HI,
I'M THINKING OF PURCHASING THE USA DOCKSIDE STEAM ENGINE. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE UNIT? PRO OR CON?
THANK YOU, JOHN
It's heavy, well built, has a crappy sound system, and puffing smoke.
Strange electronics inside, if you are going to put DCC or similar, you would probably rip out the boards.
See my web page on the docksider: http://www.elmassian.com/trains-mainmenu-27/motive-power-mods-aamp-tips-mainmenu-35/usat-motive-power-mainmenu-36/docksider
Regards, Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
Good stuff on your web site Greg and well documented!
Winnegance and Quebec Railway
Eric Schade Gen'l Manager
HI GREG,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMPORTANT IMPUT TO MY INQUIRES. AFTER VISITING YOUR WEBSITE AND VIEWING AND ESPECIALLY LISTENING TO THE STEAM-ENGINES SOUND, I WAS ENLIGHTENIED IN MY DECISION OF NOT EXPENDING THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING WHICH YOU SAID, "SOUNDED LIKE BEING IN A SHOOTING GALLERY."
I WONDER TO MYSELF, WHAT USA TRAINS WAS THINKING, PUTTING A SOUND CARD LIKE THAT INTO WHAT IS A PRETTY NICE ENGINE?
AGAIN, THANK YOU.
JOHN
Greg,
Excellent information about the Docksider. I have been eyeing one of these, but am now having second thoughts --
The poor sound seems to my ear to be caused by too high a volume setting. Is it adjustable? From your review, it seems not; and a poorly baffled speaker. If I do decide to get one, I'll try to put Phoenix and a better speaker into it.
There was a trimpot that did adjust the volume, but the sound unit is just plain miserable at any volume. Very surprising that they made their own board, but I guess the selling price was not high enough to use a Phoenix, which is their normal choice in their die-cast locos.
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