I’m considering buying a Proto 2000 loco that’s equipped with sound and runs on DC and DCC. I’m just getting back into the modeling side of the hobby, so this will be my first new loco. I’m going to stick with DC for now, as I’ll only have a small time-saver switching layout until time permits expansion. That said, what sort of power supply will I need to run the sound and light options on this loco in DC/analog mode?
The only ones that i know of that can run sound funtions on DC is the Athearn RTR genesis w/ sound and some spectrum w/ sound using the Bachmann throttle with the sound functions. The Athearn comes with a battery powered hand held function throttle with the locomotive. I don’t know if proto 2000 comes with the function throttle because i haven’t purchased nor ran one on my layout in 5 years. I also believe Atlas sound locomotives too have a hand held sound throttle but not sure. I have some of those throttles laying around the house but since i run DCC didn’t pay much attention to them because i chunked them aside and started programming the locomotives for DCC / sound instead. If all possible, try to go DCC as soon as you can. Once you’re hooked on DCC, you’ll never go back.
Nope, they don’t.(Proto) Dunno about Atlas, but that’s a new one on me. BLI sells/sold a piece that operated bell and whistle, don;t know it it’s compatible with Proto. Might be if it were actually sold by LokSound. Most of the engine sounds (diesel/electric) or steam sounds (steam) will take care of themselves and respond to speeding up the loco as you would with Standard DC.
I highly suggest going to DCC also, but if DC is all you need for now, it is cheaper.
Atlas and early BLI use QSI sound decoders. P2K also uses QSI sound decoders. Later BLI/PCM uses ESU-Lok sound decoders, and the new ones has their own sound unit. Atlas and BLI have sold ‘sound control’ add-on units for DC power packs. I am not sure what functions you get other than bell/whistle functions when in DC mode. You might want to visit a LHS that has a test track with one of these add-on devices and try your engine on it. I suspect a P2K will work with one of these units - But it is safe to test first!
BTW, I think these add-ons are in the $30-$50 range. If you are going to have to buy a DC power pack, you might as well buy something like a NCE Powercab(under $150). By the time you get a good MRC power pack and one of these add-on’s, you are very close to going DCC!
Jim Bernier
If the engine uses QSI sound systems, you can use the DC Master Analog Control Module or the Quantum Engineer from BLI/PSC:
Broadway Limited - Accessories
They used to make a little two-button gizmo that did the bell and whistle, apparently they don’t anymore. You could probably find one on the internet or a flea market, they weren’t very expensive as I recall.
Otherwise, QSI sound systems work on normal DC power packs. Most sounds are automatic. For the bell and whistle/horn, IIRC when the train is moving, if you reverse the direction switch, it sounds the whistle; reverse it and then quickly reverse it back and it toggles on the bell.
BTW if you’re starting from scratch with a DCC-sound equipped engine and a new layout, why not get a Digitrax Zephyr or one of the MRC DCC systems and just go right to DCC?? It actually would be easier than wiring a DC layout and including a gizmo to do the whistle and bell etc.[:)]
Thanks guys - the Quantum Engineer is just what I need!
The reason I’m going DC only right now is because of my “layout” conditions. I used to have a layout, lots of trains, DCC, the works. But I joined the military and figured it’d be best to sell everything since I couldn’t take it with me. Well, I miss my trains, but I don’t have room for a layout. So what I’m going to do now is buy 1 loco, a few cars, and some Kato Unitrack. This way I can store what little equipment I have, and set it up whenever I want to run it…just to fend off the hunger for running trains. I considered switching to N Scale too, but the sound isn’t there - and the sound makes a world of difference.
My other option is go delv into the rail sim community, but I’m not sure if that’ll be as satisfying. It’d be nice to design and operate a “model railroad” right on my computer - I’ve seen the programs, but the details don’t look that great.