I have all sorts of Ho scale trains some old some new. I usually only use the HO stuff around Christmas time as I have a layout for under the Christmas tree in HO. I have several newer loco's, most are Proto 2000 (2) GP9's, (1) GP7 & I have an old Bachman BQ23-7 with a U23b chassis under it from atlas, IHC Hudson Steam Loco. that I run the most & I am sure there are more loco's I am forgetting, I believe the Atlas and Proto's are all DCC ready.
I guess my question would be is it worth it for me to convert my stuff to DCC for the little bit of time it gets its use? I am basically looking to build a new layout for my first house which will go under the Christmas tree and consist of 1 oval and 1 twice around. To make the layout more enjoyable I would like to add engine sounds, horn/whistle sounds, as well as crossing gate sounds, bells, etc...
Does anyone make just sound units you can put in a DC loco or can someone recommend something similar that is external from a loco but hooks up to the throttle for realistic engine speed sounds, and has triggers to set off crossing gate sounds, etc... I have never used sound before and I think it would make it much more exiting.
Thanks for any help or advice on my quest for sound.
Hi Chessie System,
MRC makes a separate sound system, one of them has steam engine sounds, the other has diesel engine sounds. It hooks up separate and has a speaker you can mount somewhere ( under layout, or wherever convenient) and has small keypad controller for accessing the different sounds.It costs about 50 to 60 dollars.Converting an HO engine to DCC would cost you the price of a DCC system 250 to 300 plus dollars, plus each engine converted to DCC with sound would cost more.The only alternative for DCC for just a layout under or around a Christmas tree, you could buy a Bachmann Easy Command system , they sell for around 69 to 79 dollars, and are easy to use, will easily run two or three trains, but then again, you'd have to put DCC decoders in each engine you wish to run.Just DCC decoders alone wouldn't be expensive, but when you add DCC with sound, then decders with sound cost more
These don't make crossing gate sounds, however there is another sound system made that has city sounds, another has country sounds, thunderstorm, rain, etc.
For just Christmas time use, I'd just add an externally controlled sound system if it were me.
Hope this helps.
TheK4Kid
Ted M.
got trains?™
See my photos at: http://tedmarshall.rrpicturearchives.net/
Chessie System wrote:To make the layout more enjoyable I would like to add engine sounds, horn/whistle sounds, as well as crossing gate sounds, bells, etc...Does anyone make just sound units you can put in a DC loco or can someone recommend something similar that is external from a loco but hooks up to the throttle for realistic engine speed sounds, and has triggers to set off crossing gate sounds, etc... I have never used sound before and I think it would make it much more exiting.
This particular one is the "bottom" of the line. They also make a "mini-sound" and a "sound system II", which are much better.
Thanks for the information guys. I did some researching yesterday after making my post and I kept seeing Tony's train exchange pop up for this subject, so I gave him a call to ask his opinion on what's best for my setup. He told me to wait until 2008 because sometime in January QS1 is suppose to release a new sound module that will plug into any DCC ready atlas, proto 2000, etc... DC loco's directional lighting board via the 8 or 9 pin connector. Then all I would have to do is purchase the quantum controller, and the sound modules for the loco's that part is suppose to retail around $60 per module he said. So I think I will wait for these units as it seems to be the best way to go and the most cost effective solution.