I am quite happy with those Tsunamis from Soundtraxx - the sound is fantastic and the running characteristics also suit me fine.
Tsunami decoders are probably the way to go. They have really good sound effects, far more than you're looking for. Make sure you get the decoders with the extra "function outputs" to control your ditch lights. They don't all have them, but most of their current decoders support ditch lights. Here's a link to the capabilities of various Tsunamis:
http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/tsuchart.php
My only concern is fitting the decoders and speakers into the locomotives. A Tsunami is one of the larger decoders on the market. I put one in an older Proto GP9, which was not designed for sound. It took a lot of cutting and filing to remove enough weight to get the decoder and speaker into the engine. The results, though, were worth it.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MILW-RODR I would most likely use a Digitrax Zephry for DCC control and a second power booster (if needed)
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
I use the Tsunami and LokSound diesel decoders. They are great for motor control, Bemf and lighting effects. LokSound seems to have more prime mover options than the Tsunami.
I have the LokSound Micro for a Spectrum 44 ton and 70 ton. The standard Tsunami for a couple Baldwin VO-1000.
The online seller I buy from, programs the LokSound with the appropriate prime mover sound.
You can find the decoder documents on the Internet along with prime mover sounds.
I use the NCE Power Cab and have no issues for programming, although, JMRI with a laptop is the real easy way to for programming the deocoders as sometimes, you have to modify quite a few CV's.
Do a Google search for the decoders and JMRI.
I could post four different decoder online sellers I know of but it might upset the "powers to be".
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.
Would a yard switcher have ditch lights, since they are never intended to venture out onto the main line? A flashing beacon on the cab roof would probably be more likely.
I have a couple GE 44 ton with LokSound Micro and a flashing beacon on the center of the roof. The locos start at about 1 mph with speed step one using the 128 option. About the best that I could get.
MILW-RODR I would like the prime mover sounds to increase/decrease with the locomotive speed but manual control of the revs is unneccasry.
There was a recent thread where the poster was disappointed because the sound seemed to lag the motor speed with the Tsunami. For example, the loco would start to move before the motor sound started. Of course, that was one person's disappointment, but the thread is here if you are interested: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/169998.aspx
maxmanMILW-RODR I would like the prime mover sounds to increase/decrease with the locomotive speed but manual control of the revs is unneccasry. There was a recent thread where the poster was disappointed because the sound seemed to lag the motor speed with the Tsunami. For example, the loco would start to move before the motor sound started. Of course, that was one person's disappointment, but the thread is here if you are interested: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/169998.aspx
I have a couple Stewart VO-1000 locos with the Tsunami and no problem with that issue. I belong to the SoundTraxx DCC forum where there is a lot of discussion of the Tsunami decoders with many solutions.
Here's a pic of the internals:
Before I do anything though I have to re-solder wires to the motor leads. They were not put on very well and gave no resistance when I first pulled off the body when I bought the engine (to see if it was indeed DCC equiped). The leads themselves are fine, just need to solder some wire to them. I may not use this engine though. You may notice all the hand railings are off and that's because last summer I took them off so I could give this locomotive to our neighbors who is very talented at painting and give it an artists touch. I finally took it back after 6 months (this pic was taken last nite by the by) and now I can't find any of the side railings, end railings, fuel tank/air resevoir detail, and the screws that hold it all together. I still have them, just not sure where they have been put. I hope to find them or be able to find replacements, I've really grown to like the B23's. If I do get all these pieces I do plan to detail this puppy to match ATSF prototypes and then at the least patch it out for my layout's railroad, or repaint it all (there is a modeler in the forums named cazanar IIRC that has a paint scheme I really really like).
I have nerve had a Tsunami but I know people here at the site love them. I do have 2 sound engines with Loksound 3.5 and they are great! Best BMEF of all my engines. My Y6-b will creep with a 60 car drag up a 1.5 percent grade.
You might look at them as well Plus here is a link to a very good Internet dealer.
http://www.ulrichmodels.biz/servlet/StoreFront
Steve, the owner can all so program sound files for Loksound and other decoders. I meet Steve on E-Bay and have bought over the phone as well. Customer services is second to none! I bought a Blue-line off E-Bay from him, had problems! There was no send it to BLI for warranty, he took it back and sent a replacement. Then I had a problem with a loksound decoder, he sent me a new one while I still had the old defective one!
Give him a try and telling him Cuda Ken sent you.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust