This is a decoder install in 3 Con-Cor U50's. I model UP but have some SP as you often saw them running together in the same consist. I'm hooked for some reason on these U50's. I found one UP for a fair price and then found a SP U50 shell for less than $30 also. Only Union Pacific and Southern Pacific had these engines but Con-Cor made some for different roads for some reason. The UP ones are usually pretty expensive but I found a Conrail and a Chessie for good prices. Then I found a UP for a really good price so bought it. I put the SP body on the Conrail frame and kept the Chessie for parts down the road. What follows is the decoder install using Digitrax's DZ123 2 function decoder in the two UP's and the one SP. These are big locos so finding room for the decoder was easy. I did do some milling for wire clearance but that was pretty straight forward. The following pictures pretty much tell the story of the install. I have a video up using the rotary cutter ( HERE ). I find these to be nice running engines. You aren't going to creep around the yard with them but on the mainline they seem to be right at home. There is a nice write up on these engines on Spookshow ( HERE ) where they are given a B. Above is an abbreviated description of the decoder install. If you are interested in doing this install there are over 20 more pictures and info on my site here.... http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Decoder-1/page-6.html Sumner
One addition I have made on mine is putting a splice in the red wire and running an end to each of the insulated screws. Since each screw is insulated from the frame, the single wire only picks up current from one truck. This simple addition will allow full pickup from both the front and rear truck and make for an even more reliable runner. Since the black wire is picking up from the frame this change is not necessary for it. Tom
Tom thanks for the input. I have several U50's now that I've put decoders in. On them the front and rear trucks are connected to the bottom frame half for the right side motor pickup. With an ohm meter there is continuity between the trucks on the right side (and left side). There is also continuity between either screw and either truck or the bottom half of the frame. With that in mind it seems that using either screw for track input works the same as using both screws as all of it is tied together. Sumner
