ERR RAILSOUND COMMANDER

I dunno, "double chiffon" sounds pretty stylish to me, at least at the Senior Prom.

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It is triggered by a magnetic reed switch, typically, but could also be triggered by a

micro switch (as on a cam or in the linkage) just as well. The concept is a make-and-

break so far as I know. I have installed many with the reed switch on a tender wheel.

I have no experience with optical sensors.

If you put 2 reed switches/magnets (in series or parallel? I don't know - series I think) on 2 independent tender wheels (and trucks, even) you would get a simulated 2-3 chuffs

(or chiffons on the French steamers) per switch that would go in and out of syncopation

which would be proper ONLY on a simple (non-compound, like a 4-6-6-4) articulated. A true Mallet (like the USRA 2-6-6-2) sounds just like a "regular" 2-cylinder loco (only the low-pressure cylinders exhaust to the atmosphere). At road speeds the syncopated chuffs would blend just as on a real steamer.

A typical model simple articulated (like a Challenger) cannot ever trigger the independent chuffs by using its drivers because: they are geared together on a single big motor in the cab and do not turn independently. A real articulated's two "engines"

drivers are connected only by the track they run upon and never turn at precisely the

same speed.

A RK (and Lionmaster, I believe) articulated has 2 motors that turn independently,

like a typical model diesel, so you night do it with one of those.

The answer to your question is "maybe".

There is an ERR sound set for an articulated locomotive available that does the double chuff for you and even varies the difference between them.  I have it in a K-Line Allegheny that I upgraded with a Cruise Commander.

I Have 2 Williams Brass engines and a K-Line I would like to upgrade with the ERR. How do you know what the steam sound sets sound like?  I see they have small, medium, large and articulated steam sound boards but is there a way to hear what sound each one generates?

Thanks

Probably the easiest way is to skywire the sound modules to a Cruise Commander and address them.  All you need on the cruise commander is power and perhaps an antenna.  Then you plug the RS jumper wire to the RS Commander and connect the speaker.  You should be able to wire this on the bench in about five minutes.

Thanks for the reply John, I am actually talking about when ordering the sound board itself. I want to upgrade but not sure of what sounds are produced with each of the steam options boards.

I've always thought it would behoove ERR to provide a sample wave file of each sound for prospective customers.

I think Boxcar Bill has some of the sound files.

I am working on updating the website to play the sound sets.  Hopefully within a few weeks that will be finished.

That is excellent news. Please keep us updated when they are up and running.

Thank you