Mighty Sound of Steam Questions

Replace the foam with another suitable insulator and see if it works.

If the board works, you have sound of steam and a whistle.  No bell. 

I have read, but cannot recall, that there are people that repair those boards.  Personally, given that sound of steam gives me a stinging headache within minutes, if the board is dead I would install a whistle or newer sound system.  There are many options.  You have lots of room in that tender.

I have that locomotive on our roster.  Was a gift from my parents in the early 80s.  It is a beautiful runner, one where MPC did not cheapen the running gear of the postwar Lionel Corporation version and it runs beautifully.  I packed up the original cars and replaced them with the WBB cars which I think you will find, if you see in person, are nicer and look better running than the Lionel versions, which are cheapened versions of the postwar Madison cars.  HTH.

Since this is the Mighty Sound of Steam system, it predates Lionel's first generation of RailSounds that was introduced in 1989. That system included a realistic whistle, realistic synchronized chuffing, and a realistic bell. This system only has the static chugging and electronic whistle.

I used thick pieces of paper in many of my MPC era steam engines to replace the foam. It worked well enough for myself to run just fine.

The Lionel Chessie cars are not related to the Irvington/Madison cars. They are the "baby" Madisons that were newly tooled in 1973, but equipped with die cast 6 wheel trucks, the cars are still being used today for the Polar Express(although the PE trucks are 4 wheel Delrin).

Yes, double-sided sticky foam will hold your circuit board in place without allowing the components to short-circuit against the metal tender frame.

Your Chessie was a unique design which relied on the chug signal from the locomotive, maybe the last to do so.  There might be a tiny Allen screw on the smoke unit which will allow you to adjust the burst duration.  The Union Pacific Berkshire made the same year pioneered a hall effect magnetic wheel on the tender axle, which is what Lionel continued to use right up through Railsounds II.

This time of year always makes me nostalgic about MPC.  I actually like the Sound of Steam (but I'm more familiar with the ones from the early '70s without whistle.)  Good luck getting the ol' gal running 100%!

The 1973 "Milwaukee Special" had both the chugging sounds and an electronic whistle. 

As did the 8206, and some 8142's.

Thanks.  I should have been clearer by saying "inspired by."

quote:

I have read, but cannot recall, that there are people that repair those boards.  Personally, given that sound of steam gives me a stinging headache within minutes, if the board is dead I would install a whistle or newer sound system.  There are many options.  You have lots of room in that tender.

I wonder whether GGG does those boards. I thought I have read that he does modern ones.

When I run into foam mounted sound boards, I cut a piece of illustration board to place between the board and the metal frame. In the past, I've used whatever adhesive that was handy. I think I will use a hot glue gun next time.

A thin piece of styrene plastic would probably be better than the illustration board.

3M products has double sided sticky foam found at various stores .

You can use p.n. 600-8708-085. Lionel was using this in later steam engines.

Bill

Personally the Mighty Sounds of Static and the dying cow whistle blast had to go...

For a bit more cost see if you can upgrade this locomotive to an ERR board.

Some of the new sounds from ERR are fantastic now that Lionel has allowed them to use the new RS 5.0 boards.

The bottom spring that is a part of smoke plunger of which makes contact with the upper copper wiper to produce the chug affect was corroded.  I tried to clean it lightly with some sand paper, but much to my chargrin, the spring broke in half due to the severity of the corrosion.

Does anyone know what the part number of the smoke plunger (w/attached spring) is?  And where can I find this part at?

8002-41:

Available from Trainz HERE.

Rob,

That is exactly what I'm looking for.  Thanks so much.

You're welcome. It could probably be rigged to work another way, but for $3, might as well do it back to factory.

As it turns out, I am also needing a new sound of steam board for the tender.  Anyone know where i may be able to find a replacement?

Hi Nick!

Give Chuck Sartor a call at: 1-303-638-8357. I know he has some Sound of Steam Boards & he may well have the one you need & other parts that may be needed as well.  I remember the Chessie set from 1980. It was an expensive train for its time. The Engine & Tender were about $260.00- $270.00 depending on who you bought it from & the passenger cars were about $17.00 each!   Glad you have one & hope you have fun with it.

Keith,

I spoke with Chuck on the phone, he did not think he had any replacement boards for this item.

Does anyone know what the SOS board part number is for the Chessie 2-8-4 berkshire?

The number would be 690-8002-T20 for the correct board for your engine. I have the next generation electronic sound boards.

I might also mention that I have the earlier SOS and whistle board from the 8206 and the 8204 locos. these will work in the 8002 also.

Yes, the SOS board will fit your 8800. If it was me however, I wouldn't modify your dads old Commodore engine. You would really have to modify and drill holes in the engine.

I know of a few boards available. The one for the Chessie came with a different plug then what was issued on other boards. If you still have the original board, I have someone that can repair any Lionel Electronic Sound of Steam Board along with Lionels RS Boards and MTH PS1 Boards. Please contact me for the gentleman's info. he has done a few of my SOS boards, and they work great!!!!!!!!!

Hi Mark, I tried emailing you offline.  Can you please send to me contact info for your friend who repairs Sound of Steam circuit boards?  I am in need of his expertise!

Thanks and Merry Christmas!!  -Ted

Compared to modern digital sounds, these early attempts at steam sounds are quite primitive, though nostalgic!

PS: I have a like-new "Milwaukee Special' set from 1973 plus FIVE matching add-on cars including a combine. Actually a nice set for the period!

BTW: I used the 3M double-sided tape to successfully remount the sound board! 

You can also fit a Bachmann 'True Blast II' steam sound system in the old SOS tenders. It will give you a full grade crossing signal with one press of the sound button and a bell if you have a bell button.

I replaced the SOS board in my Chessie 8002 with a SOS 690-8215-T15 board.  This later version has the three prong plug between engine and tender.  I believe the chuffing sound is determined by the voltage at the field lug on the motor.

Afters installing board, the engine once again has chuffing sound.  But the issue I have,  the whistle will randomly trigger as the engine moves along the track.  It will also trigger if I press my whistle button on the ZW.  What may be causing this issue?

The lack of two sets of rollers & wipers on the tender in combination with track conditions causes the board to sense false DC on the track due to voltage spikes. I've never tried it, but a bipolar TVS connected between power & chassis ground in the tender might cut down on this. Adding a second wiper & roller to the tender trucks definitely will.

Rob,

I am actually feeding power from the engine to the board.  Trying one of the TVS diodes sounds like a good idea. 

Rob,

I was researching bipolar TVS diodes on the internet last night.  What should I select for the reverse standoff voltage and breakdown voltage of the TVS diode that will be used in this application?

Check out the forum favorite:  Mouser Part # 625-1.5KE36CA-E3

Rob,

Thanks for the link!  I went ahead and ordered 10 of them.

Today, I tried placing a diode across the power and ground wires that are soldered to the board.  There didn't appear to be much improvement, the whistle is still erratically going off as I run the engine around the track    I wonder if I would have any luck by placing this diode across the field lug wire and ground?

Did Lionel make available a circuit diagram for the 690-8002-T20 SOS board?   I am attempting to repair the one i have.  It would be helpful to have a diagram of this board.

Lionel never made a circuit diagram available. back in the day, if the board failed you could get a replacement. If you still having trouble with yours, I know someone who repairs the Sound of Steam Circuit boards. Does great work!! Email me for the info.