I got an interesting data point from someone from whom I purchased a decoder equipped H16-44. I was told that the "class lights" (the red and green lights) are actually not used very frequently on the prototype, and only in "emergencies". Since then, I haven't worried so much about ensuring that the decoder operates them. When it's time to install decoders on these locos, I might just go for NCE boards and not worry about it.
