Uniquely, both the original chip and the upgrade have a sound file for when the throttle is closed at speeds above 15-ish scale mph, that leads many of us (apparently) to conclude that it must be rod sounds. I know this can’t be true since the rods all had bearings, but it begs the question…what is that synched rahgaa…rahgaa…rahgaa* sound when the throttle is closed? Back pressure on the poppets…what?
-Crandell
*Sorry, it’s the best I can do for the sound.
Crandell, I haven’t heard the sound-fitted T-1, so what follows is no more than educated guesess.
It may well be that the sound you describe is intended to simulate the rods clanking. Even engines with roller bearings on all the rods and motion still make some clanking sounds when drifting. There has to be some clearance between the moving parts, even if it is only a couple of thou - otherwise the whole lot would simply bind up solid and not move! And on engines with more than tqo coupled axles the rods are articulated, a further source of noise.
As for your suggestion of “back pressure” on the poppets, I’m not sure what you mean by that. One of the great advantages claimed for Franklin poppet valves was the reduction of back pressure to the bare mininum necessary for effective draughting.
Perhaps the sound is meant to represent the air compressors? The only other possibility that occurs to me is the sound is that of the snifting valves? That’s a real stab in the dark, since I’m uncertain whether T-1s had them.
All the best,
Mark.
I have the PRRT&HS CD of PRR steam engines and a T1 was very unique. It has a very distinct PHTT! each time the valves either closed or opened. Don’t know which. As far as rod noise it could be possible if only the main rods had roller bearings but I doubt that would be programmed on purpose. Could be the sound used isn;t based on the prototype. It has happened in the past and will happen in the future.
Thanks, Gentlemen. I wish I could get this resolved because not a single other engine I have does this…well, not quite true…the Tsunami decoder has a rod clank during drifting, but it isn’t much like what I am hearing out of the T1. Even so, both sound metallic and not a steam or air-related thing.
I was born twenty years to late. [:(] And in the wrong place to boot.
-Crandell
Over on the BLI forum, a person says he talked to Tony’s Train Exchange and that they know of the sound. They contend that it is a corrupted sound file and that they can fix it if we send in the chip.
Hmmph! I thought it sounded kinda cool. Now I gotta find a way to shake it out of my head.