need separate decoders , and in fact that would complicate the install , maybe even make it impossible depending on the size of the tender
I’m not familiar with the IHC Mikado, but I have several other IHC models. On one in particular, a 2-6-0, the tender had separate electrical pickups for the backup light, but there were no wires interconnecting the locomotive to the tender. I put the motor decoder into the boiler and a SoundTraxx DSX Sound-only decoder into the tender. No wires interconnecting the two were necessary. If the Mikado is made this way, there will be no need to add wires between the two components.
I take issue with the shrink wrap idea. This may cause the four wires to be too stiff and cause tracking problems with the tender. Experience talking here. Stiff wire between engine an tender have been one of my biggest headaches in the smaller locos and specially N gauge.
I really think painting the wires black and disguising them as Tender to Locomotive hoses is a good idea, but rest aussured I will be trying different methods.
Does anyone know how much an IHC Mike can pull? Is it possible, say to take a set of BLI Light Mike traction tires and install them on the IHC Mike?
Mine is a light puller for its size. You shouldn’t expect a Bowser-type puller at all from this loco. The boiler is generally full of wieght, but an enterprising, confident, and skilled modeler could probably add about four or five more ounces…somewhere, like perhaps inside the cylinders, in the firebox…? It would really help IMV.
It sure will, this is a hard wire solder installation, but about as simple as they get. The motor is isolated, you just have to hook up the wires in the right order. If I remember correctly all the wires inside the loco are conveniently the same color black, so make sure you pay attention about what they are connected to. I like to use an ohm meter so I can be sure which wire comes from the left wheel pikup etc. The motor wires are obvious as I recall.
My IHC Mike will haul 5-7 cars routinely. and 10 on occassion. Grade 2%. 15R min - but usually it only runs on the 18R loop. (that was all the cars at the time I had to max it out on grade) two of the cars may be a little lightweight. I now have a few more cars, but on my 39"x 65" layout, more than 5-7 cars doesn’t look right. It will on flat seem to haul 12 no problem. They are also all 40’-ish.
Until I can get a bigger layout, I am happy with what it does for now.
My re-designed trackplan has no grades steeper than 2% on the mainline (There is a 6% on a shortline subsidary, where the line climbs out of the valley and runs behind a mountain, but that is going to be run by a shay, as it is based on the Graham Country Railroad that ran in the NC smokies)
I might do a bit of work on the mike and see if added wait and maybe if I can make it work somehow, traction tires.
Does anybody know how difficult it would be to add traction tires to an IHC Mike?