Does anyone know if the boards used in the new 44 tonners will be available to retro fit older units ? I have two I have hesitated to put decoders in , If the new boards are designed to fit in that would be nice.
You might try contacting Bachmann. Here is a link to the Bachmann site. They have a site to inquire about parts. I have used the site to buy new connectors for the HO 4-4-0.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/
Rich
I don’t think that’s going to be possible because of design changes that have been made over the years. Some of the older models don’t have room for a decoder. I managed to squeeze a dime-sized decoder into one of the older Bachmann 44 tonners with dual motors but had to remove a crew member.
Jerry,
Unfortunately I don’t think that board in the new 44 tonner will help you much with installing a decoder in an older two moter version. The wiring is very different because you have motor lead from both ends of the frame on the old version. There are a couple articles on wiring a decoder into the two motor version that show you have to do it. Not as simple as plugging into a socket and away you go, but not terribly difficult if you don’t mind doing some soldering.
I managed to squeeze in a Z-scale Digitrax decoder into cab and retain the figure. Unfortunately I couldn’t completely hide the docoder.
Scott Sonntag