DCC Updates

I have just had a Soundtraxx Decoder put in a Stewart C-628. This was not as easy as it looks on the surface. I did not do the installation myself as I did not have time. But I had a good friend do the install for me.

I should point out the following. The new Stewart hi-hood C-628 and C-630 locomotives are not of the same circuit board design that the low-hood locomotives have. Therefore the Soundtraxx decoder designed for the low-hood will not fit the hi-hood.

How did I get around this. Well I also had a Pennsy low-hood C-628 so I just switched the shells. One little item that may bother you is that when you press certain function buttons you may get red or green light shawdows in your cab interior. It is slightly noticeable but not glaring and I can live with it. The Soundtraxx decoder does sound great.

How does it work on my layout? On my club layout it works fine. But my layout has Atlas switches with insulated frogs. When my Soundtraxx equipped loco goes over the frogs the sound will be interupted. This can be annoying. So if you do have several Atlas switches on your layout with the insulated frogs, you may reconsider that purchase of a sound decoder.