"Fixed" Lionel Blue Comet Whistle

Keep us posted Stelios! This could be interesting.

How were you following up with them every month?  Phone calls or through their website?  I'd love to get the whistle changed, I just hate the sound of the one in it now.  

Persistence has been the key to getting my problems solved with MTH, I am surprised Lionel needed as much prodding as you had to do. I am glad you have the whistle problem resolved. Fred

I received back my tender from Lionel service today and the service note states "Reprogrammed sound board".  So how does it sound?  The following video begins with the "fixed" 2012 Legacy Blue Comet #832 and finishes with my 2001 TMCC Blue Comet #831.  

 

Personally I think it sounds MUCH BETTER and no longer sounds like a diesel horn.  For some reason I still like the sound of the TMCC whistle better, however the sound quality of the Legacy RailSounds blows away the RS4 and check out the "steam" volume from the whistle .

 

You be the judge...

 

Lionel, thank you very much for taking care of your customers and listening to us.  Job well done!! 

Wow! What an improvement!! I wonder if they will fix everyone elses? Credit to you for being persistent Stelios,and credit to MR for making things right!

John, when you say 3 tone quill, you are referring to the Legacy whistle correct?

 

Also, besides the better speakers there is a lot less "hiss" in the audio.

I would assume that anyone that calls customer service will get an RA to have their sound board reprogrammed.

Sounds a lot better. In fact, it sounds like the whistle of a N&W J. Perhaps that's the whistle for the new Legacy Scale J...

Thats sounds great and I like it much better than the 2001 whistle too.  I'm all over Lionel about it now until I get mine reprogrammed.

 

Thanks for helping the rest of us get this fixed!

Hey all, To have your Legacy Blue Comet up-revved just contact us 586-949-4100, ext 2. Sorry Stelios, you weren't getting special treatment! It just took time to get the sound file into the development schedule, tested and released. Unfortunately time is never on your side when there is a burning fire! Thanks, Mike Lionel

I got my tender back yesterday from Lionel  They fixed the whistle  Haven't brought it to the club yet  I applaud Lionel for recognizing the problem and fixing it

Gotta admit it, that is a better sound. I didn't think I'd minded the more "honking" whistle, but you guys are right!

 

Time to get my RA. Thanks "Mikado Mike" and Lionel.

 

Bruce

I'll be calling for an RA for the blue comet whistle fix next week when I get off the road.  With the right whistle, this engine is one of my favorites of all time.

Hi all,

 

The new sound file is certainly an improvement.  It's nice that Lionel can now change a sound file without making a hardware change.  Hopefully in the future we'll be able to make these changes ourselves with the right software.  That would save a lot of postage for both us and Lionel.

 

Maybe someday we could even load a sound file with the correct whistle for the Blue Comet.  One of the original whistles from a CNJ P47 Pacific has apparently been preserved.  A brief recording is available HERE.  I believe MTH used this recording for their Blue Comets.  Making a quilllable version would require a much longer recording.  Probably nothing short of a dedicated recording session is required to get all the subtle transitions between each level.

From the "original "bad whistle" thread.

 

 

I agree it really does sound like a J class Hancock 3 chime. 

Mike Reagan made mention at the LUG meeting of being able to "reprogram" sounds and such in the version boards they are using.  Fortunately for them and unfortunately for us is has to be done at Lionel CS.  Less chance of problems I guess for them and an inconvenience for us.

From the "original "bad whistle" thread.

 

The problem with the whistle in that video is it is known to NOT be from an actual CNJ P-47.  As the video's producer clearly states, it is simply the best recollection of Mr. Brower that the whistle being played sounds like what he remembers.  I don't know Mr. Brower, but for him to remember an actual Blue Comet P-47 in service he would have to be at least in his late 70's today.  It has been 70+ years since anyone heard a Blue Comet whistle in service.  Such recollections are seldom reliable.

 

On the other had, the recording I linked to is from Horns Inc.  The site is mostly dedicated to diesel air horns, but the sound library does include a few steam whistles.  The particular recording is purported to be of a whistle from an actual CNJ 800 series P-47 Pacific currently owned by a Mr. D. Ward.  I have never met Mr. Ward either, and it's certainly possible that he is mistaken on the origins of his whistle.  However, it would certainly seem a better place to start than a 70+ year old memory.

I am very glad you folks were able to get this whistle fixed.

I just wish they would fix the backwards simple/compound sounds on the JLC N&W Y6b!

The newer boards allow the change with minimal expense and work and can be easily handles at CS. 

 

The older boards this is not the case.

 

I just wish they would fix the backwards simple/compound sounds on the JLC N&W Y6b!

Just curious but is the 2001 Comet a correctly scaled locomotive or is it similar to the handsome (but too long) K4 Pacific from a year or two later?

That's a good question.  I have no idea.  I do know that it is physically identical to the current Legacy version with the exception that it does not have the hole for the whistle steam.

 

quote:

The newer boards allow the change with minimal expense and work and can be easily handles at CS. 

 

The older boards this is not the case.

 

I just wish they would fix the backwards simple/compound sounds on the JLC N&W Y6b!

 

 

"There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit."

 

Marty,

Expense shouldn't have been a concern and I don't care who gets the credit, this glaring mistake should have been fixed a long time ago!

 

Way go Blue Comet fans!

 

 

Sent my Blue Comet Tender into Lionel on Monday (I took the tender body off and sent it without it so it wouldn't get scratched in the process).  They received it Wednesday and had the sound board flashed and shipped out the same day.  Just received it back today.  Sounds Fantastic!  Nice Low Steamboat whistle.  I think this forum helped make this happen.  I'm so happy with this engine now.  I hated running it before with that bleeding goat sound of a whistle.  Thanks to all that helped push this through Lionel.

 

Can someone post a video of this new whistle because if it sounds goodI might get it

It is in the sixth post above.

Sent mine in on Wednesday and got an email that they received it today. Sounds like i'll have it back soon. They requested that I send the engine too.

Why would they need your engine too?  One poster just sent them the tender without the shell which I thought a was a great idea.  It's just a sound chip update.  I would check again about sending them the engine and the extra cost and risk doing that first.

I believe they want the loco and tender in most cases so that they can test it to be sure that "your loco and tender" work correctly. Having said that I'd never send the tender without the shell, seems like your asking for damage to the electronics.

I wrapped it in lots of bubble wrap, no way the electronics would get damaged, there's just 2 little boards.  No way I wanted a scuff or scratch on my pristine blue comet body. It worked for me-everything works perfect.  Circuit boards are in every part of life, they aren't  as delicate as everyone makes them out to be.  Static is the biggest culprit.  I wrapped it in brown paper first then bubble wrap

One thing I noticed with fixed tender sound was continious sounding, whereas the earlier one you can hear where the sound momentarialy stops then re-starts, ie loop effect. 

My MTH engines all seem to exhibit this loop effect. Seems that with a little judicious sound editing MTH could have gotten the sound file waveform "ends" to match up so sound runs continiously rather than hiccupping.  But maybe the processor isn't fast enough or the file can only be a certain size forcing the processor to stop and reset to the start of the sound file.

I had to send back both engine & tender. Just shipped it back in the original box and outside carton. Should arrive back on track next week.

I got my RA number from Lionel and just sent mine in today.  Lionel requested the locomotive as well to fully test the upgrade.   They should receive engine and tender on Tuesday.  I'll post again when I receive it back and give it test.  I'm really looking forward to this enhancement of the whistle.

The new whistle is great. L also fixed a smoke issue. Thanks Lionel

I just got my Blue Comet locomotive and tender back from Lionel after the whistle upgrade / fix and I could not be happier!  Mike and team did a fantastic job and my engine arrived safe and sound with a fantastic whistle sound to go along with the beautiful looks and performance.

Here's a quick video of my Blue Comet, before and after:



I big thank you to Lionel and especially Mike Reagan for hear us and working with the rest of the company to get a fix for us.  It truly IS an upgrade!

Paul,

That original whistle sounded ilke a diesel!

This newer whistle and all, sound like the 'Real-Deal!' 

Lionel did a fantastically great job!!!!

Congratulations Paul and enjoy your beautiful "BLUE COMET!"

Ralph-RJL 

I totally agree.  The original "whistle" / horn was just awful...Now it's fixed!

........and if you close your eeyes you can picture the new legacy j