I have this Stewart F7 that has an 8-pin socket. I'm trying to find a good decoder for this, preferable an ESU LokSound 5 Micro with pre-loaded sound file, but I seem unable to find this online. Any suggestions for this?
Stewart/Bowser? Here's one option —
https://www.bowser-trains.com/history/pschassis.html
The Loksound 5 Micro does have an 8 pin interface:
https://store.sbs4dcc.com/ESU58820LokSound5MicroNMRADCCSoundDecoder-NEM6528-pinWiredPlug.aspx
SBS, Tony's, Yankee Dabbler, Litchfield Station, et al, will load an F7 sound file for you at the time of purchase.
You could get the decoder and use a speaker of your choosing. The best speakers I've come across are those offered by Scale Sound Systems:
https://www.scalesoundsystems.com/rectify
Good Luck, Ed
Glad you like those speakers, too, Ed. I installed two boiler-barkers in-parallel in my brass 2-6-6-2 Mallet and they sound terrific! And, not only is the proprietor/designer of the enclosers (JT) a sound engineer, he's also local guy (Mansfield). Always happy to support a fellow Ohioan.
Chris, I just checked the Scale Sound Systems (SSS) website and JT has a drop in speaker/encloser for the Stewart F-units:
https://www.scalesoundsystems.com/product-page/stewart-f-units
From that photo it looks like it's installed in one of the older Stewart F-units. You could contact SSS and ask JT if that speaker enclosure will work in your particular F7.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I didn't realize Stewart's had a DCC plug in them, unless it was the last runs before Steve Stewart sold the line to Bowser.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I have a handful of Stewart FTs & F3s and the photo of the board in Chris' F7 above is representative of the ones in mine. I have all my Stewart F-units equipped with TCS MC2P motor-only decoders so I take advantage of the 8-pin NMRA socket.
I think my Stewarts are from the late 80's / early 90's runs. I'll have to take a look to see if they have the DCC socket. I don't think the early ones had it but I'll check. I assume I would have to use the circuit board style decoders which is fine.