ajzend - I have the 3rd Rail T-3 also, and have put the NYC R-2 freight electric on order
with them.
On your electric loco sound comment, however, electric locos ("motors", often called) did often make quite a racket, mostly owing to loud traction motor cooling blowers. It seems to have varied from design to design, and era to era. The NH EP-5 "Jets" of the 1950's were called that not because they were faster than other motors, but, according to those who knew them, had very, very loud blowers, and sounded more like a jet plane than a locomotive.
