DCC for Athearn blue box

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have several Athearn blue box locos I’d like to add DCC decoders to so they can be run on my club’s layout. I have a GP9 and a GP40-2 that were purchased in the mid/late 80’s and a ‘newer’ blue box GP40-2 that I purchased about two months ago. Even the newer seems to have the classic mechanism, just a newer shell. Which decoder should I use for these locos and is it possible to run it in both DC and DCC environments once the decoders have been installed? This would be my first attempt at DCC.

2

Many of the newer decoders can run on both DC and DCC. A good choice for the Athearn BB locomotives is the Train Control Systems T-1 decoder. A Digitrax, Lenz, or any other decoder that supports at least 1 Amp motor drive current should be equally suitable.

The headlight will need to be insulated from the frame during the decoder installation process, and the motor will have to be removed so the bottom of it can be insulated from the frame, but this is fairly easy to accomplish.

3

Digitrax has a kit with everything you need,including the decoder for installation in early Athern diesels. Be careful installing other decoders because some older Atherns draw more current than the 1 amp most decoders can handle. There was an article on this kit in Model Railroad News. Check Digitrax website for specs.

4

http://www.tcsdcc.com/decoderpics/Athearn%20SD45/athearn_sd45.htm

http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/002/386vdfwa.asp

http://www.wiringfordcc.com/ath_pa1.htm

Here are a few links that may be of interest to you?

5

Thanks to everyone for their help. I think I’ll be buying a one of the digitrax decoders from Tony’s Trains Exchange to give it a try! Thanks again everyone.

6

Cannoli:

Digitrax sells an Athearn blue box harness that makes it very easy to add a decoder to these locos. Once you have their harness installed, then you can plug in any decoder that takes the standard edge card decoder connector. See Tony’s:
http://www.tonystrains.com/products/digitrax_decs_harplugs.htm

And here’s some pictures:
http://www.tonystrains.com/gallery/digitrax_dhat.htm

I like using connectors over hardwiring because it makes debugging or upgrading a piece of cake. [swg]

Just make sure you insulate the motor from the frame first. I believe the harness comes with some nice instructions, so you should be all set.