i’m bout to start work on my new layout as most of you know and heard that trains now have sound actually on the train that makes noise and it runs around the track. is this true? what are they called so i can look for that feature? thanks. i’ll be doing n scale if that matters.
In N scale, sound equipped locomotives are very scarce because the electronics technology is just reaching the point of necessary miniaturization, and most of them require that you be running your layout using Digital Command Control.
HO and larger scales have had on-board sound for several years, now, and more and more manufacturers are offering sound equipped engines.
This is typically done with a DCC system using a sound decoder. DCC is Digital Command Control, which was the latest thing until sound came along. Basically, each engine gets a computer chip (called a “decoder”) and then you use another computer chip in your controller to direct each engine individually.
I’ve just spent the evening installing my first sound decoder upgrade in an HO locomotive. You see, I bought an engine that already had sound installed in it, and now I’m hooked. All the other engines are way too quiet now, so I’ve begun the process of adding sound to a few of them.
Some of these decoders will work on old-fashioned DC layouts, but you don’t get all the “bells and whistles.” On mine, I like bells and whistles.
There are a few N-scale engines with sound installed. It’s a very tight fit, even in HO, so I would definitely go with factory-installed sound if you have the choice. I’ve seen sound in a couple of diesels, but for N-scale I think most sound-equipped engines are big steam, using the tender for the speaker and extra electronics. Steam, by the way, really comes alive with sound.
It matters a lot. The smaller the locomotive the squeekier the sound. HO scale is pretty bad, I’ve not heard the N-scale units but some say they aren’t too bad. The only manufacturer that I know makes factory N-scale sound is Precision Craft Models. They make E units. Alco P units. and one steamer.
http://precisioncraftmodels.com/Diesel-Locomotive:-N-Scale-c3113.html
Some that exist:
http://precisioncraftmodels.com/N-Scale-c3096.html
Also, MRC has a decoder and Aztec a frame for some Atlas diesels:
http://www.aztectrains.com/pages/DCCFrames2.html
There are some decoders that will fit in steam tenders, some put them into B units.
There is sound boards for Atlas N Scale locomotive-see page 106 December,2006 MR.
so to run these i just get a DCC controller and then buy a train with the onboard sound installed? or do i need that Digital Command Control program also? sorry haven’t followed this new technology lately!
Yes. Hook up two wires from the DCC to the track. Plug it in and turn it on. Put train on track. Dial up channel #3. Run the train.
DCC is Digital Command Control. You don’t need any of the programs, unless you plan to further customize (i.e. program) the locos with special functions or sounds. Most DCC systems have programming abilities for changing all the normal DCC functions (like channel number). Installing new sounds is a totally different beast that I presume will require specialized computer software and interface.
In the HO world, there are factory equipped sound systems that operate on either DC or DCC systems. I’m not sure if dual mode sound is available in N-scale yet. I was already into DCC before I acquired onboard sound so I don’t know if you can use all the sound capabilities if you are running DC. For example, in DCC, I can sound a whistle for a steam locomotive or a horn for a diesel locomotive just by pressing the correct function key on my throttle. I can also ring the bell for either type of loco. I don’t know how you would do that with a DC system. With steam, the chuffing of the engine is timed to the speed of the loco. Once you get your first sound loco, you will be hooked and won’t want anything else. While you may not need DCC to have onboard sound, I would recommend you go with DCC. It will be more expensive to start out with, but it is well worth the money.
With DC and Broadway Limited locomotives in HO, and others which use QSI sound systems, you sound the bell by quickly reversing the direction switch and back. It rings till you repeat the back and forth with the direction switch. The horn is triggered by reversing direction and sounds till you set the switch back to the original position.
To actually change direction, you reduce the throttle setting below the “start-up threshold”, revers the direction switch, and start up the loco again.
If more control is needed, you can buy a Quantum Engineer module, which allows you to control all the sound and lighting functions. They also allow you to program individual registers much like DCC does.
They run about $50 at the LHS.
Some of the Loksound decoders also have DC functionality, but I don’t have any of them and don’t know the details.
DCC is pretty simple in theory, and can be fairly simple in practice. But it also allows, if you want, an immense amount of customization, which can get very techie and complex, especially when you get into some of the high-end (and of course high-dollar) sound systems.
Here’s a link to a pretty good introduction to DCC, from Tony’s Trains, one of the best at DCC:
http://tonystrains.com/tonystips/dccprimer/index.htm
You can browse online, or download in PDF format.
A bit of poking around on the Tony’s site might be instructive, too.
You might also look for a club in your area. Many have club layouts, and many members will have their own as well, with a wide variety of very cool stuff you can try “hands on”.
Most of us who’ve tried sound will predict that once you try it, you’ll be hooked!
You can check the sound out if you go to youtube.com and search for model railroad, there are alot of video’s with the sound equiped loco’s. Hope this helps.