Ok I run only modern diesels SD70M or ACe. The daughter wants a steamer with sound. She will be 6 this month and I am trying to encourage her interest in model trains. The wood train set that she has ( Thomas ) She loves. I have an extra MRC Prodigy express that I was going to set up on a module about the size of her wood train table so i can set on top and remove easily, use Kato Unitrack (I have a lot laying around). I am looking for suggestions on a mid sized steamer that comes with DCC sound or easily added. UP a plus...
Gonzo, the only 2 steamers that I can think of with sound are the Athearn Challengers and Big Boys.... Sound in a Bachmann 2-8-0 has been done, and it does look like a Harriman 2-8-0 http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?107497-Speaker-for-my-2-8-0-Sound-Project http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?107311-My-Latest-Project-Sound-in-a-2-8-0
Out of the box with sound included there are 4 options: Athearn - Challenger (UP, D&RGW, Clinchfield) Athearn - Bigboy (UP) Walthers - Y3 USRA 2-8-8-2 (N&W, Santa Fe, PRR, UP) Intermountain - Cabforward AC-8, AC-10, AC-11, AC-12 (SP) Of those, only the Cabforward is currently available. The Athearn Challenger and Big Boy due in the future but are currently 6 months behind schedule and now have been scheduled tentatively for late summer mid fall. The best sounding of the bunch is the Walther Y-3 but they have been long gone for a couple years. Easy to add sound..... Bachmann N&W J-Class - simple solder in with a speak mount already in the tender. FVM Hiawatha - NMRA 8 pin plug in with speaker mount in tender. (More due later this year) Beyond that, most steam is not too painful to put sound in, providing the tender is large enough. The standard USRA tender is about as small as you want to attempt on a first install. Everything fits pretty reasonably without getting to creative in this size tender. Larger is always easier (except for the Kato GS-4). I have a strong feeling that Bachmann may try something with sound installed for the 2013-2014 product announcements.
The Intermountain SP AC-12 Cab Forward comes with DCC & sound. At $350 +/-, Not what I would suggest as a child's toy. Bachmann makes the J class 4-8-4 #611 with a tender designed for a sound decoder install. It has a place for a 14mm round speaker. This install is not difficult but requires soldering as most all will. Many of the Bachmann Spectrum with DCC equipped are candidates for sound decoders. I have converted the 2-10-2, 2-6-6-2 Mallet and 4-8-2 Heavy Mountain with good success. I would also recommend Kato's GS-4 as a non complicated install for sound. I'm sure others will have some more good ideas for you. Happy railroading Harold
I did the 2-8-0 in the message threads linked above. The installation is modestly challenging, but I'm happy to consult if you want to go that route. John Colombo (jdcolombo@gmail.com)
