I'm not sure what I thought of my American Flyer smoke in the 1950's but I think I liked it. I was into trains in the 80's and then left the hobby, only to return a couple years ago.
I was surprised that the smell of smoking locos at a train show smells exactly like a remember. After breathing way too many bad thing for my lungs, I am not a fan of the smell. Liver also tastes exactly like I remember, tho' I have no idea when I was fed liver. It will not happen again it this lifetime.
Sound, I have decided I like it.
From the factory, it is too loud and I am not heavy handed on bells and horns. People write that you can't actually hear a real train several miles away. I hunt deer in SC and the tracks are 3 or 4 miles away and I most certainly here the hum or drone of the diesel. It is not the noise of wheels on track.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
selectorMy opinion, 'bout as valuable as a pair of soiled socks.
Soil socks is mighty nice if your feet and boots are wet..Been there several times in '70..
I agree with Kevin..If you and your son enjoys smoke and sound-enjoy!
I enjoy Sound for thirty to forty minutes then its F8 time to return the sound of silence.
Henry,I love a big plate of liver and onions.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BigDaddy I'm not sure what I thought of my American Flyer smoke in the 1950's but I think I liked it. I was into trains in the 80's and then left the hobby, only to return a couple years ago. I was surprised that the smell of smoking locos at a train show smells exactly like a remember. After breathing way too many bad thing for my lungs, I am not a fan of the smell. Liver also tastes exactly like I remember, tho' I have no idea when I was fed liver. It will not happen again it this lifetime. Sound, I have decided I like it. From the factory, it is too loud and I am not heavy handed on bells and horns. People write that you can't actually hear a real train several miles away. I hunt deer in SC and the tracks are 3 or 4 miles away and I most certainly here the hum or drone of the diesel. It is not the noise of wheels on track.
Henry, in the real world, lots of complex acoustic factors determine what sound we hear and how far away we might hear them.
In the woods, on a calm day, with little other environmental sounds at play, I don't doubt you hear a diesel prime mover from 3-4 miles.
Yet driving on route 40 in northeast Maryland, parallel to the Northeast corridor tracks of AMTRAK/NS on one side, and the CSX tracks on the other, or standing trackside at the grade crossing in downtown Aberdeen MD, the sound of the locomotives quickly fade into the background of automobile traffic, industrial noise, human activity and quickly give way to the track noise as the loco gets further away while you are still near the tracks and the passing train.
Sometimes from 1/4 mile it is hard to hear the trains at all. Other times they seem loud.
The point simply is real world is different from our layout rooms. Everyone responds to sounds differently.
But my interests in model trains have lead me in a direction that does not make sound a useful or enjoyable addition - others have different interests and goals.
My point is simply we should not assume others are interested in model trains for the same reasons or in the same ways as we are.
I like to build models, I like prototype operation, I like being the "dispatcher" or the "superintendent", or the "railroad president" more than being the "engineer".
So that "event" of following the train around the layout and listening to it is not a high priority for me.
The OP mentioned 5 locos from at least 4 different prototypes that operated in at least 4 different regions, and if he is having fun, that is great.
But buying random models RTR and running them on the same layout together holds no long term interest for me. I've been at this for 46 years now. I am building a minature representation of a single place in time with function and continuity, even if that place in fictional, the point is for it to express realistic continuity and believability. So an I-5, and Challenger, and a NYC? Hudson, all in the same place?
Again, if you are having fun you are doing this hobby right, but it was the OP who was so amazed that anyone would not like sound and smoke.........
I'm not amazed that others do like sound and smoke......
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRALHenry, in the real world, lots of complex acoustic factors determine what sound we hear and how far away we might hear them
I've been watching Youtube webcams. One of the free demos went from a sleepy PA town of West Newton to Chicago. Once in a while a car would drive down the street and less often a train in PA. They moved the free video to Chicago and there was a constant roar of noice, 90 trains a day and the standing joke was there was a fire engine circling the layout.
It's said the sounds of Gettysburg could not be heard 10 miles away, but it could be heard in Pittsburgh. Accoustic Shadow it's called and that wasn't the only battle that could be seen but not heard.
BRAKIEliver
Russell
If SUBWAY TRAIN make smoke is big problem. Will shut down huge sections of system and overwelm the rest of it.
More smoke more angst.
Even on layout of LION smoke is big problem. A resister fire damaged a subway car. Oh well, it still looks prototypical as a work car.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Reminds me of the old Get Smart schtick with Hymee (that was his name) the robot (played by Dick Gautier). When at a party...
"Hymee, would you like a drink?"
Sorry, I only drink oil.
"Do you smoke?"
Only when I drink bad oil......
- Douglas