Hello board…a few years ago I purchased a bowser vo-1000 switcher. It’s a very nice model that runs very well but it is a dc model. I am looking into a dcc upgrade and for some reason I can’t seem to find the decoder I thought was a direct board replacement. Does anyone have some suggestions on a simple plug and play version?? Thanks!!
Rich
I did a couple of these a few years ago. There were no drop ins unless you say a TSU-1000 is a drop in, hard wire. Not a big deal. I might have posted the instal here at the time.
I just checked the SoundTraxx site. They have a recommened decoder. I used a 25mm x 35 mm speaker over the rear truck.
At the time, Bowser was selling then with the TSU-1000.
Rich
The Loksound Select Direct will snap into place…and sounds amazing…
David B
Sounds like a plan…thanks for the help fellas… Rich
The VO-1000 used an unique motor and I’m pretty sure Loksound was the only decoder manfucturer to have that “Thud…Thud…Thud…Thud” sound. But A few were powered by EMD motors. So you’ll probably want to check your road name to be sure.
It’s a pennsy in Tuscan that I purchased about 6-8 years ago. A very nice running piece. Rich
I had to strip down my locos to grind the frame some to fit the oval speaker. Probably not necessary today with some speakers.
LokSound does have little better running characteristics. I use a couple in other locos but I like how I can make the sounds a little better with the Tsunami. All decoders have their pros and cons.
Rich
Repowered ones are obvious - EMF 645’s didn;t fit under the Baldwin hood, so they had to put an EMD long hood on them. They are very distinctive, with an obvious EMD hood and an obvious Baldwin cab, at least on some railroads, such as the Reading. So far Bowser hasn;t made a repowered version, that’s strictly a DIY job at the moment.
I bought one of the replacement sound chassis with a Loksound Select and swapped on my shell. It really sounds great, when compared to videos of the real things running at SMS. There’s that unique thud thud thud, plus Baldwin switchers had an air throttle system with no distinct notches like EMDs and Alcos. Thing was somewhat self regulating, too, in that you could be pretty ham-handed on the throttle and not spin the wheels or rip out drawbars. There’s an article with a good explanation of how it worked on the Baldwin Diesel Zone web site, if you are interested.
–Randy
I would definitely opt for the Loksound for your VO-1000, Rich. The sounds are great and the Loksound decoders really allow your switchers (or any locomotive) to crawl - like they should.
Tom
Is there a certain part number I should be looking for?? I can’t seem to locate this particular decoder. Rich
Rich,
Generally you can order a Loksound Select decoder from an online vendor and they will program it (install the correct sounds for you) for the locomotive you will be installing it into - no charge. Usually this is done at the time of check out. Litchfield Station and Ulrich Models are both reputable vendors and I’ve had very good experiences at both places.
Hope that helps…
Tom
Hmmmm…Looks like Litchfield Station doesn’t sell Loksound. Ulrich Models does for sure and here’s the direct like to their Loksound decoder page. FYI: You’ll also need to purchase a speaker to go along with it.
Tom
You might want to consider the sugarcube speakers - excellent sound in very small packages: http://www.sbs4dcc.com/sugarcubespeakers.html
Sounds good guys…Need to make this the first project of the season… Rich
Don’t know where you got that information. I just checked Litchfield Station and they still sell decoders for LokSound. Check again.
Rich
You’re right, Rich. I looked on the left side under “Categories” and didn’t see Loksound listed so I thought LS didn’t carry them anymore. I just rechecked the site and noticed the ESU icon on the right side and clicked on that. Sure enough their decoders and speakers, etc. are listed there.
Tom
Yeah. Have not been there lately and thye re-did the site.
Rich
And Bruce Petrarca is no longer the owner. I believe he does installs for the new owners though.
Tom
What Don H. was getting at is that many Baldwin locos built in the 1940’s-50’s were re-powered with EMD motors in the late '50’s into the 60’s. So if you need to see if your engine is a model of one that was repowered, and if so, if it was repowered before or after the time you’re modelling. If your layout is set in 1954, it’s probably still powered by Baldwin. If you’re modelling 1966, it may have been repowered. (Baldwins and EMD motors do not sound the same!)
Bowser hasn’t (yet) made a repowered version - they have different hoods, the EMD prime movers did not fit under the Baldwin hood so when they were repowered, the hood was swapped out for an EMD hood. So not only do they sound completely different, they look completely different.
Here’s a pair of former VO-1000’s repowered by EMD:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=830091
This photo is from just after Conrail but these units are still in their Reading paint. Rebuilt by EMD in 1959.
–Randy