This is my first post on this forum. Thanks to all who have provided very helpful information on many topics, which I have read during recent weeks.
I have had the train consist in the video since around 1952-3. It is the consist part of Lionel set 1477S (as detailed in Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains Vol II), which was given to me by my grandparents. Since that time, I have wanted to somehow add a whistle to the tender.
The set was stored away for 30 years until recently. I decided to try to add a whistle to the tender, and discovered that using a Williams by Bachmann True Blast II (R) Steam sound board would be a good way to add whistle and bell sounds.
In addition to the True Blast II, I needed a way to activate it, and a way to connect to the middle rail. My only transformer was the 1034, so I decided to purchase a CW-80, after reading many comments about it on line. A 581-10 roller pickup was added to the forward truck to connect to the center rail. That installs easily. AWG 24 high flexibility stranded wire was used to connect to the 581-10. Fine sandpaper was used to optimize electrical conduction from wheels to the tender frame; truck top surfaces and frame bottom just above each truck's top surfaces were cleaned to bare metal. A round head machine screw, star-lug, and nut were installed in an existing hole in the frame to electrically connect to the frame, after scraping away the paint immediately around the hole top-side.
I had intended to add center rail pickups to both trucks, but the True Blast II has worked well using only one pickup.
