Welcome Change for the sound ready Atlas Dash 8-40CW

[sundowner]

So i got some of the new dash-8 and notice that Atlas redesigned the ditch light to be like way Kato does there.

[mu26aeh]

Are you saying they got rid of the seperate light board for the ditch lights, that allowed independent control of said ditch lights ?  If so, personally I'd say that's a step backwards

[EL3632]

Are you saying they got rid of the seperate light board for the ditch lights, that allowed independent control of said ditch lights ?  If so, personally I'd say that's a step backwards

They did, it is now a pair of light tubes straight to the decoder. The decoder now has ditch lights coming straight from the decoder.

For me personally, this was a major pain, as I wanted to convert some pre-existing units over to sound. I had to completely take out the existing light tubes and redo the whole front end. I am glad I only had three to do (I pre-ordered 3 of the sound equipped units), I was debating a fourth, but after seeing how difficult it was I decided the fourth was not worth it and sold it off.

[mu26aeh]

So those who have roads with alternating ditch lights now have to do the work.  That's why I liked the old design.   

[reinhardtjh]

So those who have roads with alternating ditch lights now have to do the work.  That's why I liked the old design.   

No, because the new LS 5 Atlas/IM (58721) board has 3 AUX LED on the front and 3 AUX LED on the rear.  So you want the light pipes to be separate so that alternating is done by the decoder programming.  As long as the light pipes go to the correct spot near the decoder.  I assume they will because Atlas would have redesigned  for the LS 5 board since the old 73199 had been discontinued.

They did, it is now a pair of light tubes straight to the decoder. The decoder now has ditch lights coming straight from the decoder.

Pipes directly to the decoder is how you want it so that sounds correct.

Did they happen to put the rear set of ditch lights on the NS locos?