New Lionel 2016 PS-1 sound cars

As an update, I returned all three of these awful PS-1 cars we bought and replaced them with another 3-pack of Vision PFE reefers.  The person to whom I spoke at the dealer said I wasn't alone in my decision, with folks upset over the lack of the fundamental, telltale sound that these "rail sounds" cars should have but don't - the clunk-clunk rail sound trains make as they role down the pike. 

CJack - read your post about muscle cars and I'd agree - many folks mistake investments for (a) speculation, and (b) things that depreciate.  The OGR mag even had an editorial a while back, comparing toy trains to vintage comic books.  While comic book collecting Is speculative, as an advisor to the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, I can tell you this is still an apples-oranges comparison.  Having said all that, I wish I still had the very clean 340 six-pack R/T 1970 Mopar Challenger I bought in 1989 for $1,800.   

Peter

So, these things are the freight versions of Station Sounds cars but without vocals?

I find the random booms, bangs and squeals of the SS cars entertaining and realistic, but the monotony wears on the nerves after so long.  Those tolerant of nails on a blackboard can probably put up with it for half an hour.

Bruce

Kind of reminds me of the Hot Box Reefer...someone said it sounded like screeching turkeys. Now it sounds like that to me too. Rats. Remember that they were heavily discounted so I got an extra one. What helps is being able to turn it on and off...enter the ERR tmcc module. Maybe that's what the clunking boxcars need too.

I'm basically ok with the boxcars...it's mostly toys to me.

Bruce i hear ya!!! That squealing in the turns is very annoying even on the real railroad hard on the ears. 

The sounds are ok but I would have preferred clickity clack sounds like the diners had. these do not sound like cars on the main. More like cars that are being shuffled around the freight yard. Would i return it? Heck no.

chessie1971 posted:

Bruce i hear ya!!! That squealing in the turns is very annoying even on the real railroad hard on the ears. 

While conducting my experiment from my other thread, I think the vision reefers squeal to much and as you say can be quite annoying. My wife even noticed it from upstairs!

NYC Z-MAN posted:

chessie1971 posted:

Bruce i hear ya!!! That squealing in the turns is very annoying even on the real railroad hard on the ears. 

While conducting my experiment from my other thread, I think the vision reefers squeal to much and as you say can be quite annoying. My wife even noticed it from upstairs!

I agree, the Vision reefers do have some similar sounds and also can get annoying. But, the Vision reefers don't randomly BANG SCREECH nearly as often.  And, they have the added benefit of possessing the fundamental rail sound that should be expected in any car that's supposed to imitate a real train rolling down the pike  - the clickety-clack. To me, this tempers (or maybe mitigates) the random sounds.  

Usually folks will complain (albeit tongue-in-cheek) that the OGR forum product reviews cause them to spend too much money.    This time for me... Based on seeing/listening to early reviews, I sent my sound car back to the dealer.  Never even needed to open the box, so it was a no-questions-asked return.

I'm hoping Lionel gets it right next time... Or perhaps offers a set of VL hoppers with sound.  My Pennsy all-coal train is screaming for sound similar to that provided with the VL tankers and reefers. 

Until then, I saved $95.   Thanks, early reviewers.

David

chessie1971 posted:

Bruce i hear ya!!! That squealing in the turns is very annoying even on the real railroad hard on the ears. 

I always had "ear plugs" when I was a ground pounder for Conrail/NS. The various sounds of railroading are not very pleasant to your hearing, Mozart it is not.

I'll use my B&O PS1 sound car when switching my coal hoppers and employ my "ear plugs" if necessary.

Picked up a SF this week actually having forgot I had preordered one.   IMO, that tank car banging sound is loud and irritating but can live with it and wheel screech sounds after turning volume down a bit and putting it behind a few tank cars.   When you're a few feet away I really can't tell which car is making noise...  Also, with a MTH engine set for clickity clack, overall sounds are actually pretty nice.... 

Joe

Anybody want to post pictures of their Burlington Northern car? Mine is still on the way and I'm curious at how 'bad' it looks. Lol. I'll keep it either way, though I do understand if some people are upset if its the wrong green.

However, a quick search on Google brought up a picture of BN #198794 with a dark shade of green, so dark it almost looked black. It wasn't a PS-1 but perhaps Lionel was basing their color off of something like this?

Yee gads I have two the the way.  When will I ever learn. 

DM&E_Bobby posted:

Anybody want to post pictures of their Burlington Northern car? Mine is still on the way and I'm curious at how 'bad' it looks. Lol. I'll keep it either way, though I do understand if some people are upset if its the wrong green.

However, a quick search on Google brought up a picture of BN #198794 with a dark shade of green, so dark it almost looked black. It wasn't a PS-1 but perhaps Lionel was basing their color off of something like this?

I have one and I think it's fine. A little lighter or not than the Lionel Legacy diesel that pulls it.

I've got four on the way. Have to wait till I hear them on the layout. Most likely I will keep them because I like the road names and colors.................Paul

Well, You guys make this series of Sound Cars, Really Appealling??? My four have landed in Kentucky and will land in Tennessee in the next few weeks....At that time, I will give you Another View, A Southern View for your Thoughts.  I will properly place them in 2 relatively Long Freights.....I liked the VisionLine Ethanol cars sounds, really Cool. The VisionLine Reefers probably were OK, I just sold them to a friend....Now, I am hoping these will sound somewhat realistic. Thank you for the Encouragemt....Just Kidding....Happy Railroading...

Agree that the cars look nice, but the idea was dumb and the cars overpriced. From the reviews, sure glad I didn't buy any. Lionel would have been better off simply releasing more road names or road numbers of the basic PS-1s.

irish rifle posted:

Agree that the cars look nice, but the idea was dumb and the cars overpriced. From the reviews, sure glad I didn't buy any. Lionel would have been better off simply releasing more road names or road numbers of the basic PS-1s.

They are sure to be collectibles some day then.

leapinlarry posted:

Well, You guys make this series of Sound Cars, Really Appealling??? My four have landed in Kentucky and will land in Tennessee in the next few weeks....At that time, I will give you Another View, A Southern View for your Thoughts.  I will properly place them in 2 relatively Long Freights.....I liked the VisionLine Ethanol cars sounds, really Cool. The VisionLine Reefers probably were OK, I just sold them to a friend....Now, I am hoping these will sound somewhat realistic. Thank you for the Encouragemt....Just Kidding....Happy Railroading...

You're in Tennessee?  I was living in Louisville last year at this time (now I'm back in Connecticut) and wish I had been there yesterday. Liquor Barn had its annual Pappy lottery and release. 

This is the Burlington Northern BN 132909 boxcar. It was an attempt at simulated weathering of the Cascade Green that ended up becoming GN passenger train Green.

The PS-1 car sounds are loud and clear, but are not on par with the previous Vision reefer or Vision Ethanol cars. They are better than no sound cars at all and would enhance most lay-outs. We were spoiled by the Vision sound cars.

The banging and thumping drowns everything else out. It is realistic but should not happen except at  slow speeds. The screeching is wrong pitch, sounds like a spindle rapidly spinning rather than a train wheel screech. No rail clickety clack that I can discern. The max min switch has no effect.

I do like the detail on the 4 cars I bought. I can live with them by turning down the volume half way so the banging sounds are more subtle. Also put  3 or 4 in a consist.

I went ahead and ordered another Vision sound car set, the Santa Fe one this time.

Still waiting Lionel to make a Vision modern sound box car version, or at least a larger car.

I agree in turning the sound down about 1/2 a turn. These sound great as background noise. I have a number of vision line sound reefers and have to agree the sound is a better quality and more versatile in selecting what sounds you would like to hear or not hear. But having a different sound in these cars vs. the VL cars is a nice combination.

Would I buy another? Absolutely!  If you like to  run long freight trains say 20 cars or more... its a must.

I disagree with some. The idea was brilliant and well executed for the price.

We had a few running on the National Capital Tracker layout this past weekend. I was impressed with the final product. They looked great and I thought they sounded just as good as previous sound cars that Lionel has made in previous years. I look forward to getting my Pennsy sound boxcar this upcoming weekend and hearing it on my layout.

I'll keep all of mine,and use them, as soon as I can get the volume down to where I like them.  They are nice and loud, but I have a small room.  I wish some of my locomotives could get as loud as these guys.

I am tempted. I like the volume control option mentioned. I love the train sounds on my motive power, but sometimes I have to press the off button or set volume way low because the drone of the E-8 diesel gets to me. But for me my MTH M1a and Mohawk steam locos have more tolerable sounds, still need to turn off the sound sometimes. Whether the sound is prototypical or not, these features were not around when I was a child.....a long time ago almost on a planet far away.

J Daddy, I like your encouraging Words.....Now I feel relieved....Thank You

I've ordered mine. The NYC Pacemaker.