Railsound Upgrade what is needed

[RRaddict]

I hope one of you all can clear some things up concerning adding Railsounds to a non Lionel locomotive. Does anyone know what exactly I need to purchase to have Railsounds in a locomotive, can I use the Railsounds with any E-unit installed in the locomotive already? The installations they have posted are about as clear as mud. Do I need to use their Cruise commander or TMCC boards to get Railsounds? Any help would be great.

Kevin

[dbaker48]

Kevin,

Would you consider an alternative solution...

I have a number of post war engines, both steam and diesel, a couple of them have "Sound of Steam".  I wanted to upgrade some of them with Railsounds, AND THEN......  Realized Lionel had some "Railsound" boxcars, 1 with steam, another with diesel sounds.  Hmmmm, if I had a set of those I could put the boxcar behind the tender, and would immediately have the sound effects.  So I got one of each, and have never regretted it.  Many, many times people have asked me how did I get that engine with sound, upgrade?  Then I tell them.  At the time the cars were going for $110 new, I saw one yesterday at a train meet that sold for $55.

The cars are pretty cool,  depending on which way you orient the car on the track, when the train moves forward you have the chug/steam (or diesel), when you back up the train the bell also sounds.  (Thats why you want to set the car on the track in the correct direction.)  Also, if the car is just setting on the track under power, the cab chatter will start.  You will also have independent whistle control from the transformer.  So it works well for engines you dont have an internal whistle.

Did I say that I like them?  Yep sure do !  And, look great on all the different engines I put them behind.

http://www.lionel.com/Products/Finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-49065&expandBranch=0&Keywords=Railsounds%20&CategoryID=0&RailLineID=&CatalogId=

[RRaddict]

This was my first course of action but I didn't like how the sound cut out sometimes or atleast it does on my laout and a friends. I normally would install a Protosound 1 setup but they are expensive and one wrong move and they are dead. Lionel products so far seem easier to work with. I did however discover a way to keep power going to the unit even if the power gets interupted. I have my eye on a couple of Diesel boxcars but the steamers are hard to find the last one went for over a hundred. I notice that all Lionel locomitives that  come in the RTR sets Diesel or Steam have a sensor by a wheel for the engine syncing up. but since the is zero information on railsound installation on the net except for the people that sell the RS system which is poor. I will stick with the Protosound stuff until I can get my mitts on a Boxcar. Thanks for the suggestion and I will give it another whirl. If you have interuption problems I will shoot you the plans to build the peice.

Kev

[BigAl 956]

I think the railsounds commander is what you are looking for:

http://www.electricrr.com/RailSoundCommander.htm