Similar Install

I found this link for an Alco unit on Tony's Trains, an MRH sponsor. Looks very similar to what you have.

http://www.tcsdcc.com/public_html/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/Bachmann/Spectrum_Modern_American_ALCO_Richmond/Bachmman_Spectrum_Modern_American_ALCO_Richmond.html

Al’s response and link above

Al’s response and link above refers to installation of a non-sound decoder. 

I found all the “extra” electronics in the Bachmann locos to hinder good operations, and they eat up too much space if you want to install sound.  Thus, I always remove all Bachmann-supplied boards and hard wire in new decoders.  I love Soundtraxx sound decoders, and always use them.

EDIT: Neglected to offer a version - Their "Light Steam" would be a good choice.

Given that you are new to DCC, you may not want to jump that far in.  But if you do…

As you can see from your included diagram, you will have to go a bit deeper to get at the speaker mount.  A sound decoder will have 2 wires to go to the speaker.  Make sure the ohms requirements of the sound decoder match the speaker you choose.

Bachmann doesn’t comply with standards for its wiring, so prior to pulling out their board, look at lettering on the board to see what wire goes where, and marking the wires before disconnecting. 

You will have to do a little deciphering –

• M+ and M- for motor plus/minus, for instance. 
• The tender back-up light will be self evident, as it is wired within the tender. 
• You can also determine the right/left rail pickups because those wires will also be within the tender.  A second wire will be attached to each for the same rail pickups in the loco.  The two wires for each rail can be kept together and attached to the decoder’s r/l rail wires.
• I found it tough to determine the +/- wires for the LED headlight and tail light.  On my Bachmann 2-10-2s, the colors were the same – both red.  If you hook them up backwards, they won’t light.  You’ve got a 50/50 chance, and no penalty if you get it wrong the first time.

Obviously, I too was once new to all this, but even my first Bachmann installation went flawlessly – well, except for getting the front headlight wired backwards.  Patience and following the Soundtraxx instructions were all that was needed.

Walk before you run

Decoder

If you want sound, this is from the SoundTraxx decoder selector page for this loco.

Bruce's website shows how to remove the harness and use a 8 pin to 9 pin adapter.

Clip any capacitors. They are usually marked with a C such as C1, C2 if the caps are on the PC board.

For non sound, I am seeing a lot of positive reviews for TCS in the different forums I belong to.

There is also a nice Bachmann website with forums and a couple Bachmann reps who watch the forums.

Rich

...

I would be extremely happy to see the Bachmann Budget Soundtraxx Sound desoder on the market, without a locomotive...

Thank you

Thank you for all the great responses. I believe I will follow Bruce's advice (and use Al's link) and get my feet wet first with the DP2X. Once I've done that and become a little more familar with things, I will definitely upgrade to the Soundtraxx TSU-1000 or similar. 

It has been a while, but while in the Navy I was an aviation electronics technician. Much of the time was spent 'O' level working on planes but I did also work 'I' level and so have soldering experience working on small boards. The biggest problem today is, of course, older vision. But that's what magnifiers were invented for, I guess. 

I have saved off all these responses and will let you know how things go.

Thanks again. 

Jim C.