Does anybody know if there exists a “Thomas the Tank Engine” sound decoder? I already have the loco and I’m going to stick a cheap motor controller in it. Or preferably a combination motor/sound decoder? I know I can get a high-dollar unit and a programmer and download the sounds myself. Not sure if I want to go to that expense. What about those new Digitrax decoders-- could I do it with that? What’s involved?
Thanks for any advice!
John
Based on my recent experience of installing a TCS M-1 into a Thomas for a club member’s grandchild, I doubt if any type of sound decoder and speaker could be crammed into it.
There isn’t a lot of room inside of Thomas. I have installed a Digitrax DZ123 decoder in my grandson’s Thomas. Any sound or sound and power decoder would have to be very small. Don’t forget you are going to need space for a speaker tool.
I have sound decoders mounted under the layout for use with non-sound equipped locomotives. For steam sounds I use DSD100-LC Soundtraxx decoders. I MU the under table decoder to the locomotive and then select the “light steam” whistle.
This method is quite effective on my small BRVRR layout. On a larger layout it might not be as effective/satisfying.
If you find a decoder/speaker combo that will fit in Thomas let me/us know. I have a 3-truck Shay that has me stumped so far.
Good luck on your quest.
Years ago, when Bachmann first released their Spectrum 3-truck Shay, SoundTraxx made a special sound decoder for it. You may be able to find one still available on e-Bay. SoundTraxx dropped the line a long time ago. IIRC, only a 1/2 inch round speaker would fit and produced very weak sound.
How about putting a sound-only decoder in Annie or Clarabell? I don’t have any of the Thomas series myself, but I’d imagine these cars would have plenty of room for a decoder and speaker.
I’d recommend a SoundBug from Digitrax for this. It can be programmed easily with a PR3. For this application, you’re not concerned with back EMF or fine motor control at low speed, so the expense of a LokSound or other high-end decoder isn’t really worth it.
What kind of sounds would you use? I don’t watch Thomas myself.
FIDDLESTICKS! What’s all this about sound decoders. When I was a lad, after walking home from school uphill in the snow, I made my own sound effects for my train set. Kids these days, Harumph.
Lou
Try measuring the inside cab roof. A Soundtraxx TSU-750 light engine MIGHT fit in there. I managed to fit one in there on a Bachmann 0-6-0T
Doesn’t Bachmann make a 3-truck Shay w/sound? Why not find out what they’re using and do the same thing?
All I’d really need sound-wise I think is a generic “Chug-chug” (preferably timed with the drivers just for my own sanity 
and the little dual-toned high-pitched “Peeeeep Peeeeeeep” sound it makes when the whistle is blown. I think that would be more than sufficient.
I am considering the Annie/Claribel angle, although my 2yo kid is more sophisticated than just watching them go round and round-- he likes helping me block the yard and doing pick-ups and set-outs, and he also likes running the passenger train between the stations. So putting the sound in Annie/Claribel would probably work, the sound would only be there when they are part of the train.
Yet, on the other hand, the question remains-- how often do I have to see Thomas on the layout… my thought is “more” if I actually show it to him, and “less” if I don’t… [:P]
John
I tried downloading “Whoo Whoo” and “Ding Ding Ding” into my Tsunami but the effect just wasn’t the same… although the “Sssssshhhhhh” cylinder steam release wasn’t too bad, the “Chugga Chugga” left a little to be desired…
(shrug)
What can ya do?
[:)]
Really? I’d want some conversational vocalizations because they are what make the “prototypes” distinctive.
Mark
I vote with Mr. B. Put a sound only decoder in Annie.
Unless you have changed the couplers you will not be making and breaking that train with any regularity.
Maybe that’s the best solution.
John -
I’d be real interested to hear if you got anything working with sound in Thomas. My own approach - one of many unfinished projects - is to put a sound unit of some kind into Annie or Clarabel, as has already been mentioned. Of course this means that this engine has to remain coupled to the pasx cars for sound to work. As someone has observed, with those Bachmann couplers, I’m not sure how much ‘switching’ you’re going to do anyway.
One idea I have is to use a regular motor decoder (TCS or other small) in Thomas, with at least one extra function lead (besides headlight). Then I have a couple of those Thomas ‘books’ with sound devices that sound-off when you push a button. I’m thinking there might be a way to use the extra motor decoder output to ‘activate’ the book-chip-mounted-in-Annie, with speaker. One could even program this function to F2, if desired.
So far all I’ve done is disassemble Thomas and rip apart the book. Not too hard to see how it works.
Dick
John,
I’m sitting here contemplating what your getting yourself into and thinking well I might be doing the same thing myself. Here are a few links for DCC installs for Thomas and also a few for Hornby and Bachmann models with decoders already installed. But if I’m understanding you correctly and please excuse me if I’m wrong but your wanting the “Thomas sounds” and not so much the generic steam engine sounds correct. “Bust my buffers” and “Cinders and Ashes” yes we watch Thomas every morning while waiting for the school bus so I feel your pain…lol The only way I could see it being done as I haven’t been able to find a commercial decoder with Thomas sounds is if you has lets say something like Decoder pro or one of the other similar deals where you can update sound files etc. via PC downloads. You would need to copy the Thomas sound files from some where and download them to the decoder.
I can’t see why the market geniuses haven’t already come out with a Thomas with sound model as kids would love it. even us big kids.
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips4/thomas_tips.html#thomas_sound
http://www.skingtrains.com/servlet/the-551/Bachmann-58741-HO-Thomas/Detail
http://www.trainsontime.co.uk/fitted-hornby-thomas-tank-engine-p-3329.html
Oh man! What a fabulous suggestion! Those sound-books can’t run on more than maybe 1.5 - 3.0 volt-ish DC and not much current-- I’ve never taken one apart before but you know they gotta be cheap and I doubt they put much more than a button battery or two in there for power… that’d be very easy to rig up, and the push-buttons are usually simple bubble-membrane (capacitive membrane) that’s easy enough to glom onto-- something with an open-collector to pull it down should work… very, very, VERY good suggestion!
Yes, that’s essentially it. I don’t think any of us (my son[s] or I) care about the exclamations, the music might be fun but I could do that externally, and probably a better idea anyway or else my kid would do it constantly and drive me crazy
As far as I’m concerned, the quintessential Thomas is his “Peeeep Peeeep” high-pitched, dual tone whistle. Add a generic ‘chug-chug’ as I suggested previously and I think that’d do it for us. Maybe also a generic bell. I can’t remember if the “real” Thomas has one or not, but Mason (my kid) likes to ring the bell on our other locos.
I liked the previous poster’s suggestion though about seeing if its possible to dissect one of those el-cheapo supermarket Thomas sound books… that might be just the ticket. Not too loud, easy to rig up-- as he suggested its probably possible to control off a DCC function line, so no expensive s
Interesting-- that S. King web site has, by my count, FIVE separate prices for exactly the same thing… take your pick I guess
The idea of the sound units from the Thomas books is an interesting one. As a variation, how about mounting the sound unit beneath the layout, and triggering it with a reed switch contact? The reed switch would be buried in the ballast, and the magnet would be on one of the cars, or perhaps the engine if there’s a spot for it. When that car passes over that section of track, the unit plays. A set of 5 reed switches and magnets from Miniatronics is under $10, and the installation, while a bit time-consuming, is trivial. You wouldn’t have throttle control of the sounds, but the kids would still appreciate the effect, and you can’t beat it for the price.
Lord knows there are tons of Thomas toys with sound, I hear them in my sleep unfortunately as we have it and just about every other toy on the market with sound in our house. I like the idea of the sound chip form a book or even take a walk through Toys R Us and see what they have to offer as sacrificial donors to the cause. One word of advice bring the kids along they don’t look at you so strangely then when you start playing with the toys. 'Want to talk about a million dollar idea though, I bet there isn’t a father in the country or the world for that matter who is a train guy who wouldn’t buy a Thomas Sound decoder for their kids well at least thats the excuse they’ll use.