I've always liked the Station Sounds Diner functionality to add a dimension to passenger trains. Unfortunately, I have several MTH Premier passenger sets, and the Lionel Station Sounds Diner doesn't really match the other cars, so that's not really an option. I decided to create my own for the MTH sets.
First off, I ordered the PRR Congressional Station Sounds Diner RailSounds card from Lionel. Lionel has a number of the Staion Sounds boards currently listed for sale, so if you're thinking of a project like this, I'd get the board ASAP. I'm led to believe they're just selling off old stock, and when they're gone, they're gone. The R2LC and the RS power supply are generic boards that are readily available.
I looked over the cars, and the logical place to put the sound is in the baggage car, there really isn't another car in the set that has space for it without compromising the appearance of the car. That being decided, I grabbed the car and started in. I had the power supply, R2LC, and a motherboard, so it appeared I had all the parts needed. During the conversion, I also converted it to LED lighting, a treatment the rest of the cars will get as well. I also added a 22uh choke to the track pickups for DCS compatibility.
A note on the reed switch connection. The motherboard I used was the Lionel 691-PCB1-11D. Although the Station Sounds Diner board is available for purchase, I recommend this board instead. It's narrower, and the station sounds board doesn't fit in the place I have this one without altering the shell!
Here's the intended victim. Note that when I was all done, it looked exactly the same, which was the object of the exercise.
We'll go at this backwards, here's the completed chassis first. All of the components are mounted and wired, this was it's first test, successful I might add.
Next, the shell with the LED lighting and TMCC antenna installed. I removed the light bar and just retained a short piece of it with the connector attached. I hot-glue the components for the light power supply to the stub.
We need a motion detection mechanism for the diner to properly function, so I used the time-honored method of a small magnet on the wheel and a reed switch on the truck. The magnet glued to the inside of the wheel, I place it up far enough to clear things like grade crossings and the like.
Next, here's the mounting of the reed switch on the truck frame, I use Loctite 380 BlackMax to secure it, it's there to stay!
In order for the magnet to clear the truck frame, I had to grind away a small depression, it's important to do check clearance before putting things all together. Don't ask me how I know that!
For the speaker, I drilled holes under the truck to allow for better sound. This allows the small speaker used plenty of breathing room, the sound is surprisingly loud.
The speaker is mounted above the holes using two screws, nothing fancy here.
In order to allow for easy removal of the motherboard if required, I mount it on Velcro, nice and secure, but eacy to remove if necessary.
The motherboard in place with some wires connected.
I also needed two switches for the installation, one is the program/run switch, and the other is the sound mute switch for when you don't want the sounds springing to life for any reaosn. The MTH cars have some nice detail hanging down where the switches fit like it was made for them.
The whole project took about 4 hours, most of it in mounting switches, speaker, and the reed switch for the motion detection.
I hope this is of use to someone considering a similar conversion. There were no surprises in the job, and hookup and construction was actually fairly easy.
Something doesn't quite seem right about that price, but I guess when folks really want something they get a bit irrational about it.
I think replies would be more useful if they were... well useful. Telling us about your under-the-table deal on the boards does nothing for anyone else here.
