Thanks for the response Becky, but if you've got any Flyers don't dissect them on my account to find out what makes the "choo-choo!" I don't need to know that badly!
It has to do with the smoke bellows, but I couldn't find any online diagrams of exactly how it does what it does.
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Just how did Flyer locomotives make that "choo-choo" sound anyway? Was it a side-effect of the smoke system bellows, or was there some kind of mechanical sound system in there? I've been curious for a while now after seeing vintage Flyer layouts at train shows.
LL675 Sometimes simple is the best.
Sometimes simple is the best.
I totally agree. I got back into toy trains when TMCC was the newest rage. I bought several TMCC engines. When MTH DCS came out, I bought some of those and when Legacy came out, I bought some more. When the electonics started to fail, my enthusiasm waned. I could not repair the circuit boards myself and the cost of replacement electonics was high.
I slowly started accumulating more conventional engines, mainly Williams and postwar. My electonic engines now are almost exclusively shelf queens. I only run them occasionally to exercise the electronics.
Yes indeed! Simple is the best...
Sometimes simple is the best. I came home from work the other day after a busy day. Headed to the basement, and turned my 226E on, and sat down to watch it. In no time I was napping to the sounds of the tinplate music.
My MTH PSS M1a with Proto 2 never did that. And I've fallen asleep to the tinplate running under the Christmas Tree.
Dave
It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody from Toy Story)
RedfireS197 I'm going to have to go with postwar Flyer here:
I'm going to have to go with postwar Flyer here:
Ah, the 'Choo-Choo' sound. The only thing missing from your video is the sweet cedar smell of the American Flyer smoke fluid.
Flyer's Diesel Roar seems to always get overlooked though.
I'll take these any day over circuit boards that fail for third time just out of warranty.
Jim
Sometimes I wonder if the subliminal sounds of toy trains have more of an influence than we realize.
Case in point, I've got a Lionel 224. Just a basic 2-6-2 steam engine, no frills, but when I played a DVD I shot of the same the camera's mike picked up a very distinctive "hissssss" as the train circled the track, it sounded just like escaping steam. I didn't hear it but the camera sure did! Makes you wonder.
My favorite sound of any of my other engines has to be the PS2 system on my MTH 611, great full-blooded whistle and engine noises. I just love it!
On the other hand, there's something pleasant and nostalgic about the plain old Lionel post-war air whistles. Very charming to listen to.
And I'll never understand those who don't like the sound of the Lionel E-unit, to me that's part of the fun. That buzz before the action starts is like a double-drum roll before a band starts playing, it's the promise of something great's about to happen.
I always thought if you combined Lionel's magnetraction and whistle with a Marx smoke unit and American Flyer Choo-Choo in a die cast shell you'd have a perfect locomotive. No circuit boards required. Unless you want reverse, then today's electronics are far superior (in most cases) to mechanical E-units.
When I saw the subject heading I immediately thought, "American Flyer's choo-choo." Turns out I was right! <G>
Pete
"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light." - Edward Abbey -
Actually, I am including the modern era trains. Yes, the modern trains do sound more realistic, but when I hear the sound of an American Flyer 'Choo-Choo', it brings a smile to my face and many happy memories.
Earl
Depends if your just talking postwar Flyer had the only sound. Marx tried but it wasn't good. The Flyer sound will always be in our memory banks but todays sounds far exceeds the choo-choo.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
For me, the American Flyer 'Choo-Choo' sound system wins hands down. The 'Choo-Choo' sound is very pleasing to listen to and the reliability of the sound system is unsurpassed.
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