Sunshine Special station sounds diner/ disappointment!

On the bottom of the car is a switch labeled MAX/MIN.  What position is this switch in?  If in the MIN position try switching it to the MAX position and see if the sound set is expanded.  Also make sure that the RUN/PRGM switch is in RUN position.

I do not know you, however, I highly recommend you investing in Lionel’s Legacy Control System, You’ll be glad you did.  If you watch Eric Siegel’s helpful videos on the StationSounds cars, you’ll love them. Even if you get a Cab 1L, that’s a great way to use command. I would like to see pictures of your new StationSounds car. Happy Railroading 

I would go with the cab1L for simplicity and cost. I’m not that familiar with the sound dining car but it should be able to access all the sounds the car has to offer.  If you can’t figure out how it works just hand the controls over to the grand kids they’ll figure it out!😁

Yes Griff.  If you have ANY recent Lionel locos, I would treat yourself to a Lionel #990 set with CAB-2 remote and Legacy base.  It's expensive, but not terribly so in the context of what locos and switches cost.  Very easy to hook up and fairly reliable in most cases.  I think if you do it you won't look back!

I an at age 70 now very selective as far as buying equipment and specialize as much as possible in T&P. Most of my engines are ten or more years old... I will do some research and will consider buying the Cab system. That’s all the instructions talk about so I guess it’s what you have to have to make the car work. I did try the program and run options, no effect. I think the min-max is on the volume knob but will check. It’s on a made up train just now. Thanks, I will double check. My wife wanted me to just use my Santa Fe one “because people really like it...”

The best price for the 990 I've ever seen is at the Lionel Warehouse Sale.  Hooking is up is easy... one wire goes to the back of the base, one to the common on the track or transformer.  Done.  If you can use a TV remote Griff, you can use the Cab2.  Easy as pie.

Email me and I'll pick one up for you this year and send it down.  

Hey Griff,

Are you sure that it won't work in conventional mode?  You should be able to push the Whistle/Horn Button (with quick presses instead of the longer ones you usually use to blow the whistle/horn) to get most, if not all, functions to activate with a conventional transformer. 

Every Legacy SS Diner I've seen supports conventional mode.

Below are the directions.  See if this will do it for you:

CONVENTIONAL OPERATIONS

Triggering dialog under Conventional/Transformer operation:

In conventional (transformer-controlled) operation, the short horn or short whistle command will trigger the scenarios in which the conductor and the dining car steward exchange dialog. Note that locomotive dialog is also triggered by a short horn. See the tables below for short horn commands.

When In Motion (Table 4. Conventional motion scenarios, manually push the button)

Push Horn
(Short Push)            Resulting Dialog
------------                   -------------------------------------
   1                              Tickets please.
   2                              First seating in the dining car.
   3                             Lounge car is now open.
If Bell Ringing        Next stop coming up.

When Stopped (Table 5. Conventional stopped scenarios, happens automatically)

Amount of
Time Stopped               Scene that Plays
---------------------------      --------------------------------------
15 seconds or less         Arrival
15 seconds or more      Departure

Note: When powering up, or if the StationSounds Diner car temporarily loses power (for
example, due to dirty track, crossing over a switch or an insulated rail section), the dialog
scenario will reset to "First seating in the dining car."

Mike

Mellow Hudson Mike, thanks for the great information and I will try that to, however, I strongly recommend going with Lionel’s Legacy System, even over the Cab 1L, it’s really more user friendly, less button pushing.  I have been in this hobby almost 70 years, I’m 75 and I grew up with all the best post war had to offer, Hudson’s, GG1’s, F3’s, FM’s, etc., although they were tough and rugged, they were not, in my thoughts, nearly as much fun as the technology today. In 1986, I lost my job of 23 years, had to liquidate all of the collection. I never anticipated ever having another train layout. God is good, after losing most everything, I met a wonderful Christian woman that turned me all around, beginning with getting my Faith in a God in order, work wise, a complete reorganized way of prioritizing my life, family life. She actually built our home with the basement for a new layout. The point is, I went forward with the newest form of technology of the new Lionel. Richard Kuhn saved Lionel and when he introduced Command, I said it’s time to go with the modern technology, and she, my wife from Korea, gave me the Century Club 1 and 2, and then onward to Legacy. My entire layout is worked and activated  with Legacy. So, at age 75, I’m still learning everyday,  it’s a learning adventure. So, Griff Murphy, let go of some of your savings and go for running your trains at your Command. I began my layout back in 1997, on a large carpet on the floor in an unfinished basement. We had the new F3 Sante Fe ABA diesels and a ZW transformer, Cab 1 Control System, where 1 wire is all it took, and we learned the command system. It’s so easy to hook up, reading the directions entirely, and it’s possible to enjoy any TMCC engines that you have. In a matter of two hours we could see the new way was much more fun, and running trains slow and uncoupling automatically, horns, whistles, smoke, it’s all at your finger tips. A new way to have lots of model railroading fun. (I have 2 new StationSounds cars ready for pick up on the 21st, a little over a week away, and I’m excited)

I understand age and trying new things, sometimes it’s mind boggling, but if you take the plunge, it’s an investment in Fun, lots of fun, and like buying a new car today, they are highly built around safety technology, Hands free talking, collision deterrent systems, Sirius radio, and comfort that makes driving fun. (Except in Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Seoul Korea).  

I will show you a few pictures of my layout and why I love Command. Thank you for starting this thread, I am not trying to cause any issues. Happy Railroading 

Ted S posted:

Yes Griff.  If you have ANY recent Lionel locos, I would treat yourself to a Lionel #990 set with CAB-2 remote and Legacy base.  It's expensive, but not terribly so in the context of what locos and switches cost.  Very easy to hook up and fairly reliable in most cases.  I think if you do it you won't look back!

Some would also make the suggestion that you may experience fewer problems generally if you use a Lionel power source, and not a MTH Z-4000, to run Lionel trains. 

I have never heard of any issues using a Z-4000 running Lionel trains. Could you share what some of these problems are?

Forest

Very impressive Leapin’ Larry!

I have been running my Lionel locos on the Z-400 for 12 or more years. Now this operating season the sound went out in my new 3rd Rail T&P 2-10-4 - I have no idea if that was a transformer issue or not. I am pretty sure I was giving it no more than 19V at the most. But everything Lionel has run fine. 

I’m going to a dinner tonight with an O 3-Railer who runs a Vintage Lionel ZW and he says the sound is out on 4 or 5 of HIS engines. I think it’s just that these sound boards are more prone to failure than they should be.

Griff, 70 is now the new “60”, so, you’ve got plenty of fun time to enjoy Lionel’s Legacy System, and Lionel so far updates and repairs them at no charge because they want to earn your business. Are there friends in the hobby that live near you that can share help and ideas to help you with learning Command? Also, is the car you have the Sante Fe full dome StationSounds car?, if so, I will be picking men up in a few days. Good luck and thank you for the like.... Happy Railroading 

My Santa Fe is the old olive drab standard one which must be over 15 years old. Back then they even put the limiting chains on the six wheel trucks. 

I appreciate your thoughtful philosophy! 

I’d likevto thank everyone but a special shout out to RLAHAIE and Mellow Hudson Mike for their guidance . I did finally get it talking a bit, very good help. 

Thank all y’all! 

Griff