Ok I have two of these Bachmann GE 44 Tonner locomotives. When it comes to decoder installs I am all thumbs. Suggestions would be good. What decoders and how would I go about installing it? Both are HO. Thanks!
I think any small decoder would work, but having two motors concerns me. A Digitrax N/Z scale decoder (DZ123 or 126 series I think?) would probably fit, especially in the cab area, but do you think the two drive units are speed-matched well enough? Together, they probably draw less than an amp, which is good for the decoder, but you may need to remove the circuit board thing, which means reworking how the lights are mounted. I am not a big fan of Digitrax back EMF though. Without a flywheel, those small motors probably need the best motor control they can get. A LokPilot Micro is a bit more expensive than a Digitrax unit, but I think the motor control will help you with those small drive units at low speed.
Here's one possibility. https://tcsdcc.com/installation/ho-scale/1215 Digitrax probably has an equivalent decoder installed the same way but they don't have an extensive library of installation instructions with pictures.
