Turntable Sound

[J3a-614]

Going back to look at the NdeM post, I noticed that the first slide show was a response to something else.  That something else was a broad-gauge Spanish 2-8-2, being prepared for an excursion at a roundhouse.  What stood out was the sound of the turntable--whining and rattling like the one that used to be in Hagerstown, Md., or the one the late O. Winston Link recorded at Bristol, Va.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW_UZy6ZGOs&feature=video_response

Considering all that is being done in sound, I have to ask if anybody has done or considered this yet--or will, now that the subject has been brought up?

Other tables, in America. . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziRTAn2oiLs

The Western Maryland's table at Frostburg, Md., sounds like a noisy trolley car, suggesting a possible sound source.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxYPjKr2dyA

UP 844 at Cheyenne, Wy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFCtmw0IvyA&feature=related

Of course, we can't leave the diesel fans out--UP Centennial 6936, also at Cheyenne--whine, whine, runk, whine, runk, runk, whine, runk--listen to those gears in the "tractor" (turntable drive).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccFNgyQIrPg

An air-operated turntable tractor on the Texas State Railroad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7jMiIPxbdQ

Sound isn't a problem with this one, but how do you realistically model the "tractor?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip3EcJCyj5g

Have fun.

[pdlethbridge]

  And then you could have the sounds of a couple of men grunting and groaning as they turn an armstrong turntable.

[CNE Runner]

There is a company that produces 'sound modules' for model railroad applications (Innovative Train Technologies). Their products feature such sounds as: harbor activity, grade bell, barnyard, track crew, etc. I don't see why they couldn't make a module for a turntable. ITT products can be seen at http://www.ittproducts.com/hqpage_2008.htm

The turntable sound module, coupled with an idling locomotive (which would have its own on-board sound) could add another dimension to the model railroad experience.

Ray

[DieCastoms]

Why not use this technique to make your own sound modules?  Now it the time too!!

Go to your local pharmacy or Walmart or similar and look in the greeting card section..  find one of the cards that will allow you to record a personal message to be played back later.  If you can find one that is seasonal, you may get a discount.

  Take it home and strip away the card and keep the recording unit.

  The unit will likely have two buttons, one for record and the other for playback.  Record a sound from whatever source you wish and then REMOVE the record button.  You can also remove the playback button and replace it with a reed switch or any other trigger you wish so that when your table begins to turn, the sound will begin to play.

  Other options are photo frames, keychains, frige magnets, and even some ballpoint pens.  The method remains the same as MOST should only have 2 buttons.

Hope this sparks some interest..

Mike, from DC.

[CNE Runner]

Mike - You are very, very cleaver. Your suggestion was so obvious I doubt any of us would have thought of it. A while ago we purchased an item, from TV, and received one of those little digital recorders. Having no use for such a device, we relegated it to the 'junk drawer'. This morning I went a'searching and found the little devil. Now all I need to find is a working turntable (nope - I already checked the 'drawer' and there wasn't one). My only concern is how loud the recorder is on playback.

Ray

[DieCastoms]

Ray,

  Radio Shack sells an assortment of small amplified speakers as little as $10.  Most of them run off batteries, some off wall warts.  I am sure you could power it from accessories power etc.

  Don't forget other uses such as placing one before a crossing on your layout and triggering it with a magnet under your loco..  as the magnet passes the reed switch, you can play back the bells and wig-wags and standard crossing whistle.  It will happen in the same place every time whether you remember or not.  The draw back is that it will not move with the train.

  These would work especially well for ambient sounds like stations or workshops too, and is a hell of a lot cheaper than the commercial sound systems sold for these purposes.

  On the other hand, I would love to build a turntable some day and run it directly off a loco DCC decoder with sound and flashing lights and the whole 9 yards.  That's in my "some day" category.  I probably should have a layout first

Mike, from DC.

[DieCastoms]

You know, I was just thinking about what I said in my previous post..  find the pen-size recorders and mount one in a loco and put the reed switch under the loco (instead of the magnet) and HAVE a crossing whistle that plays at each crossing!

Get reed switches that only work with the correct polarity of magnet and put two of them side by side (one reversed) and have two different sounds..  maybe a crossing whistle and a yard limit warning or something..  maybe mount the devices in a boxcar for more space..

If running DCC, a voltage regulator from the track power could do away with the need of batteries?

Just babbling ideas now

Mike, from DC.