The Results
I received my 4 RCDR receiver boards (part number 691RCDR133). This part is listed for the U36c’s. I purchased it because all U36c’s have come with DCC as do U33c’s from the 2018 Vol. 2 catalog and beyond.
I had good results on 4 locomotives. The board fit and enabled DCC operations in the following:
- Two U33c’s from the 2012 Vol. 1 catalog
- A U33c from the 2012 Vol. 2 catalog
- Y-3
However, it did not fit my main target of this exercise, a U33c from the 2009 catalog (the first run of U33c’s). The board on the right in the photo (691RCDR110) is the one from this locomotive, and you can see that the female pin connectors are different from the new board on the left. I’d be happy to get some male connectors that fit the new board and attach the wires from the loco to it, but the labels on the pins are different between boards.
Therefore, it appears there is no way to convert the 2009 models just by replacing the RCDR. So for this one, I am going back to trying to get Lionel to respond to my inquiry. As mentioned above, they had previously informed me I could send in both the RCDR and the BEMC boards for firmware updates for $50. However, I have been waiting over a month for them to respond to emails asking to who do I send them and how do they want me to make payment.
It also did not work for the Challenger. I learned that these do not have RCDR boards but rather R4LC receiver boards.
Lastly, regarding Terry’s question about DC operation with the newer RCDR’s, I could not get a loco to operate. Lights came on, but no sound or movement when applying DC current.
