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MTH sound errors

Rich MontagueRich MontagueOGR Forum Member

For the second time in a year, I've received a new model of a GE diesel from MTH equipped with EMD prime mover sounds. Last January it was a pair of Dash 9s. This year it's a Dash 8-40CW from the latest run. MTH has a very good recording of the correct prime mover sounds for the Dash 8s and 9s. It is inexplicable why they are now delivering these engines with EMD sounds.

 

I'm going to send an email off to Andy Edelman about it, but I wanted to bring it to other potential customers' attention as well. 

 

RM

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HW Hot WaterOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Rich Montague:

For the second time in a year, I've received a new model of a GE diesel from MTH equipped with EMD prime mover sounds. Last January it was a pair of Dash 9s. This year it's a Dash 8-40CW from the latest run. MTH has a very good recording of the correct prime mover sounds for the Dash 8s and 9s. It is inexplicable why they are now delivering these engines with EMD sounds.

 

I'm going to send an email off to Andy Edelman about it, but I wanted to bring it to other potential customers' attention as well. 

 

RM

Are you sure that you know the differences between a modern EMD "air start" sound and the GE "air start" sound?

AGHRMattAGHRMattOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER
Originally Posted by Tinplate Art:

Again, what is the difference? 

Modern GE locomotives have 12 or 14-cylinder 4-cycle diesel engines, while EMD was using 16-cylinder 2-cycle engines (though I believe EMD switched to a 14-cylinder 4-cycle recently). . There's a distinct difference in the sound especially at low RPMs and start-up.

 

My suspicion is that they use pre-flashed chips during the assembly process and the wrong set sometimes ends up in a locomotive.

 

 

HW Hot WaterOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by AGHRMatt:
Originally Posted by Tinplate Art:

Again, what is the difference? 

Modern GE locomotives have 12 or 14-cylinder 4-cycle diesel engines,

 

How about 12 and/or 16 cylinder 4 stroke cycle diesel engines?

 

while EMD was using 16-cylinder 2-cycle engines (though I believe EMD switched to a 14-cylinder 4-cycle recently).

 

The EMD 4 stroke cycle engines were either 16 cylinder or 12 cylinder, and they seem to be only offering the 12 cylinder "H Series" engines now.

 

. There's a distinct difference in the sound especially at low RPMs and start-up.

 

Maybe not, as both GE and EMD have been using air supplied starters for some years.

 

My suspicion is that they use pre-flashed chips during the assembly process and the wrong set sometimes ends up in a locomotive.

 

 

 

D500D500OGR Forum Member

"...what is the difference?" Hard to describe in words, as is the difference between any two sounds. EMD did used to be 2-cycle and run at higher RPM, but is now 4-cycle, as is GE.

 

But still, they just don't/didn't sound anything alike. The ultimate inspiration for GE prime movers were Alco designs; GE's sound, to this day, is Alco-like. Chug-chug. They even smoke a bit like them. I've heard or read the comment that "inside every GE is an Alco

trying to get out".

 

So, at least until the recent past, when EMD went 4-cycle, the EMD and GE sounds were

unmistakably different. But you need to pay attention to the real thing.

 

I had an MTH EMD SD-9 upgraded by someone else to TMCC/RS years ago, and the loco was sent back with an Alco sound chip. I immediately called them and they sent a replacement chip for the swap. Just wrong.  

AGHRMattAGHRMattOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by AGHRMatt:
Originally Posted by Tinplate Art:

Again, what is the difference? 

Modern GE locomotives have 12 or 14-cylinder 4-cycle diesel engines,

 

How about 12 and/or 16 cylinder 4 stroke cycle diesel engines?

 

while EMD was using 16-cylinder 2-cycle engines (though I believe EMD switched to a 14-cylinder 4-cycle recently).

 

The EMD 4 stroke cycle engines were either 16 cylinder or 12 cylinder, and they seem to be only offering the 12 cylinder "H Series" engines now.

 

. There's a distinct difference in the sound especially at low RPMs and start-up.

 

Maybe not, as both GE and EMD have been using air supplied starters for some years.

 

My suspicion is that they use pre-flashed chips during the assembly process and the wrong set sometimes ends up in a locomotive.

 

 

 

Thanks. Looks like I wasn't firing on all cylinders.

Rich MontagueRich MontagueOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by Rich Montague:

For the second time in a year, I've received a new model of a GE diesel from MTH equipped with EMD prime mover sounds. Last January it was a pair of Dash 9s. This year it's a Dash 8-40CW from the latest run. MTH has a very good recording of the correct prime mover sounds for the Dash 8s and 9s. It is inexplicable why they are now delivering these engines with EMD sounds.

 

I'm going to send an email off to Andy Edelman about it, but I wanted to bring it to other potential customers' attention as well. 

 

RM

Are you sure that you know the differences between a modern EMD "air start" sound and the GE "air start" sound?

I didn't say anything about start sounds. What I did say is of course accurate. Have a good evening, Jack.

 

RM

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