Atlas Commuter cab car decoder????

[ski]

Do the N scale Atlas commuter (NJ Transit/Montreal) cab cars have a Next18 decoder socket?? I am seeing confusing info that they indeed do.  The Atlas webpage says that they have LED directional lighting and provisions for a speaker...but no mention of decoders.  I thought i read a review of them saying they had a Next18 socket, but i cant find the review.

[dem34]

Just cracked open mine because I was curious as well.
There is a Next18 decoder socket located under the upper light board with a dummy plug.
For speakers, think that's for the modeller to figure out on their own.

[peteski]

Speaker in an unpowered car?  Must be for bell and horn only.  But it is nice that Atlas thought of it.  Rapido Comet cars use proprietary (and fairly complex) circuit for the lighting, with no provisions whatsoever to install a decoder.  Adding one will require serious modifications to the circuit.

[greenwizard88]

Ski,

They have directional lighting on dc. On dcc, you’ll need a decoder or all of the lights will light up at once. IIRC, the speaker can go wherever it fits. On the HO version, there are pre-drilled speaker holes near the front of the cab car.

[ski]

This forum is amazing… thanks to all for the quick replies!