Lionel MPC 8206 Hudson/tender

[sir james I]

Disconnect the speaker and it can't make any sound.

[jscola30]

Spoke too soon again, yes indeed the sound is still there even when you unplug the connection, though it does stop sometimes. I think I'll just deal with it, and if I find an inexpensive, no sound tender that's similar I'll get it.

[jscola30]

Looks like when I unplugged it the first time, I mistook the speaker going on for the train sounding. I just tried it now and it doesn't really sound at all (thank goodness). This year I am thankful for being able to run my O gauge trains again and for acquiring a Hudson (though 700E it may not be!).

[ADCX Rob]

jscola30

I have tried to unplug and there is still sound.

To cut out the SOS noise entirely, and temporarily, remove the center rail roller/collector(if equipped with a whistle) from the tender truck as well as disconnecting the wire.  It just snaps back in when you want to restore it.  This disables the whistle too(as does cutting the speaker wire).

[jscola30]

I have tried to unplug and there is still sound.

[tjl0824]

Not plugging in the tender would be the easiest solution, plus it requires no modifications. The connection between the engine and tender is not necessary for operation.

A friend of mine who was an official Lionel dealer and service station back in the 70's (look him up on your service station sheets, Classic Train Parts in NY) told me a story about how the sound in 3 out of every 4 of these engines didn't work straight out of the box. So it's not uncommon to have problems with the sound in an 8206.

Trevor

[ADCX Rob]

To stop the chuff of the SOS(Sound-Of-Steam), simply unplug the wire at its connector between the engine and tender.

To cut out the SOS noise entirely, and temporarily, remove the center rail roller/collector(if equipped with a whistle) from the tender truck as well as disconnecting the wire.  It just snaps back in when you want to restore it.  This disables the whistle too(as does cutting the speaker wire).

[sir james I]

There is no on/off, you would have to cut a speaker wire and put one in. Or find the power wire to the board and put one there.

OR if it has a wire between engine and tender just unplug it.

[jscola30]

So after getting back into the hobby, I finally have a Hudson, not a 700E (I have O27 track anyway) but a humble 8206 Hudson. I must say, while not the 700E, I think it is a nice looking engine and a good runner. I understand it is a reissue of the #665. The only small downside is the sound (which I didn't get to hear at the show when I bought it, probably wouldn't have noticed given the large room the show was in).  It is a little grating, but after all this was decades before railsounds. I can't seem to find an on/off switch/tried disconnecting it, still sounds. Is there one? Or should I try to find a similar, non sound tender and if so, what number is it?