New Lionel 2016 PS-1 sound cars

Railsounds posted:

SIRT posted:

Problem with DCS is once the MTH diesels pass, the train has no rail sounds. Kind of defeats the purpose. Another missed $ opportunity by the marketers.

 

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your point, but since the Lionel PS-1 sound box cars are conventional, they can be used freely under DCS or any other control system--or a conventional transformer-controlled layout.

In other words - I don't plan on buying any more cars since I have several hundred. After the engines pass by, basically we have quietness with the rest of the train.

If a box car sound retro kit was offered, I would buy and install a bunch. Like I said, why is it that we have had sounds in power units but no rail car sounds in O until now?

Well, I received my package with my PS-1 cars today. It's as Railsounds above described. The one page instructions in essence say - congrats! To make the car work just put it on the track, set on/off to on, set min/max as you desire and talley ho!  

Haven't tried any yet, but my initial reaction was two-fold: (a) cars themselves are nice: and (b) slight disappointment in that they appear to have no Legacy controlled intelligence?  So, you won't be using these to further build a Legacy train and you won't be firing any sounds with the Legacy remote. Again, this is initial as I haven't put them on the track and fired them up yet. 

Peter

That's correct--these are conventional cars, triggered by motion start, stop and speed changes. As such, they are compatible with a variety of control systems and will run on AC or DC-powered track. 

The other thing that struck me was that MSRP is like $130 for each one, whereas, the Vision 3-pack is MSRP'ed at like $300 I believe?  At first I thought this was much better deal - only get sound cars and not have to buy 2 extra non-sound cars.  As it turns out, street price on PS-1 is like $100 and $250 for Vision 3 pack.  If a typical non-sound box car is approx. $60 (?), then you're paying approx. $130 for the Vision sound car - and that extra $30 gets you embedded Legacy intelligence and a suite of sounds, many of which you control with your remote. To be clear, I'm not complaining, just wondering aloud about the value proposition....

I received my B&O today. I decided to preorder when someone pointed out I can exchange shells with other PS-1 cars I already own.

I'd agree that the clanking sounds are a little too prominent and that the wheel grind sounds should be heard more at slow speeds.

Overall, nice though.

Very happy with the sounds the cars provide - however, they are a lot larger than I ever expected! Really wish they were more traditionally sized to fit in with the rest of my items.

These are among the smallest O Scale boxcars. They are not traditional O gauge. Weaver made some  smaller O scale box cars, they might show up in the LionScale line.

Andrew

There seems to be folks happy with the new cars, and some not so happy with these new cars? I have 4 on the way, plan on placing 2 in each freight train running on the layout.  For you fellows that have these cars, what's your thoughts on thus scenario?  The only set that I used to have were the VisionLine Ethanol Cars. They were neat.....Thank You, now Happy Railroading....

Mixed bag for me.  I like the car's themselves and the paint jobs, and the sound quality is good. But the sounds seem random, in that they play at the wrong times.  I have them on a long consist with my Vision Railsounds cars and the VR cars squeal on turns, screech when braking and clunk clunk rhythmically down the pike. These things screech whenever, bang for no apparent reason, and clunk clunk not at all rythmically or consistently. Maybe they'll grow on me. 

PJB posted:

... I like the car's themselves and the paint jobs, and the sound quality is good. But the sounds seem random, in that they play at the wrong times.  ... 

I'm glad I didn't go overboard on these sound cars.  I only ordered one (Pennsy).  And based on early feedback, I too would have preferred more wheel-squealing as opposed to excessive clunking.  For the price, these sounds should not be random but based on car motion.

Oh well, I guess I'll stop while I'm ahead with just one... that is until Lionel comes out with version 2 sound cars.  

So now we have to wait for the TMCC/Legacy compatible freight sounds boxcars with motion sensors and constant voltage.

Andrew

falconservice posted:

So now we have to wait for the TMCC/Legacy compatible freight sounds boxcars with motion sensors and constant voltage.

Andrew

These cars are compatible with TMCC/Legacy (but not activated by), have motion sensors and can work on any conventional AC (and DC too I think) voltages, including the standard constant 18VAC. Seems to meet every one of your criteria already.

The previous Lionel Sounds boxcars worked best in conventional mode with variable voltage to change sounds. I will test the one I am getting in both conventional and command to see if they have fixed that problem.

Andrew

Lionel made previous sounds boxcars?

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

PJB posted:

... I like the car's themselves and the paint jobs, and the sound quality is good. But the sounds seem random, in that they play at the wrong times.  ... 

I'm glad I didn't go overboard on these sound cars.  I only ordered one (Pennsy).  And based on early feedback, I too would have preferred more wheel-squealing as opposed to excessive clunking.  For the price, these sounds should not be random but based on car motion.

Oh well, I guess I'll stop while I'm ahead with just one... that is until Lionel comes out with version 2 sound cars.  

My former office was on the third floor of an office building that was a stone's throw from the Worcester & Providence line and I used to watch the trains go by from my windows every day. On occasion you would hear a random clanking or banging sound - I suppose when the train was stopping, starting, or dropping off some cars on a spur. These PS1 cars make those sounds when my consist is just humming along, which makes no sense.  But what do you expect for $100 per car - - perfection?  Oh wait, that's a ton of money for this level of performance!! 

From the multiple comments above this posting, I will probably employ the off switch during mainline running and have the sounds on when yard switching my B&O version.

Still haven't got my car yet, but I'm not too worried from some of the comments I've read here. Just what is "correct" car noise? I think the fact that it's random makes it more real, in my opinion. My town is a division point on Canadian Pacific (former IC&E) and there are trains stopping & starting all the time near the yard. There's lots of popping and sounds like that as the trains are slowing to a crawl and stopping. Even when a train is stopped, once the brakes are released cars can start popping & creaking before they even start moving much. Could be caused by the slack starting to roll in. So I don't think the "wrong" sounds being played at the "wrong" time are necessarily incorrect, even when stopped.

Though I DO wish there would be more wheel flange noise at slower speeds. It would also be nice if there was a "Legacy mode" and brake sounds so you could activate brake noise with the Brake lever. I love doing that on my Legacy diesels, having it in the boxcar would make it sound like a real train stopping! But trains gradually stopping in real life don't make a lot of brake squeal sometimes so that's not a deal breaker.

I'm glad I got the VL tank cars and several sets of the PFE Reefers.   I do have a sound car on order, hopefully I'll see it soon.  Given that it's not command activated, I just ordered one.

DM&E_Bobby posted:

Still haven't got my car yet, but I'm not too worried from some of the comments I've read here. Just what is "correct" car noise? I think the fact that it's random makes it more real, in my opinion. My town is a division point on Canadian Pacific (former IC&E) and there are trains stopping & starting all the time near the yard. There's lots of popping and sounds like that as the trains are slowing to a crawl and stopping. Even when a train is stopped, once the brakes are released cars can start popping & creaking before they even start moving much. Could be caused by the slack starting to roll in. So I don't think the "wrong" sounds being played at the "wrong" time are necessarily incorrect, even when stopped.

Now that I've had a chance to run these cars around the pike awhile, my official opinion is that these cars are annoying!  Hoping the dealer will do an exchange for more VL reefers.  

DM&E - not sure you're appreciating what's being said. The ONLY sounds these things make are a loud clanging noise and what can only be described as a smashing collision of metal (sounds like a car ran into a mountain and fell apart).  No clunk-clunk down the rail. No screeching when braking or wheel noises on curves.  My consist was moving down the straightaway on my pike at a nice slow steady 8 smph and "BANG',  few seconds later "CLANG," few seconds later "BANG."  There is no rhyme or reason to it either. I went almost through an entire curve before one of these two random sounds belched again - but not because of the curve or any change in speed - it was because the program said, "time to make another random noise."  I don't know the Canadian Pacific, but I've never ever seen a freight consist just snailing it steadily down a straightaway and making sounds like the locomotive smashed into a mountain or two cars collided at speed (and certainly not every few seconds!). 

I purchased the UP version and I am not a rivet counter (sound wise), I think it sounds great and works with my reefer car and the early (non command) stock car. I think they all sound great together.I hope when you folks don't purchase any there will be a bunch left over and I will be able to pick more up at blow out prices!

I received a BN and a UP from Charles Ro.  They work great and I like the way they sound...    

The Burlington Northern PS-1 40' boxcar with freight car sounds is painted in a shade of green that makes the car look like all the green has been covered in a layer of diesel exhaust carbon, while the white graphics are too slippery to allow the diesel exhaust carbon to stick.

Andrew

Here's my new B&A box car in the consist of a freight today.

B&O Bill,

Can you post another video, but lay off the diesel horn? It's hard to tell what noise the car is making. Thanks.

Aha! I got my cars... well I put them in a 30 car line up, 4 of them, and as the train starts up the coupler lash hits first,  very cool as the full train starts up the sounds domino.

Same as the train comes to a halt.

As the cars go around the curve, each one will start its flange squeal, then end as it leaves the curve. The other banging and booming is random and is a kind whimsical at first but then as a background noise its nice to have.

The MIN switch is handy, and I almost prefer the sounds as a background noise...

When the cars stop, a kick of sound tells that the cars are at rest and the sounds turn off.

These are nice and well worth the extra 20 dollars over a regular PS1 car.

I will try to post a video...

Here's another try with no horn........

J Daddy, Great News, now I can see Daylight at the End of the Tunnel.  Now we are getting somewhere as in a Long Train, these cars will make a difference. My 4 are at my dealer, Evansville, Indiana however it's going to be a week and a half before I get them...If you can post a short Video, it would be neat....Thank You and Happy Railroading....

J Daddy posted:

Aha! I got my cars... well I put them in a 30 car line up, 4 of them, and as the train starts up the coupler lash hits first,  very cool as the full train starts up the sounds domino.

Same as the train comes to a halt.

As the cars go around the curve, each one will start its flange squeal, then end as it leaves the curve. The other banging and booming is random and is a kind whimsical at first but then as a background noise its nice to have.

The MIN switch is handy, and I almost prefer the sounds as a background noise...

When the cars stop, a kick of sound tells that the cars are at rest and the sounds turn off.

These are nice and well worth the extra 20 dollars over a regular PS1 car.

I will try to post a video...

 

Really?  On the one I've tried so far, there is zero wheel flange screech when my consist enters a curve or goes through it.  Just the same two sounds at random times.  Sometines, the CLANG or BANG sound bite just happens to coincidentally launch as the consist is somewhere in a curve. On several occasions the car made a CLANG after everything was at a dead stop for a few seconds.  Like I said, annoying. But as I also said, a nice little car and good sound quality.  Just not in the class of the VL reefers. 

This is a photograph of what the real BN 132909 looked like in North Little Rock, AR. From the Fallen Flags website.

The Lionel version is painted a shade of green so dark that is is almost black, like BNSF dark green for diesel locomotives.

AFAIK, the cars have no sensors that can detect curves, so I don't see how the flange squeal could be triggered by the curves.  I believe it was stated they just have the wheel sensor to know if the car is moving or stopped.  The VL PFE Reefers don't sense curves either, the only cars that I think actually have that capability are the VL Tank Cars, a very cool set.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

AFAIK, the cars have no sensors that can detect curves, so I don't see how the flange squeal could be triggered by the curves.  I believe it was stated they just have the wheel sensor to know if the car is moving or stopped.  The VL PFE Reefers don't sense curves either, the only cars that I think actually have that capability are the VL Tank Cars, a very cool set.

Good to know, I may have too many  curves on the layout then. Yes the cars only  have wheel sensors. I will check the VL tank cars, I believe they only have wheel sensors too.

Yes the clang and bang sounds are random.

You need to look closer at the tank cars, I can assure you they do have the sensor.  From the manual...

• LEGACY Command Control operation including volume control, sound activation, ON/OFF control.
• LEGACY Railsounds sound system with Tank car, Freight, Train brake, and Flat wheel sounds.
• 1 ElectroCoupler on brakewheel end of car.
• Play sounds in reaction to movement and track layout.
• One sound car includes End of Train (EOT) illuminated light device with ON/OFF control.

And then later in the manual.

When your tank car is running on the track, you will hear a variety of realistic freight car sounds in the background. Listen for an occasional “knock” of the wheels as they clatter over crossing rail junctions, grinding as the car enters a curve, and assorted bumping, groaning, and scraping sounds along the route.

Cool. This will give me an excuse to pull them out of the sealed box...

One would have to wonder why they're still in a sealed box after all these years...

Well, after running my new PS-1 box car all weekend (B&O Time Saver) I am quite pleased. Have read the various opinions in this thread and like many things train-related appears that individual mileage will vary. On my layout (let’s call it medium size) the sounds are clear, realistic and add something to the overall experience. And, yes, I do get "flange noise" on curves

Haven't played with the Min/Max switch yet but will check that out.

Good job, Lionel.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

One would have to wonder why they're still in a sealed box after all these years...

Ha... yes... have you seen what they are going for?

Well, if you're going to sell them, you better not open them.  I run mine.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Well, if you're going to sell them, you better not open them.  I run mine.

Kind of reminds me of a discussion I had on the ham radio with some who advocated buying a muscle car, putting it on blocks and selling it after 20 or 30 years. It sounded like a good idea to some of them until I did the math on the money invested in the car or invested in typical financial investments. The car came out way behind in value.

One engine recently, though, did very well. The GE Evo seems to have doubled in value after only six years. At an annual rate of return of 5% (a decent rate of return for the last 6 years), a $750 engine should be only worth $1000 or so. Still a tough business to be in though...we probably only remember the successes.

falconservice posted:

This is a photograph of what the real BN 132909 looked like in North Little Rock, AR. From the Fallen Flags website.

The Lionel version is painted a shade of green so dark that is is almost black, like BNSF dark green for diesel locomotives.

I was very disappointed when I received my BN car.  The color is awful.  There is a little patch of the proper shade of green under the load limit and light weight stencils which I believe is representative of a reweigh, but the rest of the car is a very dark green.  I wish they would have painted the car the proper green and done the reweigh patch with the darker green.  If I can find a good set of decals I may try to repaint mine.  The sounds are also a disappointment,  not enough flange squeal and too much "banging" noise.  I will not be buying anymore of these cars.

Matt