Large Scale Central

Need Soundtraxx Sierra for small steam

For Sale/Trade/Wanted
#1

Hey, just looking to see if anyone has an old sierra board for a small steamer. Need it for my Aristo 0-4-0 switcher with slopeback tender. I’ve never seen the complete list of sierra boards so not sure what was available.

I saw on old website that listed a “light logging with euro or peanut whistle” but not sure what type of loco that would be since they did make boards for the shay. Not too picky since I could always shuffle some of my other boards around to keep the sound appropriate for their relative sizes.

This is my last steamer without sound and since I run straight DC i’m not forking out the REALLY BIG bucks for a DCC decoder that will only have partial functionality on straight DC or require an outboard control system or need reed switches for the bell and whistle. Thanks in advance!

Dave

#2

I have a Sierra for a steam engine (in a Bachmann Connie, but I don’t know that is what it was intended for) that I would trade for a Sierra for a diesel. I tried it out and it works perfectly except that the gel pack battery is now dead from sitting.

I remove the batteries and replace them with three supercaps anyway.

#3

The peanut whistle board works great for little engines (I have one in a Bachmann Porter Saddle Tank)-perfect for the 0-4-0!

I have a Sierra board for a diesel, and have considered sending it back to them to re-do for Steam…I “Think” they still will do that for about $40…

BUT (I just called) they can’t cross from diesel to steam or steam to diesel…

FWIW

#4

No, the steam software and diesel software are different. They used to swap out the data chips for different sounds, but they had to be the same type (steam or diesel). With the Sierra out of production for how many years now, I would doubt they would do anything at all to support it.

I had a peanut whistle board in a small steamer, but I couldn’t get the chuff switch (reed switch) to work properly. It was a fault on my part, not the board. Its a shame that we now have to spend the cash for a Pheonix just for sound. But there are others out there. IIRC there is an inexpensive one from MYLOCOSOUND, and there are the Dalle boards. But I don’t know how good they are

#5

The Dallee (at least the old one) is not polyphonic. I don’t like having the engine sound interrupted to blow the horn.

The Sierra boards give you so many nice features (including lighting effects) and good sound for the $$$. They are almost as nice as the Phoenix in sound, and nicer in some ways, and you could buy 3 Sierras for the less than the cost of 2 Phoenixes back in the day.

#6

Sorry, I don’t have any diesel boards to trade as i’m strictly steam. Hopefully somebody will find an old sierra board they’d be willing to sell. And as stated the steam and diesel boards were NOT interchangable…you could not just swap out the EPROM sound chip…the diesel board had no accommodation for a chuff trigger.

As Todd stated, the sierra boards had really great sound and excellent features. You could run the thing with only the battery and track power input and still have full control of bell/whistle plus all the other sound effects.

I’ll check back here periodically and bump the thread to see if something turns up.

#7

Yea, I agree. That why I have Sierras in my equipment. They were nice boards.

Dallee has newer boards out that are better then the old ones. I think they have 2 different quality of boards out there, just by looking at the prices.

Phoenix has the Dc/DCC board, I think its called the PB11. Its supposed to be a good board, but at the going price for them, I haven’t tried one yet.

#8

Dave, I have a Sierra Soundtraxx light logging with euro of peanut whistle in a modified LGB Stainz. I made a little movie for you. You can see it on youtube. I have 6 loco’s with Sierra Soundtraxx modules and one module not build in. Guess what… my second “Sierra Soundtraxx light logging with euro of peanut whistle” module. So if you are interested…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD_BcEcN0fU

Greetings,

Dick (Germany)

#9

Saw your posting Dick…I sent you a private message…still need to watch the video with sound, but very interested! Thanks!

Dave