PS... what the ?????

Someone please confirm this, but I a 99% sure it would be ps1.

Yes it is proto1, avoid! 

thanks  so I  am guessing

"optionally equipped with protosound squeaking brakes and passanger sounds" is also p1?

On e-bay it is just as  easy to e-mail the seller and ask.

If the price is right PS1 engines are a bargain,depending on your needs.

Dale H

I email them but most are just resellers not train people...also Trainz has a lot of listngs but I am leery of paying $25 for them to "tune up"  how do I know if it needs a tune up?

Also they are pretty good about noting Proto sounds, but MTH product locator has been helpful..

has anyone bought from ebay store trainz had good or bad luck?

and why would anyone run DCS and buy non dcs capable trains?  I have DCC Digitrax for my HO trains.. seems a lot easier to deal with..STANDARDS that benefit the customer  what a concept..( yes I know MTH and Lionel have issues..but for MTh to have trains that you have to spend a fortune on  to upgrade seems counter productive..maybe if they just made a few dollars off of a million instead of attempting to make millions of of a few..

What is the MTH number?  MTH is not the person selling the train on ebay, it is the person selling that did not give you the information you need.  Just the information you gave tells what it is.

@ marty I utilize the MTH product locator, but s many are engines form sets and it is hard to get actual information just about the loco's..thanks to all for your replies...

You have to be very careful with ebay stuff.

It seems that a lot of resellers will use Protosound with a big fancy description of all the features, as they may not know the difference between command control engines and conventional.

There are also lots of sellers who are trying to snow job unwary buyers and unload older PS-1 systems.

If you are running only conventional, PS-1 is just fine and will work well, battery issues notwithstanding.

Rod

I will agree with Dale, A Premier PS1 engine is usually a sweet deal.

Buy and if you want command control, upgrade.

The sound system is usually top notch if my few examples are anywhere near normal.

@ russell what is average cost to upgrade so DCS will operate? 

And that's how it should be done!  The only thing people here can do is guess at what the true description might be.  

The statement, "I read it on the internet" can be as inaccurate, incomplete & bass ackward  as "I heard it on TV".

There is no deception in advertising Protosounds by E-Bay sellers just ignorant consumers.

On the MTH home page go to catalogues click on 1999 catalogue last one with Protosound engines. Look at the product description and you will find what is printed is cut and pasted by the seller. No where does MTH use the term PS-1 in its product description.

A PS-2 upgrade kit runs about $150 plus installation charges.

(This was the price from the MTHRR Club.) === Updated Price ===

Installing yourself kills the warranty. I suspect the boards are static sensitive.

Finding a Kit is the hard part, they come out in batches and tend to sell out rapidly.

Some of the folks here on the forum do Upgrades, perhaps one will chime in.

You may have to search for a post about PS-2 upgrades and contact those offering to do it.

I have a kit but I'm saving it for a special occasion and engine.

Anyone got a PS-1 Premier Big Boy for cheap

$250?  The kits retail for $180 and $150 for MTH RR club members.

I've purchased a couple of Protosounds (Proto 1) engines for way less than a newer Proto2, and had them upgraded to proto 2.  The complete upgrade price (parts-labor) was approx $250.  If you get the proto 1 engine cheap enough it is well worth it to pay for the upgrade. IMHO

Thanks to all..seems I always have topics that bring out all facets and responses

I am a "see it want it buy it" consumer..so buying a p1 and paying for upgrades and shipping and WAITING AND WAITING AND WAITING..sorry cannot do that...

And since MTH has not impressed me with their customer service abilities, I will pass on waiting for the kits....

also the stuff that describes the engines is what i see on the boxes, yet the MTH product locator claims it is p2 or p3...who can I rust?

The MTH product #, (ex 20-12345-1) is on the box also.  Trust no one, except on this forum :-)  do your homework; email the seller with detailed questions and verify that the info is correct and matches any pictures shown.

The last response I received was "the sticker on the bottom of the engine says "bid Now"

LOL

I'm surprised no one else mentioned it directly since it was in your original post, but I believe the telling info (which should be easy to extract from the seller if they have the box/manual) is the reference to QSI. 

QSI was only involved with what the hobby collective now refers to as Protosounds 1.  Protosounds 2 and Protosounds 3 items will have no references to QSI.

-Dave

I must amend my older post. I quotes $250 for the kit, I mis-typed, I meant $150 - And yes I got it through the club. That was the number I remembered. So much for my memory, eh?

So If you purchase a PS1 can you use the sound system and replace with an ERR board? Of does everthing have to be stripped out once you go to the dark side?

No, you can't use the sound board with the ERR TMCC stuff.  There were some products on the market that interfaced with the QSI sound board from ProtoSound 1, TAS and Digital Dynamics both had such products.  Neither are produced now, though they're still available on the used market occasionally.

If you want Command Control be prepared to spend the money for the latest technology.  No getting around this issue.  If you just like the roadnames and paint schemes and you can settle for just the "sound effects" then early Protosound engines are a good value.

What I will do is buy the roadnames and color schemes that I need and if I can find a PS-2 version of the same engine I will swap shells. Otherwise go the PS-2 upgrade route and spend the money for the upgrade. 

I have several Protosound engines which I am happy to keep "as is" and run them using conventional control. I still can run these along with my PS-2 and PS-3 engines on the same track using my VAR output on my TIU.

Only So I can buy it.  I have 4 PS1 locomotives, and love them all, and plan to keep buying them.  They are great runners and lookers for the price.  But then, I am a conventional guy.

update

The P2 engine I bought is actually p1  the seller posted the P2 MTH number ..but it is actually p1..I am giving him an opportunity to correct his "mistake" before I open a can of EBAy "whip a_ _ on him...

Also tjhe other set was liusted with the original box, it was not sent and the engine is p2 but will not move, sounds work, DCS can locate and fire couplers , talks huffs puffs, sounds great but will not walk..any help? I reset engine, everything DCS would allow...sent a ebay complaint..a discount will make me happy..depending on the cost for Rosco to repair...

So far I am not impressed with ebay sellers...

Sorry to hear you've had a bad ebay experience.  All 4 of my PS1 locomotives are ebay buys, and they have all been awesome runners.  I've also gotten a K-line and a postwar Lionel locomotive and have had no issues.

I've had many good deals on eBay, and a few bad ones.  It's the nature of the beast, not every seller is going to be 100% honest in their dealings, that's not really a surprise given human nature.

Yes, most of my Ebay experiences have been fantastic, but there's always that one guy...

If the item is listed as NIB and the box is pictured, you clearly have an expectation of receiving the box and the item in new condition.  If that's not the case, I'll bet eBay will quickly smack the seller into refunding your money.