DCC encoder for Athearn N-Scale Union Pacific SD-70M

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I couldn't find anything other than this.
And I believe that is for HO scale Genesis locos.

So, short answer.
Not anything specifically for that loco. But there may be other decoders that fit, but aren't made only for that loco.
 


One current recommended plug n play decoder is the MRC 1644. You will need to modify either the decoder or the locomotive frame to get it to fit. I use a Digitrax non-sound decoder that was advertised as being for the Kato SD70M, and it fit with some minor mods.
 
The Loksound decoder is not going to fit without a lot of machining on the frame. The deocder itself would fit with only minor modifications, but you also have to make room for the speaker. You might could fit them in there with only minor modifications if you use a smaller speaker(the speaker that comes with the decoder is 16 x 25 mm, the only plave you could put it is if you milled out a place in the fuel tank).

There is a good chance that MRC's 1644 will fit. The 1644 was designed for Kato's SD70MAC and Athearn's SD70M was designed to accept the same deocder as Kato's SD70MAC; however, since the sound decoders are bulkier than standard deocders, ther is no gaurantee that it will fit. From looking at the SD70M and SD70MAC shells(I have both of them) and pictures of the deocder, it looks close. I suspect the decoder would fit, but that you would have to trim or even remove the rear light pipe because the Athearn one extends farther into the space inside the shell.

I can not in good conscience recommend the MRC deocder because so many people have had problems with MRC decoders; however, there are some customers that have been quite happy with them and there quality does seem to be improving.

Edit: I see Terry beat me to the punch!(I got interrupted while typing).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
CSX Robert said:
The Loksound decoder is not going to fit without a lot of machining on the frame. The deocder itself would fit with only minor modifications, but you also have to make room for the speaker. You might could fit them in there with only minor modifications if you use a smaller speaker(the speaker that comes with the decoder is 16 x 25 mm, the only plave you could put it is if you milled out a place in the fuel tank).

There is a good chance that MRC's 1644 will fit. The 1644 was designed for Kato's SD70MAC and Athearn's SD70M was designed to accept the same deocder as Kato's SD70MAC; however, since the sound decoders are bulkier than standard deocders, ther is no gaurantee that it will fit. From looking at the SD70M and SD70MAC shells(I have both of them) and pictures of the deocder, it looks close. I suspect the decoder would fit, but that you would have to trim or even remove the rear light pipe because the Athearn one extends farther into the space inside the shell.

I can not in good conscience recommend the MRC deocder because so many people have had problems with MRC decoders; however, there are some customers that have been quite happy with them and there quality does seem to be improving.

Edit: I see Terry beat me to the punch!(I got interrupted while typing).
Click to expand...

You said you have both shells. Can you tell me how to remove the shell from the Athearn version? It seems to be glued on.
 
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