Understanding Model Trains

What Does Sound Equipped Mean?

The addition of prototype sound to models has added a whole new level of realism to our model trains.

Model trains started out being powered by AC power, then moved on to DC, and more recently Digital Command Control.

DCC allows modelers to individually control locomotives using a DCC Command Station that provides a constant voltage to the rails and issues individual instructions to a "decoder" installed inside a locomotive.

These decoders can control far more than just direction and speed, however. They can individually control lights and their functions installed in a locomotive (like a rotary beacon on top of a cab) and simulate some of the physics of real trains (by including effects that simulate momentum).

Over the past few decades, these decoders have gotten even more sophisticated and some of them now can, when coupled with miniature speakers, simulate the many sounds of prototype locomotives.

These sounds run the gamut from the basics "chuff chuff" of a steam locomotive to recordings of specific diesel locomotives. They also include ancillary sounds like air compressors, flange squeal and, of course, bells, horns and whistles.

A Great Train Set being "sound equipped" means that the locomotive included in it comes with one of these advanced sound decoders installed and ready for use. These sets do not include the DCC Command Stations required to access many of these sounds but always offer those as upgrades.