My 6’x20’ railroad has a branch line off the main city terminal station that goes to a small town station with one siding and one stub for a team track and a grain elevator. I am looking for a short(2-3 car) DMU to run passenger service on this branchline. Recommendations?
I have looked at the P1K Budd RDCs and they don’t have sound. So wondering if Some European 72’ or similar passenger stock is available? Or maybe something in the US I have not seen?
My layout is a mixed traffic and I really like passenger ops. But super liners are well … Too heavy.
There may be something European. I’m pretty certain no US prototype ones have been released in HO yet.
That said, are you adverse to a DCC sound install? That’s probably the only way to get one right now. However, if Walthers re-ran the P1k RDC, it’s possible the next iteration may offer sound, as that seems to be more and more common on even lower end equipment these days/ Patience may yet win the day.
I have a P1K I dropped a decoded in. There is plenty of space for a sound install.
Not sure about RDC sounds being available in a decoder yet. If so, than going with the ESU Loksound will allow you to upload custom sound files, if you can find RDC sounds somewhere.
If you need a trailer or two, I run a “specially adapted” ex-California Zephyr dome car behind my very unprototypical Rio Grande RDC. They just go together, it imporves the service levels for my HO passengers and it’s my railroad.[(-D]
Although there are a number of European prototype RDC´s or DMU´s available that are sound equipped, they would look out of place on a US themed layout…
Thanks, at least I am not missing something in the US. I am OK with European actually- if I get an obscure line I could pretend its a gift or something for helping the US railroads.
Guage could be a problem, I understand DMUs are only popular in the UK, which is on OO. The continent is on Electric traction probably for close to 90% of pax service.
I am not averse to DCC install- I have not done one but I have taught myself a lot of things recently. But time is in short supply and accurate sound files will be an issue.
Maybe I look East (Japan)? They have diesel hydraulic dmu service in obscure lines …
OO scale is 1/76 vs. HO scale being 1/87, but the share the same gauge of 16.5 mm, so running a Brit train on your HO layout is possible. Actually, British stock does not look to big, as the trains on the island are a little smaller than on the continent.
Bachmann and Hornby, however, do not offer a DMU with sound on board, so you might have to take a look at continental European stock.
Piko of Germany offers some DMU´s of current design, which can be sound equipped.
Looking at Japanese stock may not be an option. HO scale is not really popular there and the models available in that scale are quite pricey. Take a look here