Best sound decoder for GB&W ALCo Modern 2-6-0?

[Searsport]

Hi, I have Bachmann 51712 Green Bay & Western ALCo Modern 2-6-0, DCC Ready. I don't know much about the GB&W - I got the model as GBW 256 is the actual loco Bachmann based their ALCo Modern on, and hence the most accurate scheme for it, and because MB Klein had it at an unrefusable discount (Though logically, however cheap you are not saving anything if you wouldn't have bought it anyway!). I am looking to put sound in it and wonder which decoder might fit and have appropriate whistles, etc? I know hundreds of you will be keen GB&W modellers and will have done this job for yourselves! After all, it is the only RTR GB&W steam loco model ever made!!

Whilst on the subject, my notes on this loco say "The Bachmann model is based on the GB&W Class R Mogul, the last of a batch of 5 (GB&W 52-56) which may not all have been identical (3 from Schenectady, 2 from Pittsburgh). Delivered 11-24 as GBW #56, re-numbered GBW #256 in 5-37, modernised 4-39, retired 10-48." Does anyone know what precise state of it's life Bachmann have modelled (as distinct from numbered, which is clearly 1937-48)? Of the 5 "R" class 2-6-0s, #s 54 + 55 were built by Pittsburgh in 1918, and #s 52, 53 and 56 by Schenectady in 1914, 1916, and 1924 respectively, so whilst one might expect the Pittsburgh pair to have been twins, the three Schenectady sisters might all have looked different. On the other hand, all might all have looked the same after the GB&W modernised them, presumably in its own shops?? (Except for GB&W #54 which was retired in 1937 and so presumably not modernised) I am musing on this as it would be nice if when Bachmann re-run the model they could use a different #, if that would not outrage fidelity.

And has anyone produced a steam-era GB&W caboose? the Walther International Car Co. Bay Window caboose for the GB&W (#615, 616, 617) were built new for the GB&W in 1965-7, so far too late for steam.

Grateful for any advice,
Bill

[rich1998]

Here is a sound decoder install with instructions in your loco. TCS has high ratings. An excellent decoder. No idea about the whistle. I think the site has sound samples.
https://tcsdcc.com/index.php/installation/ho-scale/1195

Here is the SoundTraxx decoder selector site for Bachmann. A shrink wrapped decoder. They should have sound samples. The decoders come with wiring instructions. I did some years ago. Not for that loco, other Bachmann locos. I used 1k, 1/8 watt resistors for the LED's. They allow about 9ma current. Very low wattage.

https://soundtraxx.com/reference/decoder-selector

Rich

[rich1998]

I see the 2-6-0 is DCC ready with an eight pin socket. If you want the SoundTraxx method, they allow cutting back the shrink just enough to remove the 9 pin JST plug and get their 9 pin adapter to eight pin plug. No idea how much room.
You can also solder the requited wires to a eight pin plug. I have done that. Cut the caps off the PC board. They have a C prefix. The two inductors are not a problem. They have zero resistance. Marked with an L. Some are wire wound. Some look like green resistors. They are Ferrite chokes.

Rich

[graywolf]

The TCS site which shows the decoder change seems to indicate that the engine they are showing was a Sound Value model. Do you think that the DCC ready model of the 2-6-0 can be converted as easily? Are there some items that are different in each other than the decoder?

[Trainman203]

Tsunami2-2 hands down. I have various generations of Soundtraxx Sound decoders in my 60+ steam engines.  They now have 90 whistles in the decoder so you ought to be able to find one you like.

Don't let anyone tell you that such and such a whistle is "correct" for such and such locomotive, or even railroad.  Railroads changed whistles like socks at shoppings and even if one type shows in one photo it could have been changed to something else the next week.  They often changed piping arrangements, appliances and headlights at individual  shoppings so engines in one class could widely vary between individual engines.  You have to remember, the railroads weren't trying to be "prototypical ", they were getting an engine back in service as soon as possible.

There were certain trends to note.  East of the Mississippi and down South 3 chimes and steamboat whistles were common, where western and southwestern roads often liked 5 chimes and 6 chimes.

Pick the one you like.  The pictures in this article may help you identify the whistle you seek.  Also google MD Whistles, a contemporary manufacturer of reproduction whistles, there are many videos to see and enjoy.

Oh.... you can pay a tech to do the install.  The advantages of that are that you won't have to buy a second decoder to replace the first one you burned up because you wired it wrong 😱💥 and you won't have to buy a new tender shell to replace the one you accidentally poked the soldering iron through. 😱💥🤬😂.

[Trainman203]

I forgot the article with the whistle pictures.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_whistle

[Trainman203]

http://www.steam-whistles.com/whistlesounds/

Some beautiful sounds!  Especially the Dave Loyola SP  6 chime way off in the distance.  The 2 AM waking up in the middle of the night sound of boyhood! 

[Searsport]

Hi, as 321 people have read this thread I thought it worth providing an update - no, I haven't put a decoder in yet, at my age things don't happen that quickly!

Alternative road #s for Bachmann if they re-run this model (PLEASE DO):

GB&W #255 has the same type of tender and the headlamp and whistle are in the same place as on the model:

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0102/gbw255.jpg

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenbayroute.com%2F1940255.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenbayroute.com%2F1940255.htm&tbnid=QtpI4GF0aJ8C0M&vet=12ahUKEwjJroe--YjmAhVr0uAKHdRvCVQQMygBegUIARDQAQ..i&docid=wSJoW2OzOZPyWM&w=1275&h=713&q=Green%20Bay%20%26%20Western%202-6-0%20%23257&client=firefox-b-d&ved=2ahUKEwjJroe--YjmAhVr0uAKHdRvCVQQMygBegUIARDQAQ

GB&W #257 has the bell and whistle in the same place, but it has a rear-view tender, i.e. a narrow coal tub (not unlike the P2K 0-6-0 / 0-8-0 tenders):

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenbayroute.com%2Fkgb257.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenbayroute.com%2Fgbw257.htm&tbnid=ehecPbIki3HefM&vet=12ahUKEwjJroe--YjmAhVr0uAKHdRvCVQQMygAegUIARDOAQ..i&docid=PovaVJ-oWUEjNM&w=1222&h=721&q=Green%20Bay%20%26%20Western%202-6-0%20%23257&client=firefox-b-d&ved=2ahUKEwjJroe--YjmAhVr0uAKHdRvCVQQMygAegUIARDOAQ

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fi840.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz322%2Fwarhawk-repros%2FONLY_STEAM%2F081712%2FKGBW_2-6-0_257_PloverWi_08-23-39.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebid.net%2Fus%2Ffor-sale%2Fkewaunee-green-bay-western-rr-2-6-0-257-8x10-photo-148867373.htm&tbnid=-8Llws0JFVTHXM&vet=12ahUKEwjJroe--YjmAhVr0uAKHdRvCVQQMygDegUIARDUAQ..i&docid=J7fWlgDFCtb6MM&w=1023&h=545&itg=1&q=Green%20Bay%20%26%20Western%202-6-0%20%23257&client=firefox-b-d&ved=2ahUKEwjJroe--YjmAhVr0uAKHdRvCVQQMygDegUIARDUAQ

Interestingly, in 1948 GB&W #256 (i.e. the prototype for the model) had the headlamp on the smokebox door, and the bell on top of the smokebox where the model has the headlamp:
http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0102/gbw256.jpg

SUITABLE ROLLING STOCK

There aren't many steam era RTR GB&W freight cars, but if you remember the old Branchline Trains Blueprint kits, they issued two versions of their 40-ft wood reefer kit for the GB&W, both in a grey WRX scheme, one with arched lettering and the other with straight:

Branchline Trains Blueprint Series kit 1211 - 40' ACF/URTX Wood Reefer, Light Grey Body, Black Lettering, Arched "Green Bay and Western Lines", "Western Refrigerator Line Company", W.R.X. #9338, Red "Green Bay Route" Herald, New 9-29.

Branchline Trains Blueprint Series kit 9009 4-PACK - 40' ACF/URTX Wood Reefer, Light Grey Body, Black Lettering, Straight "Western Refrigerator Line", "G B & W Lines", W.R.X. #9099, 9123, 9158, 9166, Red "Green Bay Route" Herald, New ?-?? (the pack is still sealed so I am not sure of the build dates).

I know these kits have not been issued for a while, but I found all the above on ebay in the last few weeks, so they are still to be found. I know Atlas absorbed this range and now issue them as RTR models, but I went back through the Atlas archive and they have not yet re-issued them for the GB&W.

Hope this is helpful for someone!

Best Regards,
Bill.