Hello fellow modellers,
I just purchased an HO Kato SD-80 CSX locomotive off of ebay and realized I have no idea whether it is DCC, DCC ready, or the like. My questions are this and hopefully somebody owns one or knows about them but do they come equipped with DCC, or are they DCC ready. Also if they are DCC ready is there a sound decoder available for this locomotive? Thanks for any help on this matter.
~Dan
Dan,
Have you considered contacting the seller and asking him if he has the answer regarding DCC/non DCC equipped?
Don Z.
The seller really does not know much about the Locomotive other than it’s a Kato SD-80MAC #801. I can hardly find much information on the internet about it and it’s not even listed on Kato’s website so I’m guessing it has been out of production for some time. Just was curious if someone might know something about it before I tear it apart to get a look. Thanks for the response! 
p.s. - I’m new, my name is Dan and I have been getting back into the hobby after a 5 year slump. Getting new locomotives and the like. Thanks again!
~Dan
Follow this link and take notice of the bottom of page 3:
http://www.katousa.com/HO/SD90MAC/maintenance.html
Don Z.
I own the same loco and it comes DCC ready, there is an 8 pins NMRA socket installed on the light board. I installed a NCE KRS-SR into mine.
Be careful the first run came with possible decoder shorting, the fix is only a matter of five minutes. Remove the motor lead, cut it just a little bit and re clip the lead.
See this link http://www.tonystrains.com/tonystips/2002/060302.htm
Kato also has a fix in its web site but I find it too elaborate I will not go that route.
Thanks alot to the both of you. Clarrified my main questions about the locomotive being DCC ready. I guess I didn’t spend enough time on the KATO website to see that information about it. With all that being said I would like to thank you guys again.
~Dan