I finally got a little bit of time to try out LokSound's new Full Throttle steam file (which you can download here). Good news: I have an engine with an ESU decoder installed. Bad news: It's a diesel. Good news: you can download any sound you want into an ESU/LokSound decoder. So yeah - that New Haven RS-2 you see is a steamer for this test.
They've always said Alcos are "honorary steam engines" - now that's actually the case, on my test track at least....
At least the mogul there beside the test loop has a SoundTraxx Tsunami TSU-1000 medium steam decoder installed that I'm using for comparison.
I've been firing real steam locomotives off and on (mostly off) for 30 years as of next month (ugh! just figured that out... where's the time go?) so I have a pretty good idea of how they're supposed to sound. Well, at least how the engines I've been around (a smallish 2-8-0 and 2-8-2 and a medium 2-8-2) typically sound. So I'm looking forward to seeing how the LokSound compares to the Tsunami.
Unfortunately, there's only one Full Throttle sound project so far (a Soo Line 2-8-2) and I'm not sure yet whether I'll need the FT functionality, so I may also try downloading some of the other LokSound steam sound projects.
And that's one of the main reasons I'm becoming a fast fan of ESU/LokSound decoders: their ability to be whatever you want them to be gives me a freedom that's just not possible with other decoders. Heh - that RS-2 is now a Soo Line 2-8-2, but it's also been a GP-9! And all without having to remove the shell...
As I start my experimenting, I'd be very interested in hearing from any of you that have tried out LokSound steam - whether Full Throttle versions or not. How do you think they compare to SoundTraxx and TCS offerings? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, or you can always contact me directly as well.
In the meantime, I'm getting a kick out of hearing the RS-2 lift its pop valves....
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