Sound on a Club Layout: WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!

[BRVRR]

Sound makes it all seem real! As long as it is not too loud, sound enhances the whole model railroading experience. I'm in the process of changing over to sound. Maybe add an under table system. Just too many F7's to put sound into.
A couple of steamers and an F7, all with sound, on the layout with the lights out and I'm back in my childhood.

[twhite]

Hey, since my first BLI steamer, I like sound so much I'm waiting for some of the BLI cattle cars to come out so that I can chuff and moo at the same time--or oink, whichever sounds neater. Count me in--I've even invested in a Soundtraxx under-the layout speaker system for my non-sound locos. It's VERY cool!
Tom [}:)][}:)][}:)]

[Fergmiester]

I have to admit, Bob (Teffy) hooked me on sound and it is a wonderful thing as it brings everything alive. Eventually everything I own will be "wired for sound".

Fergie

[johncolley]

I agree 100%! Sound, properly adjusted, makes me WANT to operate realistically! Now, when I visit other's layouts and they don't have it I miss it! The only problem I have now is finding enough interested kids to parcel out about a dozen or so analog locos to. I have a lot of later era to dispose of since I have settled on modelling GN in 1947/48 and am gradually building up my fleet.

[MidlandPacific]

Antonio,

I had the same experience when I first saw Howard Zane's layout: I had always thought of sound as something loud and intrusive, but he did a great job with it; at one point we were talking and I suddenly heard the sound of escaping steam behind me; one of the stopped locomotives had "popped off." I think that sort of continual, low-level thing, as well as the proper volume, really completes the effect.

regards,

Rob

[Anonymous]

Sounds like quite an experience, Antonio! Sound equppied locos tend to sound better on a large layout with lots of space for the sound to reverberate.

[hminky]

Sound is cool, aint' it. Once you have it you will never view your trains the same. I had Onboard analog sound back in the eighties. Even those old AHM steam sound cars were an improvement over just running in silence.
Long live sound
Harold

[AntonioFP45]

On January 30th I went with two close friends to visit the Suncoast Model Railroad Club in Largo, Florida. We had first visited last spring, 2004, and enjoyed the friendly members and the club's beautiful layout.

Check out this link: http://www.suncoastmrrc.com/contact_info.html

This time, we found some very impressive changes. After much debate the club has switched over to DCC (NCE). There were a number of "Sound Equipped" locomotives pulling long trains on the layout including a BLI UP SD40-2, a BLI NYC E7 hauling a gorgeous brass streamliner and a BLI Pennsy E7 hauling a classy Tuscan Red Heavy Weight passenger train.

What a difference! Unlike some posts that I've read on this forum about sound equipped locomotives being annoying on a club layout, this was quite the opposite. The sound ENHANCED and COMPLEMENTED the club's session. Just as in real life, trains could be heard blowing horns and whistles in the distance. Barely audible were "Brake Squeals". You can only hear the sounds of "Prime Movers" when the units were within 5 feet of you.

One very special bonus that I heard for the very first time was the BLI's "Doppler Effect". Was a real attention getter as the pitch of an SD40-2's horn changed suddenly as it passed by me. The young man operating her apparently liked my surprised, smile laden reaction! [swg][tup]

Guys, IMHO, the sounds were not annoying..........but quite refreshing! [:D]These guys did it right! [;)] They had the volumes adjusted just enough to convey distance instead of "Blasting them" in a "who's the loudest" contest. The overall effect reminded me of being outside and while talking to my neighbor, I could hear trains on the CSX mainline two miles distant from my house.

After having experienced this, I definetly would recommend that clubs that don't have sound.....try it! If the levels are controlled sound IMHO is like having dessert with a good meal! [dinner]

Cheers and High Greens![8)]