ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll – February 26, 2003

[Anonymous]

Friends...
I like both features. And remember about the "competition" thing, between manufacturers...the more of them offering these options, the better the chances of lower prices. Example: I'd like to see Life-Like Products use sound in their Proto series.[8D]
...Richard

[Anonymous]

DCC and Sound ready, i.e. wired, but let me decide on the name brand and install the decoder and/or sound module if I choose to do so.

[Anonymous]

I have many locomotives and run them on several different layouts and for me right now DCC and sound are not of great importance. However I am building my own home layout and it is DCC equiped so having locos DCC ready is becoming more important, as it will save me money in the long run.

[decapod39]

Sound is critical for realistic operation, IMHO. The last 2 locomotives I purchased were the BLI M1a's. I was able to buy them by selling 2 brass M1a's (not DCC or sound equipted) and make a very small profit. Since I am installing sound and DCC in all my engines, the RTR quality and value offered by these BLI engines was just outatanding. I only have so much time left in this world, and I would rather spend it running my trains instead of reengineering old engines to carry sound. Manufacturers, please keep going down this path.

For those of you who have experienced the sound equipted engines that sound like noise, I have sympathy. If the sound system is turned up too loud because the owner thinks that "railroad locomotives are noisy", the result is unrealistic and sometimes painful. The engine should only be heard at points where it is close to the viewer, not across a noisy room.

[Anonymous]

I voted not important because you were addressing HO. If it were with regards to "N", my reply would have been "very important", since that is what I model. Also, with regards to DCC equipped locomotives in "N", I have been advised by some dealers that they will not order locomotives decoder equipped because, as they state, "no one will buy them." Would love to see sound, but think that is very unlikely in the future. My layout is DCC equipped and some of the installations are not that easy to install, .ie steam and small switchers, whereas plug and play is no problem.
Al in SC CN/CP modeller

[johncolley]

Once you have gone with sound there is no turning back. To those who find it noisy remember that the sound levels are adjustable and can be turned way down so that they are still there but not an objectionable level. I love my pair of GN E-7's from BLI and can't wait for the switchers. I have found that a lot depends on how close it is to a hard surface such as drywall. In the open or where there are brush and trees there is no reflection. I will gradually convert my other locos to sound or if they are duplications I will sell them/donate them. One of the things I like to do is give excess rolling stock to youngsters just starting out, to add to their starter sets. John Colley

[Anonymous]

What happens in HO is important only insofar as it indiactes what we might get in N in the not-to-distant future. [;)]

[Anonymous]

Just recently upgraded to DCC and have a couple of Loco's with sound. What a difference! The realism and memories of my youth come flooding back. Keep those Loco's with sound coming.
PS the more produced, the lower the price point.

Bill G.[8D]

[Anonymous]

Hi folks,
I am fulfilling a life long dream of building a model railroad. Been 2 years at now. I started with a simple transformer, then to Aristro Craft, and on to Digitrax, best move I ever made. The wiring is so simple that a dummy like me can do it. Programming? thats a little tough, but I am getting the hang of it. I have 1 loco with sound, when it get too much I pu***he 8 button and it's sillent. I do agree about choices,"with or without" and the price should reflect the same. I do not think this will be a problem for the manafacturers, they can do it.

Happy Railroading
Dennis

[Anonymous]

[:D]
I agree with Stan. I am in N scale and have seen and heard a N scale A-B-B-A set of engines with DCC and sound installed. It was awesome to say the least. With a lot of engines with sound running in N scale the sound would be more muted than with HO so at the engine house the sound would'nt be so bad. Besides you can always turn it down or off. To walk along with youe train as it traverses you rails with the chuffing and churning(steam) or whinning and growling(diesel) of the engines gives you that feeling that you are really there not just watching a train from a distance. DCC definatly, sound if at all possable.[8D]

[Anonymous]

I like the dcc and sound both, but I model in N scale and would like to see more done for that scale! Thanks!! Bob

[mikebonellisr]

DCC & sound have added a new element to model railroading for me.It's like going from black and white T.V. to color.Yes, too many sound equipt locos running at the same time does get overwhelming but you can always keep the sound low or off on engines on the ready track or in stalls.It,s nice to have the option.

[Anonymous]

Having watched the sound-decoder situation for several years, I was likewise dismayed at the -then - very high price of a sound/DCC equiped loco. Enter Broadway Limited - WOW. Great loco's, sound and DCC at what I consider a reasonable price. Finally we have some competition in the sound arena. As my railroad goes together in the attic, my fleet of locomitives will transition from my local (DC) club to my (to-be DCC) railroad. Sound will be added, or already equipped locos will be purchased. BLI's SW7 and Atlas' H24-66 are already programmed for purchase as they are considerably cheaper than buying sound decoders, speakers, and all but re-engineering the locomotive. This may change if current prices change. Noisy, that's what the volume control is for. BLI says it all - Operate in silence no more!!!

[ClinchValleySD40]

I love buying a loco with a decoder preinstalled. The Atlas GP38 is a fantastic engine.

[Anonymous]

I have been into DCC for about one year. Would never go back to block control. Don't mind installing decoders in DCC ready equipment but have resisted starting from scratch, i.e., wiring an older loco. I am very interested in sound and would prefer factory installed. A steamer and a diesel with sound are on my Christmas list. I hope I can be a good boy all year. Burt

[Anonymous]

Sound is a nice thing to make your layout realistic, but not a need. [2c][#ditto]

[Anonymous]

VERY IMPORTANT ..... I believe it is called 'progress'. Without progress, we would still be assembling fairly crude (by today's standards) freight, passenger and MOW cars and also very plain, heavy, crude locomotives with 6 volt motors. And to top it off, we would have seven or eight 'popular' couplers which would look and operate very poorly compared with what we have become accustomed to in the past few years. My brass collection will never all get decoders, nor will all of my other metal and plastic locos. But the few that do get them, will join some of the new 'fully loaded' locos which are becoming available. We are in the 21st century, aand we've come a long way. I plan on continuing to enjoy the progress.

[dragenrider]

I would love to have sound, but I'm not into DCC. Having engines which know which system they are on is a bonus. I'll go to DCC...one day....

[Anonymous]

I think that these advances in technology are great, but unless the decoders can automatically switch between DC and DCC, they are not feasable for those of us who don't have $300 or more to sprig for a DCC system, but keep up the great work......... Technology is a GREAT thing!!!

[Anonymous]

Since only one of my current stock of HO locomotives is DCC-friendly, sound isn't a big deal. It would be nice to have, but once I start building my inventory of locomotives, then I'll consider sound. Gotta have a good chuff for the steamers, though, coordinated with the speed of the locomotive.

[Anonymous]

The Old Dog thinks that the hobby needs more critters like GE 45 tonners and 44 tonners, fireless steamers, small shays, heisters, and climaxes, forneys and so on.

Small locomotives and DCC don't mix due to the limited space available. If everyone demands DCC, the hobby will lose these small be interesting engines. Could have Varney made their dockside if they have the fit DCC inside?

Have fun

[ragarrett01]

Keep ready for DCC and both can have their engines. If all the locos came with
DCC decoders already installed I believe you would lose a lot of young modelers.
I just switched from straight DC to computer control because I like the idea of
automatic layout operation. Now I can control the layout (lights, sound and switches)
manually or automatic by computer. It will also operate DCC if I had it.
When I show my layout, I put it in automatic so I can talk and point out different
things while the trains run and stop at stations and start back by computer.
I studied DCC and computer for over a year before going to computer.
I spent a lot less $300, about the same for DCC, not counting decoders.
I run five engines, two trolleys and a gandy dancer at the same time by
CTI's computer system. DCC is fine for running engines, but I like the choice
of running the whole layout, manually or automatically. Leave the choice
to the modeler.

[Anonymous]

DCC ready is good, but with a DCC decoder allready installed! Awesome!!!! Sound would be cool in 2 or 3 locomotives, but not all of them. It turns into noise after a while, so I hope there's a turn off switch for the sound.

[Anonymous]

im going to install DCC in my system in the next few months when I get time so it will make starting DCC easier

[Anonymous]

I already have about a dozen decoder-equipped engines on my HO railroad. No Sound. BUt.... It sure is tempting IF there is a way to keep the volume down. Then it does not become "noise". However, up here in Canada PRICE.
I was in my local pusher's today emquiring about the new Atlas Trainmaster and was told that when it arrived in August or September, sound-equipped locos would be about $350.00 Canadian each! If that remains true, not many are going to get very many. DCC-equipped locos is a very good idea as long as manufacturers provide non-DCC'd engines also. Sound presently seems that bit too much. (It seems to double the cost of an engine with DCCalready installed to add sound.)
My 25cents worth.
Rod.

[alpreston]

I voted not important at all - I think both DCC and sound should be user-installable options. Having them included from the start simply drives the price up, and for people who don't want them, makes it harder to rationalize the purchase. Personally, I would NOT buy a locomotive that has them preinstalled.

[Anonymous]

Wait, there is a switch to let the DCC decoder know it's on DC, right?? Or would you have to take it out to run it on DCC?

[Anonymous]

Ya Gotta be mad !!!!! no sound is like living in the dark ages, have you ever....... but ever stoood on a railroad track ( waaal alongside) with a train goin by and NOT heard sound....... it is the absolute , but absolute, expression of realism, no amount of running to timetables or what ever will ever come close to running with sound..... and to have DCC installed is just a bonus

Lou A Hocken New Zealand

[Anonymous]

I have not yet heard a sound equipped loco but I would guess that the additonal cost of adding it at the time of manufacture is minimal compared to installing it after purchase. I have yet to try DCC as well, every time I think about using it there seems to be a new and more wonderful (and cheaper) decoder on offer!

[Anonymous]

Just as some of the other reply's, I'm building my first layout (actually, it's the first time I've been able to have a dedicated room). I've been collecting my trains for sometime and I like the idea of a DCC ready loco, but option is more important to accomodate a budget. Sound - that is a bonus for me. Thanks - Doug Lauten