Those Irritating Accessory Noises

Good question!  It's hard to find operating accessories that don't make more noise than the trains they are "supporting."  Seems like in modern times, with smooth-running can motors and other mechanisms available, most of these these accessories should be virtually silent aside from the normal noises associated with their respective activities.  Seems to me that many could even be fitted with sound chips to replicate prototypical noises.

I guess it bothers some people more than others. I just accept it (along with track noise) as part of the noise factor in my 9' x 12' foot layout room.

I too dislike non prototypical noises in the layout.

I don't have much in that regard so I have not tried to fix anything yet.

Ask an eight year old and he will probably say "what noise?".

A lot of it is solenoid humming due to 60 HZ. They can be quieted down by inserting a full wave diode bridge. It worked on my 45 Gateman.

Pete

Almost as bad as all those irritating complaints on the OGR Forum.  

One can always convert those annoying postwar accessories to DC power. It's truely amazing how quiet they can be.

Do ya think!!!!!!  But what the hay.  We all get our shorts in a bunch from time to time.

Happy Pappy

Thanks for the suggestion. It seems to be gear noise or something similar..but it's worth a shot. I am thinking of baffling them with soundproofing but I get the sinking feeling this may make it worse, maybe overheat the little devils..

Bruce

Thanks for posting this. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to, and watching it. I've been on that train many times over the past 30+ years. It is the Achenseebahn in Austria. If you ever visit the Austrian Tyrol, I recommend a journey on it, and then take a tour of the lake on one the regular ferries.

HAPPY PAPPY , GREAT IDEA , I HAVE A LIONEL RADAR ANTENNA I HAVE CONSIDERED REPLACEING DUE TO THE NOISE AND ERRATIC OPERATION . I AM GOING TO LOOK INTO A CAN MOTOR DRIVE TO ADAPT TO IT.

Easier to complain than fix, apparently.

Pete

At first I read this thread and the title think something like here we go again....and then I thought that the poster has a point. While I really do enjoy all the sounds and noises of my accessories my layout is toy train and will be for the foreseeable future. But, what about those that want to run prototypicla or highrail and have these crunching noises going on? I can understand both points of view. I think there might be room for operating accessories that have sound and/or are quiet. I understand it is not for everyone but I can understand.

A lot of gear and friction noise can be reduced with just a few drops of

This stuff really works and isn't a gimmick.  I always have some in the shop.  Give it a try. 

electroliner, if it's gear noise, how about a good oiling with some heavier-than-usual oil? Maybe Marvel Mystery Oil?   You've probably already tried that.  Sounds like conversion to DC, a good oiling, and maybe some sound dampening/isolation might all help toning things down.  I'm with you, the train sounds are fun, but all the extra stuff can really get to be NOISE.  The prewar standard gauge crossing bells - cool the first few times, then will somebody please put a sock over it!

dkdkrd, thank you for posting that, a great piece of classical I was not familiar with.  Ordered a CD of it to run in the trainroom.  And thanks for the background info Nicole, it's a magnificent train in magnificent surroundings.

I particularly like the percussion section with their blocks of sandpaper making the chuffs.

Actually, I'm not complaining about the noise accessories make.  I just avoid those that make an excessive amount of noise or use them in a static role on the layout (which kind of defeats the purpose of an operating accessory).  My only point was that with the technologies available today, most of the more noisy ones could rather easily made to operate more quietly.

My only issue with oil is that after peering into the MH Freight Transfer House ( the worst offender) it has plastic gears and oil and plastic that doesn't mix at times makes me gun shy on doing this. Unless you have this model, you have no idea how loud it is.  The solenoids in other stuff ( gates, semaphores, etc) don't bother me as they are brief and intermittent quieter sounds. It's some of the continuous running stuff that is the loudest. I agree with Allan that quieter accessories would be preferable and should be doable. I tried the DC input. Nada.

Is that a Lionel wooden whistle he is using ?

What a great looking concert hall...

The clunking noise from the lionel 455 oil derrick was the prime reason I choose the MTH

 455 oil derrick.  MTH uses the can motor for the action versus the solenoid. 

I like to hear that sound. I find it soothing...but then again that is me with a toy train themed layout.