MTH 2 rail SP GS-4 w/ PS3

@Engineer-Joe posted:

This is a new (to me) MTH engine that I just got and figured I'd better test her. Quick video!

I bought an older MTH 2 rail PS1 model here on the forum and was going to upgrade her to PS3. This one is RTR!!

Something odd about the whistle. Sure doesn't sound like a "deep steamboat" whistle prototypical to SP GS class locomotives, especially #4449.

Well Sir! I know you must be correct. My camera takes off some of the bass. It sounds better in person.

I thought it sounded good, but I don't know what it should sound like.

I should make a better video and maybe enable the playable feature too? I know, wrong is wrong.

Maybe the playable feature took away some of the correct sound sampling?

or just maybe, a better speaker is needed!

This video popped up in a quick search

@Engineer-Joe posted:

This video popped up in a quick search

Nice video but that 6 chime whistle sound is an SP freight locomotive whistle. All the SP Gsd class locomotives carried a Hancock flat-top deep steamboat whistle. Search for videos of SP 4449, and you will find literally HUNDREDS with the deep steamboat whistle. That said, we did carry a chime whistle on the Fireman's side, which should NOT be confused with the CORRECT SP steamboat whistle.

Maybe your video, above, distorted the actual sound of the model. I had at least 3 or 4 SP GS-4 models from MTH and Sunset/3rd Rail, and they all had a correct sounding SP GS whistle.

@Engineer-Joe posted:

That video is of the last main line excursion handled by 4449, in 2017. She was also caring the "newly" mounted original SP GS-4 whistle, which had not yet been "tuned", and seemed to have a bit of a "chirp" when played. For what it's worth, all original SP GS whistles were air-valve operated by the Engineer, i.e. the whistle was either "on" or "off", and could NOT be played. On 4449 that air operating steam valve was removed and the whistle connected by a steel cable to the Engineer's operating lever. Thus, being playable as needed.

I appreciate the help here.

I will check further into this. I keep going with what video pops up first. I'll have to listen to many more.

I'm excited to try a better speaker in the tender and try a baffle on it as well if needed.

I'll also listen to other MTH releases to see how they compare.

To a lay person like me, I think they sound like my other challenger type engines. So, it will be good to learn the difference.

It's great to hear from you!

what do you think of this video?

Hey Joe.

Nice collection of videos showing whistle variations.

On a side note, what is the radius you're running on you O Scale layout?

@AGHRMatt posted:

Hey Joe.

Nice collection of videos showing whistle variations.

On a side note, what is the radius you're running on you O Scale layout?

Hmmm. Well...?

I thought I'd always remember! I don't. I'll have to check. I remember trying to draw the curves around with a homemade stick pencil set-up and adding easements.

I think they're 5' radius?

Hard to measure now with the slight easements.

The outside main looks more like 5' radius. So, the inside maybe like 56"? Every corner is different like an amateur made it!