Help ID a RailSounds board.

The fastest way to find out is to install it in an engine that has RS4 or RS5.

Hit AUX2 and listen for clear or garbled talk. Also listen for a reference to a Railroad and engine number. Hit whistle and listen for a whistle or horn.

Pete

Sadly (for this case) I don't have any Lionel trains on working condition, :-(, mostly stuff that is scrap an in pieces from changing my O-27 PE Berk over to PS2 many many years ago.

I first brought it over to TCCM many years ago, but since everything else I had was MTH, I eventually made the full conversion.

Now I just pulled a bag of parts and wires that I put all those Lionel parts into years ago, an just kinda trying to figure out what they all are.

I suppose I could try to put things back together enough to try this idea, but as I said its all just parts an wires and I have no idea how it was all hooked up. Would probably fry something in trying.

What you have is a RailSounds 4.0 mother board, sound board, and power board for a steam locomotive.

RS27S432 is the PIC code for the sound chip on the board. The 'S' after the RS27 means it's a steam chip. The 432 is the specific sound set for the chip. Generic RS4.0 steam sound board chips have a PIC code of RS27S015.

And like you said, the other two boards are the mother board and power board to make it work. Off course you also need the wiring harnesses, speaker, and power.

Almost forgot, PIC = Position Independent Code. It's a programming thing, you can google it if you want the technical details.

Wow, all great info Len an thanks so much for all that.

So what ever the case an even though I can't seem to find the 432 chip among the Lionel listings, it probably does have some specific to its own sounds, most likely to its road name an possibly its engine number. Might even have some other specific to that kits call outs such as since it might have come with the freight set I am thinking, it might have call outs for things pertaining that an not commuter stops.

The other thing I was curious about an I think you kinda did answer this, but I seem to have seen the RailSounds boards used in other ways, so why does it need this mother board an Power Module?

Or maybe the better question would be, could this particular rail sounds board be used without those parts and be interchanged in the other places and ways I see them used, or is the fact it came in this configuration mean that for this unit, that is the only way it can be used?

Thanks again so much for the info.

Lionel doesn't normally sell or list the chips themselvs for sale, just the complete RS board. In fact there is only one RS chip available seperately from Lionel, PIC Code RS27S23, and you can only order that under special conditions.

Normally you have to order the complete RS board. Generally, the differences between loco specific boards and generics is what you get in the 'Crew Talk', and sometimes the whistle.

The RS board has to have power at specific voltage/current levels that the power supply is designed to provide. And they are connected to each other, the speaker, and external triggering voltages through the mother board. So for all practical purposes, yes the three boards have to be used together. Normally you would find them in the tender of a steam locomotive.

Some accessories have a version of RailSounds in them, but the physical layout of the RS board may be different, and the power supply built into the accessory.

Great and again , thanks so much for all the info.

In reply I guess I should add that I probably should have written some of that dif in the sense that, what I meant by the chips was the board/chip combo as you said.

Basically I looked on Lionel's website an did a search for rails sounds or 619RC I think it was, an came up with many results all specific to a particular model...where in essence, they all were the same main board, but just a dif programmed chip, but as you said too, is only available as that combo package.

After that I spent time looking through all the results for the further 432 numbers, but couldn't find one.

Guess it really isn't important, but was hoping to match it to the engine/tender I had to really confirm it went with it, with as well that might give me some idea of whats on it. But I guess perhaps maybe they don't offer it anymore for what ever reason, so maybe that's why its not there.

Anyway, again thanks so much for all the info, is probably all that can be gotten this way but certainly has given me a lot more then I had before.

I tracked down the manual for the 6-31963 SP Overnight Freight Set on the Lionel web site. It has a bit more detail on the sounds you get with it's RS board:

"DynaChuff. Your locomotive's speed automatically determines the level of chuffing sounds. At low speeds, the chuffing is relaxed. When you highball down the mainline, the chuffing is labored.

MultiWhistle. A different whistle sound at different speed's -- a RailSounds sound system exclusive.

Authentic bell. Press BELL on your transformer to begin the effect, then press BELL a second time to discontinue the effect.

Reverse unit reset sound. Power down your track, wait three seconds, and listen for the air-release sound's -- that's the locomotive telling you that its Lionel Command reverse unit has reset to forward.

Shutdown sequence. When you turn off track power, you have two seconds to power up again after you hear the reverse unit reset sound. If you do not restore power, you will hear the realistic steam shutdown sequence. Because track power is off, a battery is required for this sequence to function."

It looks like what's unique to this loco's RS functions are the multiple whistles, depending on the loco's speed. And the CrewTalk/TowerTalk will mention the loco's road number on the side of the cab. Unfortunately their's no parts listing for this specific loco, possibly due to limited production. So I couldn't find the full Lionel part number for this specific board.

Wow, thanks so much for this Len.

Yeah, I had that manual from back when I got this engine, but I didn't read it that close.

But thanks for pointing all that out as even if I had, I wouldn't have know any of that stuff was any different from your average system.

All in all it sounds like I have a rather unique RailSounds unit, not the run of the mill.

Also could be that since I can't find it on Lionel's website, that perhaps they don't make it anymore. Which would make it even more of a part to make sure never gets chucked.

With all this talk it really makes me want to get this unit all put back together now.

Won't have time till after the holidays, but I think I have all the parts, I just need to know how they all get wired back together.

But think I will give a go after the holidays.

Again, thanks for all the help Len.