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DCC conversion - Atlas RS-11 (CV 3611) Locos and rolling stock
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Prolific poster 2,152 posts Scarpia Prolific poster 2,152 posts
Scarpia

With my other project on hold for a few days while I await delivery of drill bits, I had an hour, and decided to install the Train Control Systems A4X drop in decoder into an Atlas RS-11 (Central Vermont 3611) that I've had for a while.

Bought new off of eBay, I had taken this apart previously to get the lay of the land. I've had the decoder at the house for a few weeks now, and ordered it despite the fact that it's not sound, as for the price, these basic TCS decoders are really great.

I pulled out the soldering iron, and had it all warmed up as I moved the chassis to the foam work cradle. What's this? There are plastic slides that lock the wires onto the light  board? No soldering? Woot! this will be a 4 minute install! Easiest ever!  I smugly reached over, and turned off the soldering iron.

I pulled off the old board, and set the A4X in place. For a trial run, I just hooked up the truck leads and motor leads.

/></p><p>A quick turn on the programming track set the decoder address, and another one on the main line checked that it was valid and the machine would respond. So far, so good!</p><p>With that test worked out, I went ahead and added the front and rear light leads. The diagram on the packaging of the A4X shows a bit different wiring, but I just put them all back where they were on the factory board.</p><p><img rel=

On the mainline, and all was working as advertised.

So....

As I try to put the shell back on (which is kind of a tight squeeze on this model), I somehow managed to bend and break the motor lead off of it's soldered attachment. Doh!  You can see that I had Kapton taped the other wires, but stupidly didn't do this one.

/></p><p>After another quick test run to make sure it was running right, I installed a pair of Sergents, and secured the shell with the coupler pocket screws.</p><p>Despite my gaff, this was a very, very easy DCC conversion, and thanks to TCS, inexpensive.  There is plenty of room in this shell for audio however, so I may be opening it back up sometime in the future.</p><p>It runs very smoothly, and as I couldn't resist, I consisted it with two Life Like Proto 1000k RS-11's, it's sisters 3606 and 3614. Both of those also have TCS decoders (the <a href= T1 in this case), so I'm not sure if that's the reason, but they run VERY well as a set. I haven't adusted any CVS on any of these locos other than the decoder address, and they run without jerking or pulling.

Kind of makes a handsome set!  Now to figure out how to weather these guys up.....
HO, early transition erahttp://www.garbo.org/MRRlocal time PST
On30, circa 1900  

 
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Bill Lewis New member 16 posts
Bill Lewis

very nice looking set i have

very nice looking set i have only had some experiance with slip in decoders and 1 that was the solder type. i had better luck with kato loco's and decoding them i find they are very easy to do. also you didnt say what scale thies loco's are looks like N and i was also wondering what type of dcc system your useing
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Scarpia Prolific poster 2,152 posts
Scarpia

HO and CVP

Thanks for your comments Bill - I'm working in HO, not N. For DCC, I have CVP's Easy DCC system, that I've been very happy with.

Cheers!
HO, early transition erahttp://www.garbo.org/MRRlocal time PST
On30, circa 1900  

 
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Rio Grande Dan Prolific poster 2,305 posts
Rio Grande Dan

OK so what is the real color

OK so what is the real color of  your engines? Green or blue?

Rio Grande Dan
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BlueHillsCPR
BlueHillsCPR

Color Confusion?

Quote:

OK so what is the real color of  your engines? Green or blue?


Yes, I saw it Dan...I didn't mean you.  Looks like someone forgot about white balance?  Maybe the camera was still glued to the layout for those shots?

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Rio Grande Dan Prolific poster 2,305 posts
Rio Grande Dan

Really look at the last 2

Really look at the last 2 pictures of 3211 the one above is Olive Green and the one below it is Turquoise or do you have 2 engines with the same 3211 stamped on it? What is the real color?

Oh wait Strawberry Brown right I'm not color blind

 

Dan

Rio Grande Dan
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BlueHillsCPR
BlueHillsCPR

Sorry Dan...

I didn't mean you...edited my post accordingly!

Actually, looking at all the shots it looks like 3611 is three different colors...
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Scarpia Prolific poster 2,152 posts
Scarpia

Actually

Actually.. green. like this

You guys are really becoming photo critics! I'll have to triple check my settings and install new lights!

It's actually the wrong shade of green, real ones were a bit darker like this

The CV did have a blue engine scheme, but that was toward the end, and truth be told I don't like that one as much.
HO, early transition erahttp://www.garbo.org/MRRlocal time PST
On30, circa 1900  

 
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Rio Grande Dan Prolific poster 2,305 posts
Rio Grande Dan

Getting back to the main

Getting back to the main subject .

Nice install and I now notice one of the engines has a reddish orange nose is that early or late color scheme or does it designate something special?

Dan

Rio Grande Dan
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Scarpia Prolific poster 2,152 posts
Scarpia

That's a later color scheme

That's a later color scheme, Dan. For these guys, I've been just picking them up on line and in shows as I see them; there isn't that much available in factory paint.

I'm intending on running mid50's to 1960s mostly, but thanks that things around here don't change that much, I should be able to run later eras as well with some car swaps, so these will see some use.
HO, early transition erahttp://www.garbo.org/MRRlocal time PST
On30, circa 1900  

 
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BlueHillsCPR
BlueHillsCPR

Colors

Not to be too much of a ctitic but, I agree the green is better than the blue color scheme.

I keep looking at the CV and wondering if the CN "noodle" was inspired by the CV or if it was the other way around...maybe neither?
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Scarpia Prolific poster 2,152 posts
Scarpia

The CV

The CV was a wholly owned subsidary of CN, so the schemes are either identical or similar for the CN, CV, GT, etc.
HO, early transition erahttp://www.garbo.org/MRRlocal time PST
On30, circa 1900  

 
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BlueHillsCPR
BlueHillsCPR

That explains it!

Thanks for enlightening me!
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