Which of your Locomotives have sound?

[da_kraut]

Hello everybody,

One of my locomotives has sound that works while the engine runs on DC.  This has me hooked.  So the question for to all of you is do all of your engines have sound.  The other option is to have only a designated few locomotives with sound and then take one of these engines into the consist to give the lash up sound.  

What is your experience.

Thank you

Frank 

[MisterBeasley]

"Get one sound engine and you're hooked."  Yup, that sounds about right.

I bought a Proto 0-6-0 with sound, and then added sound myself to an Alco RSC-3.  Next was an SW-8 switcher, which I found with sound at Walthers for $100.  Then, it was a BLI Hudson, again purchased with sound.

I just finished adding sound to a trolley car, using a downloadable Digitrax sound decoder.

Next, I'll probably look into adding sound to one of my GP-9's.  They don't get much action anymore, unless, as you suggested, they're consisted with the Alco to make some noise.  I'd also like sound in my S1, but that's going to be a tight fit.  (The SW-8, a similar engine in size, needs traction tires to make up for the low weight of an engine filled with a speaker and electronics.)

The old, old, noisy Athearn F7's probably aren't worth it.  They're too noisy all by themselves.  The subway cars can't be heard, as they spend their days in the tunnels.  The other trolley, maybe, and the other Geep will likely get sound in the future if the first one comes out well.

[rolleiman]

I have 6 with sound (DCC). 2 are BLI locos, one is a genesis set (yes, with the MRC sound), 3 are set up with various types of Soundtraxx decoders. That's out of about 60 locos. Get more than 2 or 3 of these things fired up and it becomes more annoying than pleasant.

[twhite]

Frank--

I'm DC also, and I have several BLI steamers with sound.  Unfortunately, it takes so much power to get the sound working on these locos (they're DC/DCC) that it's impossible to run them with my non-sound DC brass locos (by the time the BLI's are moving, the straight DC brass is rocketing around the layout like the Kentucky Derby), so I don't use them very much, unless I'm planning on running ONLY sound steam.  Unfortunately, none of the 'sound' locos are for the railroad I model (Rio Grande) so when I run them, I run them only as 'loaners' from other railroads. 

For a sound system (since I do like sound), I settled on a 'fixed' sound system with speakers under the table and a Soundtraxx "Heritage Steam" unit.  It's very Generic, though a lot of special effects can be programmed into the unit.  The drawback of course, is that the sound is constant and not moving with the loco.  I haven't really looked into it, but I'm hoping that some manufacturer will take pity on us poor DC'ers and come up with a tender-mounted sound system that will work.  Actually, there may be one out there, I suppose with all of my other projects, that I haven't really looked that hard. 

But I do like sound--it makes the railroad come ALIVE!

Tom  

[DavidGSmith]

I have one BLI 2-8-0 On30 with sound , its alright but if you look close the chuffs are out of sync.  I also have the Bachmann Forney (On30) with sound it is much better to my ear. When the On30 4-4-0 comes out with sound I will get it most likely. Operating on other layous with numerous engines with sound can be a bit much. The volume must be turned down.

Dave 

[Bapou]

One o my Spectrum NJT F40PH-2s has LokSound, it is great!

[Phoebe Vet]

I have 8 engines and one subway set.  Two of them have sound ... so far.

[HEdward]

Which of your locos have sound?

None.

 

Can't wait to get it built so I can start saving up for the DCC upgrade.

[Flashwave]

Well, I;ve got a Proto2000 E-8 in Pere Marquette, Heratige 0-8-0 in Harbor Belt, a PCM T-1, and a Big Boy with sound. There's a pair of BL2s from proto that will get sound,l as well as a Spectrum George Washington Mountain, and a set of RF 16s that will have sounbd in the 6000A A-unit, and then will be plugged in the diaphrams to speakers in the trailing units so the sounds are spread and balanced, and I save mucho moolla in Sound decoders. There'll prabably be sound in the Bachmann Daylifght soon too. And I'dlike to put sound into a berk for the Polar Express, when I get the engine. Ah, to dream 

[richg1998]

My HO scale steamers with sound. All run with NCE Power Can.

Roundhouse 4-4-0, 2 ea 2-6-0, 2-8-0.

Spectrum 4-4-0

MDC Climax 

All have the SoundTraxx Micro-Tsunami. 

Waiting. Spectrum 4-6-0

Three older MDC steamers.

Rich 

[Caso.Sub]

Frank

Goto DCC. Suspect your on the verge. About half of my roster of 120 are deemed to be getting sound. I have only about 20 I have done, and about 5 with QSI. If you want accurate sound and railfan at the same time, I would look into LoK Sound. Sound is very addictive. Even if the loco doesn't come with sound equiped, I just take the loco to my LHS and he does the milling for me and advanced installation for me. You only put sound and DCC into "Good" locos. I will let you be the judge of whats good and bad.  But to answer your question, Nothing but Kato's so far and the Proto 2000 QSI's.

CASO

[Flashwave]

Frank

Goto DCC. Suspect your on the verge. About half of my roster of 120 are deemed to be getting sound. I have only about 20 I have done, and about 5 with QSI. If you want accurate sound and railfan at the same time, I would look into LoK Sound. Sound is very addictive. Even if the loco doesn't come with sound equiped, I just take the loco to my LHS and he does the milling for me and advanced installation for me. You only put sound and DCC into "Good" locos. I will let you be the judge of whats good and bad.  But to answer your question, Nothing but Kato's so far and the Proto 2000 QSI's.

CASO

Try easy. The easier it is to install, the more likely you'l do it. But consider too:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1)Which engines will you show if you have guests? (Family, friends, etc)

2)Which engines will you run the most? or least, if sound will bug you)

3)Which engines are the best, or least,detailed? A sound decoder will either be that last piece or the piece that saves an otherwise neat but maybe lower engine from a life of shop displays.

[leejax01]

About half of mine have sound, and that is because I made sure this time I bought more sound units. All my steam have sound( a must IMHO for steam). I also believe that only one engine in a consist should have sound...most likely the lead engine. Any more and it can get on the nerves pretty quickly. If I have multiple sound units in a consist, I usually mute all but one. Sound can be reasonable if you shop around and if you can install yourself.

[selector]

All of mine have sound.  I just couldn't do it without any more.  It's convenient when it is also a DCC decoder that is doing it because it all fits neatly into the installation and you get the benefits of DCC.

Having said that, I wonder if BLI I cashing in on their choice to go hard at the BlueLine market.  It seems there is still a lot of DC out there (Why not?  It works!), and now the DC world is slowly spiraling in their death throes toward sound, like moths....next they'll want to try one DCC engine, and then we'll have 'em.

Hee hee.

[leejax01]

Selector, you forgot the evil laugh... hah hah hah hah haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

[Great Western Rwy fan]

Of My 65 or so loco's only 2 have decoders, Both with MRC mini decoders.

This one is a Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation, I lettered for the Great Western Rwy...

and this one A Proto 2000 Gp7 which I painted and lettered also for the GW...

[lvanhen]

I started collecting locos in the early '60's - so none of them had sound.  About 3 years ago I bought a Lionel Veranda Turbine DC/DCC with sound.  After trying to get the sounds by flipping the directional switch on my DC pack, I took the DCC plunge!  I have since bought an Athearn Challenger, 2 Atlas diesels with sound and an Atlas diesel DCC with no sound.  What a difference since getting used to sound!!  It will get sound soon!!  I have since then also gotten a BLI NW7, an Athearn MP15AC, and a FDT Trackmobile.  If I could figure a way to get sound into the trackmobile I would!!  It's nothing but sound for me - someday some of the old collection will also get sound, but for now I'm keeping DC/DCC with a DPDTCO switch. 

[fiatfan]

I have none and it will remain that way.  My train room is a sanctuary of quiet.  About the only sound I hear is the click of metal wheels over the occasional gap in the rails.

 

Tom 

[Flashwave]

I have none and it will remain that way.  My train room is a sanctuary of quiet.  About the only sound I hear is the click of metal wheels over the occasional gap in the rails.

 

Tom 

ANd you know what, there's something decidedly theraputic about that. I suspect I'll run that way too. But it;s nice to have the option. ANd fior me, the quiet goes away when somethibng goes horribly wrong

[wjstix]

About 1/4th of mine have sound. I would like to have all my steam engines sound equipped, I recently added the MRC Sounder to a Spectrum 2-6-6-2 and liked it; inexpensive, easy to install and good sound. With diesels, I'm usually running them in pairs so I find having one with sound and one without running together works out OK.

I've mainly concentrated so far on doing installations that were pretty easy, like Soundtraxx drop-in board replacements for Atlas engines. It takes up the same space as the light board, and finding space for a 1/2" speaker and enclosure is pretty easy.

[selector]

I have none and it will remain that way.  My train room is a sanctuary of quiet.  About the only sound I hear is the click of metal wheels over the occasional gap in the rails.

 

Tom 

Tom, your words carry a lot of meaning in them, and I understand completely.  It should be a pleasure for you.  And, as you say, a sanctuary, a refuge.  So, I am happy you have that.

-Crandell

[tomikawaTT]

I have no sound-equipped locos, and no intention to modify any of my roster with sound.

• My pattern of operation precludes, "Just do one."  In a normal operating schedule, every locomotive hauled train will have its own dedicated locomotive - two, if it's either steam or catenary powered.  That would require sound for, at least, my entire steam roster.
• My layout configuration is such that a lot of mileage is run in the netherworld - and I could see the look on the face of some mundane visitor with obvious steam loco sounds coming from the vicinity of the major passenger station, while the only train in sight is a string of DMU cars!  (The passenger staging yard is directly under the main station.)
• My primary stamping grounds for steam feature long, continuous upgrades.  A prototype steam locomotive faced with those conditions would sound like cannonfire.  The space available for a speaker enclosure in my largest steamer would give it the bark of an asthmatic Chihuahua...

If this be heresy, so be it.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[mike_ruby]

I have over 20 sound equipped diesels, with more to convert. My storage sidings are under scenery at the back of my layout. I find if you have the sound turned down to a realistic level, i.e you can't hear the engine sound more than 6' away (not like many where you would hear it 10 scale miles away!), I find that the hidden locos are barely audible. Plus I turn the power off once the train is parked, also all the decoders I've come across can be muted with a function button.

Mike Ruby

[da_kraut]

Thank you,

thank you everybody for the very informative responses.   My LHS also recommends Loksound and Digitrax.  It seems like Loksound is also thought of quite highly on this forum.

Last time while at his store he was showing a steam engine to a customer for whom he had installed a Loksound decoder.  It was truly great. 

It must sound terrific when a heavy freight has an emd, ge and alco all working together with the sounds of all the different engines at the same time.  It is just a matter of time before my engines all have sound. 

Frank

[HarryHotspur]

"Get one sound engine and you're hooked."  Yup, that sounds about right.

I bought a Proto 0-6-0 with sound, and then added sound myself to an Alco RSC-3.  Next was an SW-8 switcher, which I found with sound at Walthers for $100.  Then, it was a BLI Hudson, again purchased with sound.

I just finished adding sound to a trolley car, using a downloadable Digitrax sound decoder.

Next, I'll probably look into adding sound to one of my GP-9's.  They don't get much action anymore, unless, as you suggested, they're consisted with the Alco to make some noise.  I'd also like sound in my S1, but that's going to be a tight fit.  (The SW-8, a similar engine in size, needs traction tires to make up for the low weight of an engine filled with a speaker and electronics.)

The old, old, noisy Athearn F7's probably aren't worth it.  They're too noisy all by themselves.  The subway cars can't be heard, as they spend their days in the tunnels.  The other trolley, maybe, and the other Geep will likely get sound in the future if the first one comes out well.

You need to get those things kids call "bass shakers" and hook 'em up to your stereo. Then when the subway comes by your whole room will shake. Very realistic.

[wedudler]

Many engines have sound. Look at my roster. And like you see, with most engines I've installed an ESU Loksound decoder, sometimes the Loksoound micro with good success.

It's fun to run a steamer with sound. You drive sooo slowly, following each hiss.

And there's another point. Listen to my YouTube vid with my GE 44-ton "Henry".

 Wolfgang

[Packer]

None of mine have sound. I have found some room in some of my engines for a small speaker.

I have a plan to put a sound decoder into one of my GP30s with a DH165L0, I run them as a set, so only one would need sound. My SD9s have some room, so they could get sound decoders too. As for my U28B and GP9s, I have yet to find room, but they are available with sound already installed.

[wjstix]

I find with Atlas engines the end of the long hood on an RS or GP engine usually has enough room for a 1/2" speaker and enclosure. You might need to trim down the light tube some of the engines have a little bit, but it's usually do-able without much effort.

[wmshay06]

Frank  - my railroad has the following loco's with sound : 2-6-6-6 C&O Allegheny, 2-6-6-2 C&O H-5, C&O F-7 A+B+A consist, C&O 2-8-2 K-8 (BLI kitbash).  Two came factory installed, the other two I installed.  I have one more loco to do with sound, C&O GP-7.  I have some volume adjustments yet to play with, but I will never turn back from using DCC with sound.

Charles

[nscaleboy77]

Well since im in N Scale and unless i buy a 500.00 broadway limited that wouldnt match anything im modeling, i like to make the train noises myself.

CAABooom, clash clash, inshatttt insssshatt, ca cling, ca cling, trough trough trrrrough, woooooooooo, wooooooo, chugga chugga, choo choo, troughhhh troughhh troughhh.