lose sound every 15 minutes

Did you install a battery and see if it still has the same issue. 

Are you saying if you do a power cycle for 30 seconds on the track and then start up again that the sound will not come back?  Do you lose the whistle and bell sound, or just the chuffing?  You mention smoke, do you actually lose the smoke puffing?  That would indicate the chuff switch is not working.

All functions are working properly, except chuffing, smoke and brake sounds. Whistle and bell are working fine. Yes, I do lose smoke. It seems that all 3 functions share a common circuit. These are the only things going out after 15 minutes running. I would say something is heating up in the circuit after 15 minutes running and cooling down and making contact again. The batteries and hand control are fine.   Dennis Brown

It seems the common denominator here is the chuff switch or it's input.  Losing the switch closure would result in the locomotive not chuffing, and no smoke chuff.  Also, since the RS board thinks you're stopped, you'd get no brake sounds. 

FWIW, I've seen the chuff switches stop working after some running, and then start again after "resting".

I don't see any way you won't have to open it up and start checking things.

I believe that locomotive has a "puffer" type smoke unit. (It's been a couple of years since I've had one apart.) That suggests that something is freezing the smoke actuator and the chuff switch, which if I remember correctly are located right together. Something is likely heating up and freezing in place, and when it cools off it comes free. I'd inspect and manipulate everything in that area. The most likely culprit is the smoke piston getting stuck in its sleeve, but there are other possibilities. This is definitely a case for hands-on diagnosis with the boiler shell off. 

thanks gunrunnerjohn         DENNIS BROWN

THANKS  SOUTHWESTHIAWATHA   DENNIS BROWN