Installing a Decoder in an Athearn Blue Box locomotive

A simple decoder installation in an Athearn Blue Box locomotive. The purpose of this video is to encourage people to not be afraid of DCC, or even hard wiring a decoder. This is a simple process, and all I did in this video was to get the locomotive to operate in DCC.

The decoder used is a Digitrax DH123AT. It goes for around $30-$35.

Enjoy the video, and I hope this helps!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• DCC
• decoder
• installation
• Digitrax
• DH123AT
• Athearn
• Blue
• Box
• SW1000
• BN

[knightbob81]

Does this work with F7 Engines by athearn

[MikeDelic14]

yes, it works for any locomotive

[graysonator123]

dude...screw the DHAT...HARDWIRE that thing. i love digitrax but the soldering job on the clips is terrible...if you wanna use the DHAT harness, cut off all the Motor clips and connections from the thing and solder the wires straight to the engine. it helps a LOT better....just a tip

[MikeDelic14]

i kno lol, I always do that now.

[locodkr]

Very helpful video. Did you leave the headlight standard or have to replace the bulb?

[MikeDelic14]

Thanks, I left the bulb standard.

[kodeblew]

this was very helpful and simply explained, thanks man

[aaron13133]

where do you attach the 2 wires for additional bulbs?

[panglongyui]

does the blue box locomotives come with the hand rail and detail parts

[crazyfvck]

The only reason I would switch to DCC is to get realistic sound out of my diesels. Do they make a simliar plug-n-play decoder with sound for blue box engines? I have a trio of Athearn BNSF GP38-2's, two of them powered and one a dummy. They are my primary engines. I would love to give the powered units sound, assuming the cost isn't too bad.

[THOMASandline3]

cool

[flyingdenver]

Thanks for your fine demo. i have a DH123at to install. Great help.

Nice layout.

[trainssker]

Graysonator...Ditto to what  you said!!! LOL

[grabador9]

Hello, look at this loco, the 6336 is athearn RTR with decoder DH123AT and the 6300 is Intermountaint with decoder QSI DCC/Sound. Thanks men for your tips.

[BrodyFarmBoy]

ah crud I have 3 pwred Blue box engines so thats going to be about $90 and 2 others that I have to repower so thats going to be lot of money I dont have yet

[trainmaster101]

thanks for this demonstration