Weird sounds from my PS2 loco...am I hearing things?

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I recently purchased the MTH Erie Triplex Loco which came with PS2. When I first power it up, I hear what seem to be sound imperfections; but being a newbie, I’m not totally sure. I took it to an Authorized Service Center to have it looked at since it was still under warranty. The person there told me that everything that I hear is normal for the loco…toy train and real. I was thinking about taking it to a second ASC for a second opinion. Maybe someone here with more experience then I have can give me their opinion and save me a trip.

  1. I hear a “whine” type of noise that rises in pitch for the first 3 seconds that the loco is on. I was told that this sound simulates a noise that you would here in the real loco…a generator I believe he said it was but don’t quite remember.

  2. I hear a very low “buzz” sound that come from the loco itself (all of the other noise come from the tender). This noise is in sequence with the chuffing sound and I think it is the fan that is blowing the smoke out of the stack.

  3. (What bothers me the most is) The chuffing seems to be accompanied by a static hiss when it sounds. It’s not a constant hiss…but there is a small hiss with each chuff. The guy at the ASC was not able to here this at all….but I know it’s there.

Has anyone else heard these types of noises with their PS2 equipped locos? Should I take it in for a second opinion? Or am I making too much of this? I’ll admit that there are times that I hear things that a lot of people wouldn’t and tend to get annoyed at times…sharp TRAINed musician ears I guess. I just want to make sure all is operating correctly while it’s still under warranty. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

2

I’ve got only one in steam. Goes sssss [letting steam off] and then as it moves it goes SSSHHH, SSSHHH, SSSHHH and then the chuffs start.

3

Yes, I have heard the same things from PS2 locos. Everything you describe sounds pretty normal from my experience. These things don’t have high-end sound systems in them. At least not “high-end” to those of us with trained musical ears. [;)]

FWIW, you might try charging the battery a bit, and see if that helps.

Regards,
Clint

By the way, the “buzz” sound from the loco is probably the smoke unit fan, and yes, it’s normal.

4

Water is not compressible so a locomotive starting up will open the cylinder cocks to preheat the cylinder. This is the hissing sound. I’m sorry but this is not what a loco starting up really sounds like. Even a small steam switcher screams like a banshee when the steam cocks are first started up. There are several auxialiry pumping devices that come on line at start up as well. The airpumps come on line to charge the brakes, there is probably a blower for forced draft for the firebox and then there is probably a small turbine for electric power. An noted in the previous posts, these are normal and at least make a stab at getting it right.

5

Thanks a lot everyone for the responses. Guess I should remember that they don’t inicluded high end sound systems.[:O]

6

They only have a 2" speaker in them at most.