Model Railroading > ScaleTrains GP40 Issue

I received two ScaleTrains GP40's yesterday, and discovered there is a issue everyone receiving ESU equipped locomotives need to be aware of. The first indication of the issue is the Chessie System/C&O unit had no sounds despite running normally and had all the lights working. I then tried to write decoder settings using Lokprogrammer and I kept getting a error despite no problems programming with JMRI prior. The SSW unit operated normally with sound, but didn't cooperate with Lokprogrammer either.
After consulting with ScaleTrains, it turns out a number of units with the factory installed ESU Loksound 5 decoders had the DIP switches on the motherboard turned on, when they both need to be in the off position to work with the ESU decoders. Both of my units had them turned on. They need to be toward the side with the numbers 1 and 2, and away from the ON KE side.
The only other issue so far is the underframe detail strips that run along the base of the frame on the SSW unit were loose. The C&O unit did not have the same issue.
The locomotives were excellent otherwise.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/26 15:13 by funnelfan.

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On the bright side, according to to a post over on MRH, it appears that the dip switch's on the new GP40's can be now used to allow most lighting and the power pack to be used with other decoders such as Soundtraxx and TCS. 

kudos to ScaleTrains if true. 

Thank you for this.
Couldn't figure out the programming issue on my new SSW GP40.