[:D] I now have twelve engines with decoders and three decoder brands make up the list in the engine units. Recently I installed a Prodigy Express system on my layout which is 10X12, the system is more than adequate for this size.
For over fifty year I have run trains with analog, DC transformers by MRC and they have served me well. When the dual decoders began to appear in DCC locomotives and you could also run them on my DC layout, I decided to give it ago.
With DC at least I had some sound, motor running, bell and horn when the engines first start up, or the chuffing sound with my MTH steam engine, no whistle or bell. When standing still all of the engines continued with some limited sound affects, shoveling coal, steam release, even audible voices can be heard with the Tsunami 2 decoders.
I have been running sound on DC since last year when I purhased my first engine, a Bachman, with a Sound Trax dual decoder. I really like the effects I heard even on DC when I first turned it on. The horn activated as well as the bell, but they finally were silent and all you heard was the engine sound but nothing else, but this was the beginning of a new world for me. Remember, I had never experienced sound on any of my railroads. My Athearn Seaboard RS unit is about the same but the horn is stronger, engine sounds are good, but the bell goes on forever in DC.
I then purchased the MTH steamer and wow what a difference. Nice start, very slow with the chuffing sound, no whistle or bell. I also noticed sometimes the engine sound dropped in and out and control of speed was somewhat erratic. Not a smooth ride.
Two more Bachmans were added to the stable of motive power, with the same limited operations. Then one day I saw and purchased a Walthers 2000, (Life Like Proto version) F unit. It was in kit form, more or less, highly detailed but assembly required. I even hand painted it in Southern colors. It’s sound was produced by a QSI decoder, good deep horn with bell and nice moto