By: Denny

I built an HO scale train layout in one room in my basement several years ago. As of this writing I have acquired 27 diesel locomotive train engines and 110 cars. I don’t have room for all of the locomotives on the layout, so a few are packed away in their original boxes. I also don’t need that many engines, and I’m in the process of selling those I’m not using. I bought many of my locomotives pretty cheap as projects, converting them from the old-style Analog/DC and upgrading them to DCC so I could run them on my layout. It’s complicated to explain, but every DCC locomotive has a small computer module called the “decoder” that receives radio type wave signals from the handheld controller. Every engine is given its own unique electronic identity called a “long  address”, which makes it possible to run multiple trains at the same time at different speeds and directions providing you have more than one main line track, which I have two. I also have 7 separate locomotive sidings where I can park them when not being used. I try to run each one on a rotating basis from time-to-time. My favorite ones are equipped with factory sound decoders and small speakers that emit realistic locomotive sounds such as engine turbos, horns, bells, squealing brakes, dispatch radio communications, and other sounds. I have a separate track hooked to a computer with a program that enables me to adjust the various sound levels, as well as speed and lighting effects. Every decoder, even those without sound must first be programmed before they can be run.

The other day I had been running #632 a Great Northern GP7 locomotive pulling a 20-car hopper train. I decided to switch engines and fired up #2524 a U28 locomotive which is sound equipped. I let it idle on a sidetrack while unhooking #632 and parked it on another siding. #2524 has great sound effects. The turbo whistled loudly as the motor revs increased. The horn blared to announce its movement in the yard while the bell rang continuously. The couplers locked as the engine hooked to the lead car. I reversed direction and pushed the button to increase the forward speed and it just died. I mean there was no sound, the lights went out, and it wouldn’t move at all. I tried resetting the decoder and reprogramming the address, but it wouldn’t respond at all. As computers sometimes do, the decoder had crashed and was fried. In other words, the locomotive was useless unless I installed a new decoder. Good sound decoders are expensive ranging from $100 upwards. An original factory replacement decoder for this U28 was no longer available, and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money installing another brand of sound decoder. For $21.00 I could install a basic non-sound decoder and the engine would be back in operation, but it’s not that simple. The old decoder first had to be removed, which was the easy part. Once the outside body was off all I had to do was unplug the 7 wired socket connections and unscrew 4 tiny screws which hold it in place. This might be boring and too technical, but stay with me because I’m leading up to a point. I ordered a new decoder which would take several days to arrive. It comes with a color coded 7-wire plug which can be removed from the decoder while installing it. I had an extra wired plug on hand, so I was able to connect the wires where they needed to go. All the wires are very tiny and needed to be cut to the right length and the ends stripped back about 1/4 inch by removing the plastic outside sheathing from the wires, which is easily done with fingernails. Every connection had to be soldered and covered with heat shrink tubing. I also replaced the old lights with new brighter LED’s requiring soldering in tiny resistors. With everything in place and wired correctly, when the new decoder arrived the only thing I would have to do is plug it in, program the decoder, and power up the locomotive,  giving new life to an engine that just died.

 Ephesians 2:1 “And you he made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Here is my point: We all are like that dead engine on life’s railroad. As a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, sin entered the soul of mankind and we just died spiritually. We were condemned to a hopeless eternity separated from God. Our decoders and relationship with God had crashed and fried. We needed a new decoder. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus is that new decoder that can make you spiritually alive again. You only need to believe and receive him. Allow God to do a complete heart change by removing the old dead decoder that separates you from him. There are things in your life that need to be stripped away and laid open much like a wire so you can be soldered to him. He will give you new lights that shine brightly. Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.” Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in  Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Wouldn’t you rather be doing and being what God created you for, than sitting on some abandoned railroad siding of life rusting away with no life, no hope, no joy, no peace, and no useful eternal purpose. You can if you surrender your life to Jesus and allow him to bring you new life. Jesus is the decoder, and the Holy Spirit interprets and opens your heart to receive the signal God is sending to you, through his word the Bible. Even though you may have a new decoder, namely Jesus, you still need to be reprogrammed with a new identity. Revelation 2:17b “And I will give him a white stone, and on this stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” Jesus is coming back again, and it may be sooner than we think. The train of opportunity to accept Christ as your savior is waiting at the station and the Holy Spirit is calling “All Aboard!” Once Jesus returns the train will pull out and never return. Will today be the day you get on board? What are you waiting for? The fare was paid for you by Jesus at the cross of Calvary.