I am about to put a Walthers doodlebug into service on my shortline. To do this I need to add a decoder and was considering sound. I don't know if these emitted any sounds although about 20 years ago I saw what I'm guessing was a Sperry railcar operating on the old Pennsy line on the west side of Columbus, Oh. My memory is that it was fairly quiet and I'm guessing the same would be true of a doodlebug. I'm thinking it should have a bell and a horn.
Second question. At the end of the short line there is a short stretch of street running. Would the bell be sounded as the bug travels down a street?
The doodlebug has an engine about the same as a big truck engine (for the 1920's), with no turbocharger or dynamic brakes. Something like a GE 44 tonner would be close if you can't find a doodlebug sound chip.
It would have a bell and a horn.
It probably would ring the bell when operating on a street.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
At the time most Doodlebugs were manufactured, most heavy highway trucks had spark ignited engines. Compression ignited engines were usually used mostly in rural Western areas at that time.
I think this is why many Doodlebug models are referred to as "Gas Electric" in the descriptions. I cannot say for certain.
Anyway... Spark ignited engines sound very different from compression ignition. Using a sound chip from any diesel powered locomotive would not give the correct sound for such a power plant.
However... no one who ever sees your layout will know what it is really supposed to sound like.
I would, as Dave suggested, start with a GE 44 tonner sound chip. Then I would fiddle with the speaker and enclosure to alter the sound output just a bit. It might turn out OK.
Then again... it might be a waste of time. If, like me, you find this kind of experimentation fun, then try it out a see what happens.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Gas-electrics could be either gasoline or diesel powered, with one or two engines. I think they would make "engine" sounds, though probably not Fierce Big ones.
The one I put sound in used twin gasoline engines. I chose the Tsunami "dual Whitcomb" for mine. I felt it had the softer "gasoline" sound.
I think the bell was supposed to be sounded during street running. Whether it WAS would be another thing.
Ed
Thanks for the replies.
One more question occurred to me. Were these ever equipped with motorman controls at the rear so they could be run in reverse or would they always have to be turned at the end of each run?
John-NYBW Thanks for the replies. One more question occurred to me. Were these ever equipped with motorman controls at the rear so they could be run in reverse or would they always have to be turned at the end of each run?
Yes.
The one I'm modeling had controls at both ends. And a bell at both ends, too. It did not have a passenger compartment, though; it was baggage only.
I think the "double enders" were rather unusual, though.
For a gas-electric with a passenger compartment, entry is "always" through a vestibule at the rear. This would seem to disallow space for the control system at that location.
HOWEVER.
Looking at pictures of the Walthers model, I see there is indeed room for a control setup between the car end and the loading door. And there are windows facing "backwards". I do suspect that was done to allow for control location there.
If you do that, I recommend an additional bell and horn at that end.
And a headlight. And a "cowcatcher".
ANOTHER HOWEVER.
I've found Great Northern diagrams for two gas-electrics that are remarkably close to the Walthers model--main difference appears to be in the radiator/exhaust setup. And this, being a drawing, might not exactly represent the prototype.
The numbers are GN 2320 and 2321. 2321 seems to have had some windows blanked.
Both are powered by a single 220 HP 6 cylinder gasoline engine. I imagine a diesel could have been fitted, if desired.
Regarding the "rear" control area: both cars show a "seat" at each of the rear corners--no controls are shown. But I think it would have been easy, with this design layout, to place them in the usual location.
Here is a gorgeous shot of GN 2320:
I've ridden two Gas-Electrics in my day. The venerable M-1 on the East Broad Top and the ERIE 5012 at the Ohio Railway Museum.
Erie_5012_MC by Edmund, on Flickr
I have recordings of the M-1 but no easy way to post them here but I'm sure you can find YouTube videos of it.
EBT_M1 by Edmund, on Flickr
On my ride in the M1, I was standing right next to the Brill 250 power plant. It was a cold, February night in 1976 and the exhaust manifold was glowing orange with an inviting feeling of warmth.
You might want to consider the "Galloping Goose" sound file offered by ESU:
http://projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/18?type=misc&order=date
Soundtraxx has a Galloping Goose file, too, but to me it doesn't sound all that pleasant. At least with the ESU you can replace the sound project if a newer one is released, which they say they are planning to do for the V.5, if you have access to a LokProgrammer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5XcMllA_rI
You have me thinking of doing the very same thing on one of the doodlebugs I have on the layout.
Regards, Ed
I lived in north Columbus for 35 years and I still bowl at Capri Lanes twice a week about a half mile from the Ohio Railway Museum. The past couple years our bowling alley has been on restricted hours due to COVID so I don't get into Columbus much these days. I have never visited the museum although I've driven by it a few times but for some reason I never looked into making a visit.
Do they still run their equipment, specifically their doodlebug? I've driven under their bridge over Dublin-Granville Rd countless times but I have never seen anything passing over it.
UPDATE: I just watched the video of the two Pennsy doodlebugs. It answered my question as to whether they could be run in reverse. I have a turntable at one end of the shortline and plan to install one on the other end so I'll probably turn my bug and run it forward but it's nice to know I have the option of running it in reverse.
John-NYBWDo they still run their equipment, specifically their doodlebug?
Last time I was there it was running but that was in 1968. I seem to recall some mention of activities there in recent times but haven't really followed.
http://www.ohiorailwaymuseum.org/info_events.php
Good Luck, Ed
While my doodlebug, The "BEE....
...is strictly DC, the sound of its motor does have a remarkable similarity to that of a piston engine. While it also has a bell and 3-chime air horn, my imagination easily fills in those sounds.
What's even more remarkable is it's pulling capabilities, as shown by the following photos (please excuse the mess - the partial upper level is still under construction)...
I'd rate the BEE as being pretty capable, as she easily hauled the 20 car train shown - not bad for only one powered truck, eh?
I am pretty sure that the old bag can move more tonnage than that, too (although it would likely look even more unusual doing so).
Wayne
7j43kGas-electrics could be either gasoline or diesel powered
Before diesels, they went through a stage where gasoline was too expensive and their spark ignition engines ran on "distillate" - a grade of kerosene
What Is Distillate Fuel? (utahrails.net)
North American distillate is broadly described as a fuel with heavier molecular weight than gasoline, and similar to or lighter than kerosene or No. 1 fuel oil. However, both usage of the term and formulation of the product varied widely. Octane ratings varied similarly, between 33 and 45.[1][2]
Early tractors were offered with kerosene or gasoline-powered engines. Beginning in 1925, distillate-powered versions were offered, persisting until 1956, when the last "all-fuel" tractors were sold, while diesel-fueled tractors increased in popularity. Kerosene-engined tractors were phased out by 1934. Distillate fuel was used in machines with specific provisions for distillate, as well as all-fuel tractors which could handle kerosene, gasoline or distillate. Tractors designed for distillate could operate on gasoline, and were usually started with gasoline, but since they operated at a much lower compression ratio than gasoline-engined models, they developed less power on gasoline and had to be warmed up before they could switch to distillate. Compression ratios for distillate could be about 4.7:1, while gasoline engines would run at 7:1 or more. Such machines were provided with small gasoline tanks for starting and warming up. However, distillate was often substantially less expensive than gasoline in farming regions, either because it was a less-refined product or because it was taxed at a lower rate or untaxed. "Power fuel" was a higher grade product that was somewhat short of gasoline in effectiveness.[1][3]
Distillate was withdrawn from the market as cheaper and higher-grade gasoline and diesel fuels reached the markets. In time, "distillate" came to describe lighter fractions of diesel and fuel oil, with "No. 1 distillate" and "No. 2 distillate" referring to the lighter fractions of both products, albeit with different characteristics between fuel oil and diesel fuel.[4]