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I had this topic in the Hi Rail section, but realized it probably belongs in here more.

This is an idea I had for awhile - adding station sounds boards to normal passenger cars to match an existing set you already have. For example, I have an MTH Blue Comet passenger set from 1998 that - with some modifications - could get a TMCC Commander and wire that to a Lionel Station Sounds chip, and thus get Blue Comet Station Sounds in the diner. The same could be said about the 9500-series diner in my MPC Alton Limited set.

I expect that it could be done with the ERR Mini Commander EX, or is there a different one to use in this case?

Has anyone ever done something like this? I expect if the chip has 'clickety clack' sounds, it needs a sensor much like the chuff sensor on steam locomotives to activate it.

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Thanks John.

I figured something like that was floating around here somewhere.

Though, I was curious if it was possible using an ERR mini commander (likely the EX model), and moreso when I see those black plugs to hook into the motherboard from the track power (at least how I see in the photos) since, unlike you, I don't have a parts lot on hand for things like those plugs. I have found the mother board, R2LC, sound board, and 691RSPRA00 power board on Lionel's site, but not the little things like that. I thought the antenna and chuff sensor from ERR would work just fine.

Do you have a wiring diagram on hand? How much real estate did the motherboard take up? I had a crazy idea to fit one of these in a 9500-series passenger car, too.

Last edited by Mikado 4501

I don't actually have a wiring diagram, I just sort of "follow my nose" as I've worked with the boards so many times I know where things are connected.  I also now have the crimp tool and all the connectors to fabricate any cable I need, makes these types of jobs go much more smoothly.   Any TMCC board that has serial output capability should work in this environment, my next ones will probably get done using the ERR RCDR and the powered RailSounds Motherboard.  Those should be compact enough to fit in most any passenger car.  I put them in the baggage car as that gives me plenty of room for the upgrade.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/media/partimages330/366934RCDR.jpg  Image result for lionel powered motherboard

Thanks. Honestly, those two boards look much more compact and less expensive than using the other three ones to operate the one sound chip. I've already had experience with the powered RailSounds motherboard in my Mikado upgrade anyways.

If I run into trouble with the RCDR (especially finding which wire goes where), I'll come back to this topic. I found it on Lionel's site, and chose the S08 coded version.

Now I just gotta work on opening my 9500-series baggage car...which is not fun.

Last edited by Mikado 4501

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