Hi
I'm repairing this little 2-6-0 and I'm trying to find an economical decoder for it. I looked at Tonys' Trains and Litchfield and found only diesels. It may be that I don't know how to use the search function.anyway any help would be appreciated.
Lee
yankee flyerHiI'm repairing this little 2-6-0 and I'm trying to find an economical decoder for it. I looked at Tonys' Trains and Litchfield and found only diesels. It may be that I don't know how to use the search function.anyway any help would be appreciated. Lee
The Litchfield site has many diesel and steam options. Look carefully and click on the selection option . Take your time.
You did not mention brand, approximate age of loco, scale of loco? Is it DCC ready?
I use the Micro Tsunami in my Roundhouse and Spectrum steamers. 4-4-0, 2-6-0, 2-8-0, 4-6-0.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Try Ulrich Models Hobby Store in Colorado. Click on Soundtraxx Sound Decoders in the left-hand column. Then scroll down to the Tsunami steam selection(s).
http://www.ulrichmodels.biz/servlet/StoreFront
Also check out Empire Northern Models in Webster, New York:
http://www.empirenorthern.com/category/MS15/Soundtraxx-Tsunami-Steam/1.html
Here's a link to the Tsunami decoders on Litchfield Station's web site.
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/product.php?productid=999003036&cat=116&page=1
Price is one of my problems. The loco is HO and I thought I had seen sound decoders for less than $50.Since it is not a high dollar unit I would like to keep the price down.
Thanks
Only an MRC or Digitrax SoundFX can be had for that price. Both have some drawbacks -- MRC has major problems with reliability and Digitrax has weak volume.
I put a SoundTraxx Sound Only decoder into an HO scale IHC 2-6-0 Mogul that had electrical pickups on the tender trucks for a backup light and no connections to the locomotive. The loco got a separate TCS T-1 in the boiler. Getting the sound synchronized with the drive wheels was a major PITA, though. If I had to do it over, I'd use miniature magnets on the tender wheels and a reed switch connected to the sound decoder's chuff trigger lead.
Digitrax does have a new line of low-end sound-and-motor decoders. I haven't tried one myself, or even seen or heard one. From what I've read here, though, the N-scale ones have weak volume and they don't sound very good. The HO-scale ones are OK. The difference is in the size.
Anyway, you should easily get the HO one in the tender of your 2-6-0. These decoders come with speakers, but one low-cost improvement you can make is a better speaker.
But, heed David's words, too. I bought an IHC Mikado at a show for a great price last year, and ended up spending more for a Tsunami than I did for the engine. And you know what? It was worth it.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.