DCC Decoder Upgrade - Athearn Blue Box PA-1 Santa Fe

Today I will be converting my DC powered Santa Fe War Bonnet PA1 to DCC using a Digitrax DH126 Decoder.
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[@philhamsher3977]

thank you for sharing an "imperfect" video. Makes me feel better when things don't go according to plan for me. keep them coming..🙂

[@stevemcgeachy6953]

Your errors are good lessons for me. Thanks for keeping it real!

[@darylhitchcock7680]

You are getting very proficient at your tutorial skills...Really enjoy the channel....

[@ScottRails]

Thanks Daryl. Eventually I'll do one without mistakes, lol.

[@farmerdave7965]

To poke out those motor mounts I use a wooden chopstick from my local Chinese restaurant. The flat end works perfectly. Also wipe your hot soldering iron tip on a damp sponge to remove excess solder prior to soldering every wire.

[@johnbanicki7232]

What an awesome video. Good to see that you included the things that did not go quite right. I have a drawer full of old blue box engines that I need to update. This video will really help. Thanks for sharing.

[@ScottRails]

Thanks John. I was really frustrated making this video, nothing was going right, hahaha. Thankfully I'm not the type to throw things at walls. I also hate being defeated.

[@jamesfitch6431]

Great video. It's wonderful to see your calm demeanor and the patients that you exhibit when working on the trains. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@ScottRails]

I have the luxury of time, so I know I will eventually get something working.

[@ianhutchinson7358]

I know it's a old video at this point but I thought I'd share some thinks I've picked up after doing a few of these jobs: 1) those older metal sideframe trucks love to short against the chassis during turns or grade changes. Hardly noticible on dc power but with dc it's enough to trip fault detection on many systems and blackout the track for a second. I switched all mine to the later run plastic sideframe trucks, or you can glue a bit of styrene to the chassis on the contact points to minimize the issue. 2) those old gray motors draw a TON of amps for the amount of work they are doing, you can pick up the newer style of motor from athearn that drops right in and pulls way less amps. Easier on the decoder and let's you run more engines at the same time. Hope someone out there finds this helpful. Thanks for the video Scott glad you're teaching how to keep these old engines relevant!

[@ScottRails]

That's excellent advice, thanks Ian.

[@Corky3D]

Awesome a new series!

[@Parktonman]

Well Dave it's a learning video. None of us are perfect. I have burned up more decoders than you have installed. Don't know when you filmed this, but I thought I sent you some extra harnesses, so you don't have to cut up your new ones. You may have used them already. She needs a Mars light. I love the idea of the mounting plate for the decoder. Wish you could come up with something to keep wires away from the flywheels. Keep working at it, and I enjoy your video's. I'll have to make one today.

[@ScottRails]

Thanks Greg. For some reason I thought the harnesses you sent were for a different type of decoder. Just checked, and you are of course correct. I need to look into making an led mars light, for a lot of my P and F series locos.

[@Parktonman]

They sell flashing led's but I am sure you know that. You are pretty good at installing led's. You know those older Bluebox motors run a little taller than the more current BB motors. I have run into the same problem. @@ScottRails

[@cncpgreatlakesdiv4896]

awesome Scott thx for the video 😊😊👍👍

[@kirkhodson1466]

Thank you so very much. I have several i need to add DCC and sound to.

[@aaronl_trains_and_planes]

I found some female 8 pin that's wired up so all you have to do is wire it like a regular decoder then plug in the digitrax 8 pin. All my C420 bodies aren't wide enough for those DCC ready boards.

[@ScottRails]

That sounds like a great solution

[@darrellnorton2208]

Great video as always. Only into the hobby the last 4 months so have loads to learn. Started with OO but after watching your videos I'm heading into HO. First loco arrived this week u-28-c blue box. Just need some rolling stock now. 🤔😁👍

[@ScottRails]

What livery has your U28 got?

[@darrellnorton2208]

It's in the yellow and red Union Pacific (we can handle it) just on with trying a bit of detailing on the handrails 👍

[@YourLocalRailfan]

Oh man I want a abba set of those locomotives!

[@ScottRails]

There's an A-B set on ebay I've been watching. Ends tomorrow night. Want the link?

[@YourLocalRailfan]

@@ScottRails my mom isn’t ordering me anymore trains

[@ScottRails]

What about promising to do more chores?

[@YourLocalRailfan]

@@ScottRails nope, I order to many train cars lol

[@OldcampRanch]

Super duper, amazing and informative 👍🏻

[@NERRP2017]

I plan to do this to the exact same thing to my identical Bluebox PA1 my friend gave me.. and re apply nose decals as the factory fresh ones fell off from being old, or paint into a fictonal D&H pa1 paint job.

[@ScottRails]

Well now you know what not to do, hahaha.

[@politicsandtrains]

Have you found a place where to purchase replacement gears?

[@ScottRails]

Yes, Ali Express. Takes a while to get here, but a fraction of the cost.