Can anyone tell me where I can find a sound decoder for my HO GE 44 Ton Diesel? It’s an older Bachman model, so it isn’t DCC ready.
There’s no way you’re going to fit a sound decoder and speaker into a GE 44-ton locomotive – there’s just no room (unless you take the motor out).
Since the Bachman model has a motor driving each axel, I plan to remove one to make room for the speaker. I already have a Digitrax DZ123 decoder running in the engine, so as long as I can find a sound decoder of simular size, I should be good. Also there is the option of putting a sound unit in a boxcar that would be permenently attached to the engine. Either way do you know of any sound decoder that would produce sounds simular to the GE 44 Ton Diesel?
No sound decoder maker has produced the sounds made by a GE 44-tonner, probably because they realized early on that it won’t fit into one. I think the smallest sound decoder made is the LokSound by ESU of Germany, and they have downloadable sounds that can be programmed into their decoders; however, the cost of the decoder and programmer would be 10 times the value of the original model. And removing one of the motors from the Bachmann engine is likely to make it totally useless as far as pulling power is concerned.
If you proceed with this project; 1st get a new 44 tonner, which has a much quieter (very imporant for sound) and smoother mechanism.
You will have to go with one of the decoders that offers downloadable sounds. LokSound is probably the best right now.
Will need to create your own sound files, fortunately there 44 tonners still operation, such as this one: http://www.cteastrrmuseum.org/Ge44.htm Or you could record just about any Cat’ diesel engine, and put two files together slightly out of phase to make it sound like two engines.
The pernamently coupled box car sounds like the way to go - and most like you will NOT want to have seperate motor controller DCC chip.
Good luck on your very ambitious project.
Here are 2 references that may help:
“Installing DCC in a 44-Tonner”, MR Jan 2001 - not a sound decoder, but has info on the wiring problems
“Modeling a GE 70 Tonner for the Modesto & Empire Traction”, MRC April 2004 - the 70 tonner has more room, but a similar design. This article installs a Soundtrax decoder