How to convert N Gauge Peco Jubilee to DCC

This guide covers the Peco Jubilee models:

• Peco Jubilee 5XP 4-6-0 in LMS black (unnumbered) (NL-21)

It may also be suitable for other models with a similar chassis and motor arrangement made Peco or Rivarossi. This model is based on a very old tooling from circa 1969. Track pickup is via wheels on one side of the loco, transmitted to the tender via the tender pin. The other pickup comes from the opposite side of the tender, transmitted through the tender chassis itself. The two metal contacts touch the two motor contacts.

There is not quite enough room in the tender for the decoder, so you can either run four wires back to the footplate and hide it in there, or you can mill some of the motor housing away to make room.

Step 1 - Disassemble Tender

Turn the tender upside down and remove the two screws nearest the loco end. Pop off the tender body.

Take the two screws out from the top which are holding the motor in. Remove the motor.

Release the motor housing from the frame by removing the remaining two screws underneath.

Step 3 - Mill Chassis

Take out the two cogs before performing the milling.

Remove both upright parts of the motor housing from the loco end. If you have a larger decoder, you can alternatively mill the flat section at the non-loco end.

Drill and tap a hole at the top of the motor housing. Fix a soldering tab to the chassis with a screw into this new hole.

Refit the large and small cogs, then mount the motor casing back on the chassis and replace the two screws underneath

Step 4 - Modify Motor

Put some kapton tape between the springy contact on one side of the motor, and then some more over the contact itself. It shouldn't be able to make electrical contact with the motor casing, or the motor housing when refitted.

Cut off the contact tab so only a small stub remains.

Refit the motor.

At this point check that there is no continuity between any part of the chassis, and the two motor contacts.

Step 5 - Fit Decoder

Solder the decoder wires. Connect the track power stub to the black wire. Connect the red wire to the new solder tab added at the rear of the motor housing. Connect the orange/grey wires to the two motor contacts.

Add some kapton tape around the decoder and use some black tack to stick it to the motor housing.

Refit the tender body, and the conversion is complete.