Is there a way to install a whistle or horn in a PW trolley? I am using a KW transformer. Thanks
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Best idea would be a whistle. You'd need a 1 1/2 volt battery and holder, a whistle relay and the horn. All are available from parts dealers except the holder. I'd try R S for that.
Not much room in the trolley. You might want to look at an electronic horn.
I'd have to agree with David, the electronic horn might fit, but trying to put all those PW parts in will probably be a tight fit.
The best thing you could do would be a real bell from a slope back tender or early switcher. Not the easiest or cheapest to find though.
Trolleys don't have whistles (for sure), and most do not have horns. They do have bells, so if you were going to add sound effects to a No. 60, that would be the one to add. Of course, that assumes you could even hear the sounds above the noise of the typical No. 60 trolley, which, like most earlier Lionel motorized units with open-frame motors, is definitely a growler.
Originally Posted by Allan Miller:
Trolleys don't have whistles (for sure), and most do not have horns. They do have bells, so if you were going to add sound effects to a No. 60, that would be the one to add. Of course, that assumes you could even hear the sounds above the noise of the typical No. 60 trolley, which, like most earlier Lionel motorized units with open-frame motors, is definitely a growler.
You beat me to it, Allan, on both subjects, as I only remember hearing the familiar bell clanging on real trolleys plus all of my 3 different Lionel #60 trolleys make plenty of noise, but of the wrong kind!
I’m fairly certain that the #622 bell mechanism won’t fit inside the trolley body but perhaps there is an electronic bell mechanism that would fit inside. And if not, why not mount the mechanism in a trackside building and use an insulated outside rail to trigger the sounds at that location?
Bill
I'm sure you could fit an electronic bell in the #60, but I agree that it might be difficult to hear it unless it was a robust bell with all the racket that vertical motor makes. 
Originally Posted by Allan Miller:
Trolleys don't have whistles (for sure), .....
Not quite true - many had compressed air operated whistles and you can buy those detail parts from Q-Car. However, they certainly do not sound like anything related to what you might think of as compared to those on steam engines, etc.
Additionally, if you look into sound for trolleys, you'll find that Fred Miller has published a few articles on the subject in RMC and elsewhere.
How about the old marx ringing cross buck? I don't know how big the unit is but it would probably work well cut down and put in a building.
Here you go. Just scroll down to TROLLEY/CABLE sounds. http://www.ittproducts.com/products.html
Fitting that board and a speaker into the #60 trolley might be a trick.
