Are the tenders on the DCC 4-6-0 and 2-10-2 hard wired to the locos?

Started by Searsport, January 02, 2012, 08:58:42 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Searsport

I note that these two locos are DCC fitted, and I am wondering if the decoders are in the loco body and the tender has the usual Bachmann tender-loco electrical connection of a pair of sprung pickups, which would make it easy to swap tenders for either of these locos, or if the decoders are in the tenders, which would require a lot more work to change the tender.

TIA and
Happy New Year,
Bill.

skipgear

They are done two different ways.....

The 4-6-0 has a decoder / light board in the tender. The loco is hardwired to this board. There is no room inside the loco for a decoder. It's just not an option. To swap tenders you must cut or unsolder the wires from the decoder / light board and either solder them to the new tender + add a decoder or do what I do and add a 6 pin socket that fits the DCC ready tenders.

The 2-10-2 is more standard and has one of the DCC ready style tender boards in it with a seprate decoder wired to it. It has a 6 pin wiring harness and plug from the loco that plugs into the tender, making it relatively easy to swap tenders.

Both loco's still use the live drawbar for added electrical contact also.

Here is what the inside of the 2-10-2 tender looks like.....
Tony Hines

Modeling the B&O in Loveland, OH 1947-1950