I have been trying to track down any new ATSF diesel freight engines with DCC and sound (non-Bachmann). I have seen the Proto F units that are A-B only and high $$. Anyone making any 1950’s to 1970’s units eg geeps, SDs, etc. with DCC and sound?? Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.
Good quality locos with good quality sound decoders will cost you $$. Crappy MRC unreliable sound decoders wont cost you as much $$. Spend the $$ and get quality as a dead decoder sucks, no matter how much of a good deal you got on it.
Now, you cant go wrong with Proto (QSI), Stewart (LokSound), Atlas(QSI) and BLI(Paragon[QSI]/Blueline/Paragon2) to fit your first generation motive power needs. Athearn is a different animal as they used to equip their locos with MRC sound decoders. Recently, they have changed over to Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders which are as fine as they come. However, there are some online and LHS peddling the older Athearn stock (with MRC decoders) as prices that look very nice…avoid at all cost.
Hope this helps. Bottom line, equip your self with quality and you will have a great time. If you settle for crap…well…dont say I didnt warn ya.
David B
BLI has RSD-15s w/DCC and Sound, Intermountain has freight F7A-B w/DCC and Sound.
Ricky
Good info and advice. I look forward to hearing what else is available out there for my ATSF vintage. I do have an ATSF passenger F7 and some BLI Burlington diesels. Tarhawk