I JUST PURCHASED A LIONEL 6-8101 CHICAGO ALTON

Offensive ?  What kind of bad things is it chugging?

A lot of them have shorted out. If you have not opened the tender I would do so before you run it anymore. The foam rubber under them is known to deteriorate with time and cause them to short out. the sound at best is primitive. I would guess saying no because I'm sure they're both coming out of the same circuit board. You could goto ERR and buy a better sounding board and replace the one you have. You will gain a bell sound and crew talk and tower coms also.

And do not type in caps. 😁

Just a forum thing.

Caps are easier for me to see but I will follow the rules

@Schmitty posted:

Caps are easier for me to see but I will follow the rules

Ok, but in "computer typing", the use of "caps" tends to indicate that one is YELLING.

Dear Schmitty- welcome to the forum. You will find a ton of good info here.  Your engine has the “Mighty Sound of Steam”  ,  which  some folks don’t care for.  My Reading 4-6-2 “steam whistle”  goes  BLEEEE-OOOOB!  Weird! Anyway, WELCOME!!!  (A loud greeting)!  JohnA

Thanks ready to learn

Schmitty

Schmitty, the 3-rail train hobby is a bit more complex than it was in past years. There different electronic functions and features, differing control systems, different track systems, different minimum curve requirements and there's what is now called "traditionally" proportioned and true scale sized trains. Never mind all of the descriptive terms that often get misused.

So in other words, it pays to do some research before you purchase something. You could ask questions here, or see if there is any information on the internet. So I did a search on Google. In the case of your engine, there are two videos of this loco running on YouTube. Had you seen those first, you might have saved some money if you dissatisfied with the sound, as in both videos, you can clearly hear the sound effects of this loco.

That’s the best we had back then. I can’t believe that’s what brought me to the ogauge hobby.

@RickO posted:

Offensive ?  What kind of bad things is it chugging?

Rick the static was very loud need to add new electronics don't know how to up grade

Thanks Schmitty

@romiller49 posted:

That’s the best we had back then. I can’t believe that’s what brought me to the ogauge hobby.

Similar story here.  I have the infamous 18001 Lackawanna Northern.  To the new guy, welcome.  As you learn more, do the upgrade to ERR sound.  You'll be glad you did.

@romiller49 posted:

That’s the best we had back then. I can’t believe that’s what brought me to the ogauge hobby.

Well I love the look of 8101 the color is great and after fiddling with chuffing gears on bottom of tender a little oil electric cleaner and changing speaker it much better

Schmitty

@Schmitty posted:

Caps are easier for me to see but I will follow the rules

If caps work for you -THEN USE THEM - IT IS THE MESSAGE OR REPLY THAT COUNTS - this a train form - not a formal internet dissertation form.

Of the SOS does not sound right, do not hook up the two wires from the engine to the tender.  It will run without it.

If you don't want to attempt a sound upgrade yourself perhaps there is a hobby shop that can do it for you or recommend a repair person.  ERR may be able to help you find someone.  That is a very nice early engine and if you upgraded the sound you would love it.

The ERR RailSounds Commander should be a fairly easy install for this locomotive.  It will greatly improve the sound, that's for sure.

I have this set also. I'm very found of it. The colors are great and I am one of the oddballs that actually enjoys The Mighty Sound of Steam.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

The ERR RailSounds Commander should be a fairly easy install for this locomotive.  It will greatly improve the sound, that's for sure.

John new to hobby  Railsounds Commander ?

TMCC is also a nice feature for speed control where to purchase ?

do the boards come with instructions ?

Thanks Schmitty

Drop me an email to my profile email address, I'll fix you up.

I attached the instructions for the Cruise Commander and RailSounds Commander to this post.