MTH Rail King 30-1107 Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger

https://mthtrains.com/20-3000-1

that is a proto sound engine to get anything more then you would have to change the board's from proto  sound to ps 2 3 volt or  put a steam kit in the engine . the kits alone are $199.00 plus install or if you join the mth premiere or reaiking for $50.00 you can then buy the kit for 169.00 plus shipping $18.00. there there would be the cost of labor unless you install it your self. if you install it yourself there would be no warranty from MTH unless an ASC tech installed for you !

You can find a used Protosound board for around $50-60 with suitable sounds.  It's a complete replacement for the electronics in the tender, and typically it's a pretty easy install.  It's likely that you won't have to do anything to the locomotive as the 4-pin tether has the same connections, track power and motor.  You can also use the same speaker as is already in the tender.

That won't work John.  First, this is kind of what you want, Post war like but better, no battery. Just a reliable electronic reverse unit with whistle.

If you want sound upgrade on that unit which has the DCRU you need the QSI sound upgrade.  Two extra boards.  Power Supply and Sound board.  It becomes a 3 stack set up.  It will also have a battery.  You just remove some jumpers and plug the board set in. 

Or you find a MTH OEM set up which is a 2 stack set up.  The bottom board has a built in PS for the sound board.  In this case you remove the tender boards completely and replace with new.  You also have battery with this one.  Plus need to add a volume control.

Or you upgrade to PS-32 Steam.  That does require complete redo of tender and engine, but gives you lastest electronics. G

What won't work, putting the Protosound boards in?  Why not?

GGG posted:

Or you find a MTH OEM set up which is a 2 stack set up.  The bottom board has a built in PS for the sound board.  In this case you remove the tender boards completely and replace with new.  You also have battery with this one.  Plus need to add a volume control.

First you say it won't work, then you suggest the exact same thing.

This sounds like my issues with the K4.

“.., this is kind of what you want, Post war like but better, no battery. Just a reliable electronic reverse unit with whistle.” I couldn’t put it better, although a better suite of sounds would be nice - chuff and bell, mostly. 

gunrunnerjohn posted:

What won't work, putting the Protosound boards in?  Why not?

GGG posted:

Or you find a MTH OEM set up which is a 2 stack set up.  The bottom board has a built in PS for the sound board.  In this case you remove the tender boards completely and replace with new.  You also have battery with this one.  Plus need to add a volume control.

First you say it won't work, then you suggest the exact same thing.

 You said install Protosound board.  That is singular and means to me a MTH PS-1 top board.  Doesn't work with a DCRU which does not have the power supply parts to run the MTH PS-1 top board.  Maybe that is not what you meant, but that is what it means to me.  I was being more specific to help people with less knowledge.  As both QSI, MTH OEM, and Protosounds upgrades where available in the day. 

So I specified a QSI set of Power Supply and Sound board (small connector pins by the way)  that does mate to a DCRU and becomes 3 stack QSI set up.

OR, MTH Protosounds was 2 board stack and the bottom board is not a DCRU.  Hence why I spelled it out.  He needs both MTH boards to do a Protosounds upgrade.  G

Clearly, since I stated it was a complete replacement for the current tender boards, it was referring to the set.

Ok Clearly stated, if you say so.   G

I remember I purchased this type of Railking Challenger from a train show in early 2016. It had been modified with a ProtoSound 2 system. When I tried to run it, it didn't run very smoothly. It was probably due to the wire harness not being fully plugged into the outlet. Are there any solutions to resolve this?

If plug goes in and runs, might not be that.  Some installs require filing opening on shell and or proper position of the engine PCB so that plug goes all the way in.  Can also be other mechanical issues, sound file/tach tape issue, harness rubbing on Flywheel, so hard to say.  G

@GGG posted:

If plug goes in and runs, might not be that.  Some installs require filing opening on shell and or proper position of the engine PCB so that plug goes all the way in.  Can also be other mechanical issues, sound file/tach tape issue, harness rubbing on Flywheel, so hard to say.  G

Thank you for your input. We'll try what we can.