Until I read your post I thought mine was 'dead'
I'll try hook mine up to my transformer that runs the power to my turntable tracks since they all have just one power feed.
Many Thanks!
It makes yer AF steamer slow down while simultaneously not sounding very good.
Pete
"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light." - Edward Abbey -
Timboy,
And it is such a bargain at $7.00, I think I will order one tonight.
George
The way it works is by superimposing an audio waveform representing the whistle sound on the 60-hertz AC voltage powering the train. The loudspeaker inside the tender is coupled to the track through a capacitor that more or less passes the higher audio frequencies while more or less blocking the low 60-hertz power waveform. That is why, when you try to use it with a modern "transformer" that puts out something other than a 60-hertz sinusoid, you hear all the strong audio harmonics in the modified waveform whenever there is voltage on the track.
Bob Nelson
George, you are so right. It is a real pain to wire in the unit to a layout with multiple blocks. It is doable, making sure that all of the leads from all of the "base posts" of all transformers go through the controler before they get to the track. If there is any other connection anywhere on the layout to the "base post rail", it won't work.
May I strongly suggest that if you have an engine with such a whistle unit in the tender (or in the B unit if you have a diesel) and you have already wired up your layout, that you try out the "whistle" using the 708 controler on test track before you rewire your layout. You may be surprized by the noice that comes out of your engine.
The Gilbert Air Chime Whistle, at best, is a little "anemic" and reminds me more of the battery powered horn I had on my bike in the 50's than a locomotive whistle. Also, if you have a "modern transformer", the whistle will make an annoying buzz that is even more irritating than the noise from the reversing unit.
There are some nice "after market" whistles that can be installed if you want a "real whistle" sound, or there is the old stand-by, the Whistling Billboard.
Little Tommy
Jim,
The 708 is a whistle controller for the whistle inside several of the AF steam locomotives. I have one and have used it for the whistle inside the 364 PA diesel, it also works for my 336 northern steam locomotive. The difficult part is, that it must be the only power feed to the track. So if you have multiple track feeds it doesn't work. I need to experiment with using the 708 wires to feed the buss line to the track. Hopefully others will chime in, pun intended, with better answers.
Could you post a pic?
I recently bought a 708 Air Chime Whistle out of curiousity. I looked it up in my books but I cannot find or figure out what it does. Can anyone provide some information about this please?
Thanks in advance!
Jim
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