digital dynamics train brain?

[Anonymous]

I recently aquired a mixed box of command control electronics.

Two are confusing me because I'm not sure what I can use them for. The first is a Digital Dynamics "Train Brain". It was in a box with a 1999 postmark. There is a handwritten "DC 3.40" on top of the largest chip. I guess I could call Digital Dynamics on Monday, but I'm dying to know what it is good for. I've recently gotten in to Lionel's TMCC but i have a number of loco's that are not command controlled. Since this says it's for DC motors, do you think I can use it on an MTH proto-1 system?

In another box was a chip that had "cows" handwritten on it. The chip looks like an eeprom that would fit on the train brain board, but it came in another box, so I'm not sure they are even related.


Any direction would be appreciated.

[ben10ben]

I can't help you on the first board. I can tell you, though, that Digital Dynamics is open tomorrow from 12:00 to 6:00, so you could call tomorrow if you would like.

I think it was QSI that made an animal sounds board to be installed in stock cars. It had a sensor designed it such a way that it would activate the animal sounds whenever the car was handled too roughly. It sounds like the chip you have may have come off of one of those boards.

[wrmcclellan]

A couple of vendors offered a boxcar with cows mooing anytime the car was handled roughly. I wonder if that is the sound chip?

[nblum]

The Train Brain is Ed Bender's early version of a TMCC board. It was, I believe, reverse engineered and sold from about 1996 or 1997 until he became a licensee for TMCC as Digital Dynamics a few years later. I have two locos, a Williams E60 and an MTH GG1 that he converted for me with the Train Brain that work fine. Ed is a great guy to deal with in my experience.

[Anonymous]

Neil,

This train brain board doesn't operate any sound features does it? Can you control your bell and whistle?

[nblum]

I'm pretty sure the Train Brain had the capability of controlling electronic whistles, bells and horns, but it's been years since I operated these locos, so Ed would be the best person to contact, by email probably.

[nblum]

Just checked my E60 after maybe five or six years of storage. Works just fine, has both electric prime mover sounds and operating horn, no bell, which is probably the way it came from Williams.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the input, it looks like I'll save it until I run across a Williams or an MTH with no sound. Until then it will sit on the shelf.