I recently received a Union Pacific Atlas (Silver Series) Dash 8-40C. I decided to test it today, before it goes on the shelf for a while. I placed it on my DCC-equipped layout and turned the power on. I place my controller’s locomotive selector on one, which is for running DC locomotives. I begin to hear the chirp that means there is a short somewhere on the layout, so I turn off the power and double-check to make sure no metal is touching the track. I turn the power on again, and there’s still a repetitive chirp. I take the locomotive off, and the chirp stops. I place a (DC) Athearn RTR locomotive on the track, and it runs fine. I try another Athearn RTR locomotive, and it too runs fine. I’m relatively perplexed at this point, so I pull out my DC test track, and run the UP unit. It runs on this track like any other Atlas Master unit I’ve owned. I’m more confused than ever now, so I decide to take a look-see at the locomotive. I’ve successfully worked on Atlas Master units several times in the past, so I don’t think that it will be any different with this one. I realize that there may be a plug to remove or move for this to work, as I have not worked on a Silver Series unit before. I take the same approach to it as I do my Dash 8-40B’s, and gain no ground. I check my Atlas box for instructions, diagrams, anything. I find a parts diagram with a million and one parts everywhere and a warranty card. At this point, I have the couplers off, and nothing else is budging. I give up, and put the couplers back on, a process which takes three hands to complete, however, I got it done with two.
Does anyone have a clue as to WHAT is wrong? Does anyone have experience disassembling these? Has anyone even made it through the whole post? Hehe.
To get the shell off pull up from the back. The first time off it takes some doing. Once it pops up the front wil come also. Dont’ forget to undo the chain on the rear of the engine as well.
It sounds like you figured it out. ON my Silver GP-38, there was a jumper you had to change to convert to DCC. Like was said, youhave to pull the top center. Then it is easy to see.
I am sorry but I am a bit confused. Are you running a DCC loco on a DC track? Or vice versa? A similar thing happened to me once because Digitrax sometimes to ship the wrong PC board! I bought a decoder for my Dash8-BW but what I receive is a normal PC light board! No wonder it wouldn’t move on my DCC track! I confirmed it on a DC test track so there you go.
[quote user=“uspscsx”]
This is a repeat from the Atlas forum.
I recently received a Union Pacific Atlas (Silver Series) Dash 8-40C. I decided to test it today, before it goes on the shelf for a while. I placed it on my DCC-equipped layout and turned the power on. I place my controller’s locomotive selector on one, which is for running DC locomotives. I begin to hear the chirp that means there is a short somewhere on the layout, so I turn off the power and double-check to make sure no metal is touching the track. I turn the power on again, and there’s still a repetitive chirp. I take the locomotive off, and the chirp stops. I place a (DC) Athearn RTR locomotive on the track, and it runs fine. I try another Athearn RTR locomotive, and it too runs fine. I’m relatively perplexed at this point, so I pull out my DC test track, and run the UP unit. It runs on this track like any other Atlas Master unit I’ve owned. I’m more confused than ever now, so I decide to take a look-see at the locomotive. I’ve successfully worked on Atlas Master units several times in the past, so I don’t think that it will be any different with this one. I realize that there may be a plug to remove or move for this to work, as I have not worked on a Silver Series unit before. I take the same approach to it as I do my Dash 8-40B’s, and gain no ground. I check my Atlas box for instructions, diagrams, anything. I find a parts diagram with a million and one parts everywhere and a warranty card. At this point, I have the couplers off, and nothing else is budging. I give up, and put the couplers back on,
I can’t remember having trouble removing the shell but I had a real hard time re-installing it. I tried numerous times with no success. I even emailed Atlas to see if there was some sort of trick to installing it. There was no trick, just got to take your time and keep trying. Good luck!
I’m running a DC loco on a DCC track. On my throttle/controller, there is a number reserved for running standard locomotives. (#1) I haven’t had problems with any other DC or DCC locomotive, just this one.
The chain is at the rear. There is a little loop of plastiuc holdong it on. If you bend that, the chain will come off. I just snapped mine in favor of putting a metal one on.
The chain is at the rear. There is a little loop of plastiuc holdong it on. If you bend that, the chain will come off. I just snapped mine in favor of putting a metal one on.
You need to install the decoder first before putting it on a DCC track.
As for the shell, it is very hard to get off and impoosible to put back on. I had to ship mine to a decoder installer for him to finish the job. Very bad tooling on that model.
Are the Silver Series units that way? I know the old “Red Box” Atlas units (DCC-Ready, and with less detail, such as the U23B and C30-7) would run without a decoder with the address set to 1 on my throttle. This is actually my first Silver Series unit. I hate that Atlas did away with the old run of Master Series. I don’t use sound and probably will never use sound.
Well, I figured it out. I got the shell off this evening, and the chain as well. The Atlas locos have changed a bit! Anyway, I popped a tab at the rear of the locomotive, separating the long hood from the walkway. After those two separated, the shell came apart from the chassis by itself. I also found out that the ring the chain is connected to is super-flexible. Anyway, I installed a decoder and it runs great now. Thanks for the replies.