Does anyone know if a Rivarossi big boy #4009 from 1993 is DCC ready?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I am thinking of selling my rivarossi big boy 4009, but I would hold on to it if it was dcc ready. The manual is in italian and I can’t find the answer online. Can anyone help?

Also, when were DCC ready locomotives first on the market?

thank you.

2

As a custom DCC installer, I am pleased to tell you that your Big Boy would be a cake walk for any installer to takle. It would have a Can motor and small flanges. All that would be needed is to hardwire the decoder in.

There is nothing better than a Big Boy with Tsunami Heavy sound. It would take me about 20 minutes to install.

David

3

thank you. so just to confirm, it is not “dcc ready” with a NMRA plug then?

4

DCC ready means different things…it can mean it has a plug, or it could just mean that the motor is isolated from the frame.

I look at your question, and I can only think that it would be a trivial install…but that is just me.

More that likely, it does NOT have a plug. But the install is just 4 wires at minimum. 2 for the Motor, and 2 for the pickups. If you want a light, it is another 2 wires.

The nice thing about the Riv Big Boy is the AMPLE space under the boiler. Even lots of room for a speaker up there…(another 4 more wires)

David

5

thank you for all your help david.

Paul

6

I have 2 of those Rivarossi 1993 Big Boys and no, they were NOT DCC Ready – but soldering a decoder into them was very easy to accomplish, and the decoder fits inside the boiler.

7

i have 96 big boy and as dave said it’s cake walk i’ve soundtraxx decoder and soud stuffed under the boiler

8

David sure could use your help here?I have an Rivarossi big boy number 4006,can motor in the cab,small flanges and frount of boiler is painted silver,I have no idea how to get the boiler off so I can put an Tsunami in it? Help please?

Thank you

JIM (oleirish)

9

Thanks cacole. If anyone is interested, I am selling my U.P. Big Boy and other model railroading equipment on ebay right now at:

http://stores.ebay.com/STRENGTH-BOOKS-7_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

thank you.

Paul

10

Look for screws under the boiler and possibly in the smoke stacks (It has been a while with that particular unit). IIRC the Boiler and the drive assembly come apart quite neatly.

David

11

[:)]Thanks I’ll look it over!!

JIM