Athearn 2-8-2

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Any idaes on DCC installation for this loco?I have a MRC #AD310 decoder that I was told would fit.Thanks Guys

2

Try http://loystoys.com/info/ath-gen-steam-dec-sel.html As a start.

-OT

3

Box Car,

I’m just coureous. Who told you that that particular decoder would fit the 2-8-2?

Tom

4

Box Car Willie, I have a Digitrax DH123 in my Athearn 2-8-2. The DH163 will also fit. The 2-8-2 has the Digitrax 9 pin on the end of a wiring harness that is just stuck into the tender. Just pull out what is there (from the tender) and plug in any decoder that has the 9 pin connector. Pu***he wiring harness back in the tender and you are ready to run. That simple. You can also use other decoders that have the 9 pin installed or any wiring harness that ends up that way. It was the easiest of any of my locos to convert. Too bad it doesn’t run as good as the Proto 2000 and Spectrum locos I have… I am not familiar with the MRC #AD310 so I can’t help you there.

Have fun!

5

Box Car,

Ray is right. It’s an easy plug-in but you FIRST have to remove the dummy board at the end of the wire harness.

Tom

6

As folks have said, a decoder with a 9 pin jst plug fits in the tender. I used a Digitrax DH121 and it has sorked fine. Easiers conversion I ever did. If I was to replace it now I’d use a TCS T1 decoder.

If you carefully trim and remove the heat shrink tubing that wraps the wiring to the tender, the whole thing is more flexible and the engine will track much better.

Regards,
Peter
conford