Are there any excellent sounding, stand alone, steam whistle systems?

Hi 

there is a lionel ow whistle station that does what you want. Simplest to set up and use. There is also a whistle button. I don't know the item number. I do not use the whistle station any longer.  after you read on it, if you are interested, email me 

ralph

I am looking for the sound of the modern engines, not a postwar station.  Is that what you have?

MRC made a sound effects box with a number of different sounds, steam and diesel.  It might still be available.

A few years ago I purchased off of e-bay a "Super Horn" made by Roanoke Electronics, it is approx 6''x6"'x4'', it has a volume control, 4 different horn/whistle settings and either steam or diesel bell and it has a long and short switch to control the duration  of the whistle. It is powered by a wall wort, and I have it connected to 4 speakers around the layout. I am sure would fit the bill for what you are looking for. I have no idea if the co. is still making these, if not, keep checking on the bay and I am sure one will come up for sale! I really do like mine!

Dallee Electronics has sound systems.  They advertise that they can be used as stand alone systems.

 

BTW, I once hooked up an old Ott diesel sound board to my stereo system, it rattled the windows!

A quick check of the MRC web site shows Symphony 77 Sound System (AA555) appears to have been discontinued. There are a few places on line still showing it as available, but it's sold out at Walthers and Amazon.

Micro-Mark had them on sale last year, maybe some left.

I downloaded an Android app called Railroad Companion for my phone.  I need a better speaker setup, but the app has a few different whistles, bells, horns, crossing signals, wheel noise, backgrounds, etc.  Less than $5 to download from Google Play Store.  You could use an old pair of computer speakers.

Hey thanks John.  This looks like the ticket for us conventional operators. http://www.dallee.com/AC_Steam.html

I have one of these. Easy to hook up and use.

Thanks Guys.  Dallee sent be a sound bite.  I'm going to check them out at York. 

Still my favorite.

A American Flyer whistling billboard. 

 

Nick,

I hate to rain on your parade, the link and description on the Dallee website is not a stand alone unit.

The Symphony 77 would be your best bet. I hooked mine to a stereo amplifier. They are not hard to find. (The amp or the 77) Years ago everything including a pair of good speakers ran a affordable, $300.00.

In Dallee's most recent ad, they say it can be used as a stand alone.  Maybe a call to Dallee would be in order before spending any money though.

And you can quill it.  

Electric rail road has stand alone sound for steam with whistle and bell you don't need tmcc for it. 

ERR units are great but they are designed to be carried onboard the locomotive.  I believe the OP is looking for a unit for stationary mounting.

I have two of them on my layout, and I love them (I grew up with Flyer).  But the sound, and sound quality, of the whistle on the videos you guys have posted of the new JLC Big Boy blows me away.  I am anxious to hear it in person at York. 

Just saw one posted on Ebay a little while ago ( I was looking at newly listed items 

Horhaphibia! Worst case I've ever seen.

Try these guys:

ITT Products

 

Jerry

 

Hey thanks for looking out for me Pappy but when I saw this unit it caught my attention.  Not really looking for a stand alone unit.

I have a few of these. really suck the amps to run, however I took one and polished the armature and cleaned the brushes and it sounds really good.

 

 

You could use an Electric Railroad sound system in a stationary, conventional application, but in addition to whistle and bell sounds you'd also get continuous steam background hiss, air compressor, etc. No chuffing, though. 

 

Thanks Kevin!  That's very generous of you.

I think the loudest Postwar whistle unit is the one in the Marx tin Girard station.  There is one on my buddy's AF layout and you can really make it howl. (and the neighbor's dog). 

Are the MARX, and AF whistles similar to Lionel's forced air units?

 

Since we are pointing at some off the wall ideas, I have a automotive radio/CD/mp3 with a remote, memories for "sets"of "song play" order, and "repeat off/on". A CD, or mp3 player of personally gathered sounds would give a nice selection. A good dc power supply for that radio, (and layout lighting too), might be nice.

 

Same principle, except for the AF air chime in some engines.  The Marx station whistle is too large for a Marx tender but would fit in a larger Lionel tender.  There is an interesting variation on the AF billboard whistle, the Erector Set billboard has a two tone whistle with a solenoid opening a shutter on the whistle.  The controller has two buttons - sort of an early quilling effect.  They are somewhat rare and pricey.

I recently scored on a Lionel 2689WX tender and just love the sound.  I admit that it is terribly temperamental though.  I am thinking of keeping the relay in a closed state and just using it on a stationary piece of track with a separate transformer and switch.

 Another cheap sound solution is to find a good chugging steam train or other train with sounds of your liking on youtube.  Turn up the sound while you run your train.  Lots of fun and the grandkids will love it!

"It's a toy - a child's plaything!"    Woody

The Gilbert American Flyer whistles do an amazing job for the money. Plus you can get a really good one for around $40 or so. 

 

There is a more pricey two tone version that also works well.  We did a Collector's Gallery on them a few years ago and were quite impressed by the sound that came out of the units we tried. 

 

Jim Sutter is right about this one!

 

Ed Boyle

Partner

Special Projects Editor

O Gauge Railroading magazine

You could have a blue tooth speaker and have your computer send sounds from different sources on the internet. I have done this with a small cube blue tooth  speaker that was small enough that I could place a gondola. Also power is self contained and is rechargeable so it can be placed in many places.

Wasn't there a OGR advertiser that offered totally reconditioned Flyer Billboards at one time (approx. $50.00) AJTrains@verizon.net  If I'm wrong, please, feel free to delete this post. 

Hook this to an air compressor and you're good to go....

 

Whistle

Yep, the quilling comes just before the fainting.............

I have what you need I lost your mailing information please send it to me again.