Great topic. The loud versus quiet issue also dovetails with the numerous track noise comments that have been posted here over the years. I run Legacy and a few Atlas TMCC locomotives on Fastrack (which I chose for its simplicity and forgiving nature, especially for my grandsons) on a layout in a detached building. I don't have to worry about disturbing someone. The steam whistles and diesel horns are amazingly realistic, especially with Legacy's quilling feature, and it's fun to blast those occasionally for full effect. As for Fastrack noise, I installed 1/8" neoprene padding under the track (which is screwed to plywood roadbed) and the noise does not seem bad at all--never drowning out the chuffing or engine sounds. Most of the layout does not yet have scenery, which will absorb even more track noise once it's completed. Perhaps more importantly, I have noticed that "budget grade" rolling stock--the kind with plastic trucks and lightweight construction that you find in train sets--generate much more noise than premium rolling stock such as MTH Premiere, Lionel "Standard O" and others with sprung metal trucks.
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