Sounds from "off" legacy steam engines

I have the same.  Sounds like data.  If it wasn't so noticeable I wouldn't care but I definitely can hear it.  I don't think it is a problem other than the annoyance.

I've run into this issue in the past with audio equipment in a recording studio.  The sound, like what you described, was very quiet, sporadic, and could only be heard when no other audio signals were being played.

Finally tracked it to communications signals the power company was sending out on the power grid, piggybacked on the 60Hz line frequency.  They were using this to signal specially equipped customers to turn off certain types of equipment (like water heaters) during peak demand hours.  The power company ended up installing a HF filter on the incoming power lines to eliminate it.  Maybe what you're getting, maybe not.

@MartyE posted:

I have the same.  Sounds like data.  If it wasn't so noticeable I wouldn't care but I definitely can hear it.  I don't think it is a problem other than the annoyance.

I fired up five Legacy locomotives, started them all up, and then shut them all down and left the power on.  The Strasburg #90, the Vision Line Triplex, the Vision Line Veranda, and a pair of Centipedes that I upgraded to Legacy with an RCMC and the Centipede RS-Lite sound boards.

I waited about 5 minutes, the tender of the Veranda made a brief odd sound once, none of the other locomotives made any sounds.  Not sure what that proves, just one data point.  FWIW, I haven't noticed any of mine making any sounds when sitting silent before, but I was never really paying close attention.

I've noticed a sound or two coming from Legacy engines when I power them up. Nothing that I thought was unusual. Just the boards getting powered up and the speaker reacting to current. I'll have to try and replicate what you hear.

Bob

I've noticed this sound from the tenders on a couple of recent models.  Exactly as you describe, three short blurps repeating.  I only notice it when it's dead quiet in the room.  Any other noise from trains, dehumidifier, etc. more than drowns it out, so I usually don't worry about it.

Someone else posted a video but here's what you hear. Turn up the Volume!  As Patrick said it seems to be recent.  Not sure if this has something to do with the updating engine info to Base3 or not.  Maybe @Dave Olson can comment.

I didn't hear anything like that from any of them.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I didn't hear anything like that from any of them.

What's the most recent Legacy engine you have?

@MartyE posted:

What's the most recent Legacy engine you have?

The VL Triplex.

Pretty irritating. I hope I don’t start hearing it now!

Marty, thanks for posting what it sounds like.  It's nothing like what I had previously heard coming in on the power lines.  I think you're right about it sounding like data, somehow getting into the audio amplifier.

Sounds like it might be some wire routing in certain locomotives that is causing the feedback.

@Patrick Keistler posted:

I've noticed this sound from the tenders on a couple of recent models.  Exactly as you describe, three short blurps repeating.  I only notice it when it's dead quiet in the room.  Any other noise from trains, dehumidifier, etc. more than drowns it out, so I usually don't worry about it.

Same here. My Dreyfuss tender does it.

Interesting.  None of my engines do that.  The latest 3 I have:

Triplex, Royal B&O 4-6-0, C&O F-19

Both of my new F-19 engines have that exact sound.  The new E6 diesels I received around the same time do not.  I am using 180 bricks and a Base3.

Just checked my new Legacy 0-4-0 and it makes the same sound.

3 short beeps like Morse code. There's actually a little more to it if you listen from power up- it beeps 6 times and then goes into the 3-beep cycle.

Bob

My latest Legacy diesel engines are Alco FAs and GP9s.

My latest Legacy steamers are Atlantics and a Consolidation.

I’ll listen for it this week.

Peter

@RSJB18 posted:

Just checked my new Legacy 0-4-0 and it makes the same sound.

3 short beeps like Morse code. There's actually a little more to it if you listen from power up- it beeps 6 times and then goes into the 3-beep cycle.

Bob

That's really odd!  It's hard to believe that is deliberate!