Athearn GP40-2

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

does anyone know if the Ready to Run Athearn GP40-2 has the decoder plug in it?

thanks
Mike[:p]

2

First there are 2 groups of Athearn RTR GP40-2s.
The first group lacks grabs…Read the features:
Fully assembled and ready to operate
Factory installed Celcon handrails
Next-generation drive mechanism with hex drive lines
Machined RP25 profile metal wheels
Magnetically operated knuckle couplers

This group lacks the metal grabs and no DCC plug.

The second group reads like this:

Fully assembled and ready to operate
Factory installed metal grabirons
Factory installed Celcon handrails
Next-generation drive mechanism with hex drive lines
Machined RP25 profile metal wheels
Magnetically operated knuckle couplers

So Athearn added the grabs on this group but no DCC plug.

3

Is there a way to add the DCC plug? I had purchased an Athearn GP40-2 and it is of the second group. I hadn’t realized they weren’t building them with the DCC and the directional lighting. I’d like to change that if it’s posible.

4

I have one from the first group, B&M #309. To add DCC I used Digitrax’s DH123AT which includes a wiring harness specificly for Athearn BB locos, it will also work in the RTR locos that do not have a DCC plug such as the GP40-2 and GP38-2. The installation is simple, no soldering required, no resisters or modifications to the light if you decide to stick with the original one.

Here is a photo of the wiring harness and decoder from Litchfield Station.

5

Wow, Thanks a bunch Cannoli for all that information! Helps a lot. I don’t really like the single light though so I’ll probably get the directional lighting set up for it. May be a bit more work but I think it will look more realistic when I’m done with it.

6

Shouldnt be much more work just get smaller bulbs to fit right into the back lights thats all I did on some of my bb kits the instructions tell you how to hook the wires up for directional lighting.

7

Glad I could help, at some point I’ll be doing the same with the lighting in my Athearn units. When I first installed DCC in them though I wanted them running on the track as fast as possible. [:)]