SoundBytes: Train Talk from Milepost 141

George and Dave are getting ready for Trainfest, and they’relooking forward to a fun weekend with fellow model railroaders! Before theshow, they’re sharing a look at a couple of recent locomotive projects, decoderinstallation tips, and ways to make the most of your setup. Dave walks through his first Blunami installation in anAtlas U36C. Fitting two mini cube speakers required some hands-on work,i...

First, an apology! We lost the camera 2 angle and the screen recording of the Blunami app, so there are a few spots where you won’t see all the details you’re used to. Those dang marketing people getting too generous with the delete button! On the bright side, there’s plenty of model railroading goodness to enjoy. Dave brings in an older Atlas Conrail U36C, and George helps him plan some upgrades,...

In this episode of On Board with SoundTraxx, Dave has ordered his first locomotive and is excited to install a decoder before heading to George’s layout for an operating session! For this week’s model show-off, George shares his Missouri Pacific ExactRail 3737 Bethlehem hoppers. He’s adding weight, coal loads, magnetic air hoses, Tangent trucks, and weathering to create loaded and unloaded trains...

In this episode, we welcome our new Support Technician, David Kupratis , to the SoundTraxx team! We’re excited to have him on board and look forward to seeing what he brings to the position. For this week’s model show-off, George brings two MOPACAtlas U30C locomotives that he has upgraded with Blunami and finished up for his coal trains. He also discusses his collection of 45–50 ExactRail Missouri...

George is slacking this week—he hasn’t finished a project toshow off! But he makes up for it with some special guests from the ColoradoRPM. In this episode, George talks with the Colorado RPM teamabout the upcoming show schedule, what you can expect at the event, and why you should come join us. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone and having a great time at this year’s event! #SoundTraxx #Sou...

George takes us along for a recent trip to Albuquerque,where he got to see the 2026 Big Steam locomotive, ride the Rail Runner, and check out a uniquely painted Santa Fe Southern Railway locomotive. He also has photos and run-by videos to share from the trip. There’s no single class that teaches you everything you needto know about model railroading, which is why SoundTraxx creates videos to help...

George and Tom are back from the National Train Show withstories to tell! Tom shows off an Athearn Genesis Santa Fe F7, featuring a Blunami decoder and Mini Cube Speakers. Since this model will run on a DC layout, Tom also shares the custom braking rate he’s using and explains how Blunami gives you many of the benefits of DCC without requiring you to upgradeyour entire layout. The guys also talk a...

George and Tom kick off this episode by talking about George's recent Disney vacation before looking ahead to the train shows and events where you can meet the SoundTraxx team later this summer. Tom shares his latest project—a custom-painted Athearn Genesis F7B equipped with a Tsunami2 decoder. The discussion turns to the unique role of B units, how they were used in real life, and the feature...

George and Tom kick off this episode with a look at theupcoming train shows and events where you can meet the SoundTraxx team over the next few months. Tom shares the latest progress on his U-boat project,highlighting the custom details and upgrades he's adding to bring the model to life. George then showcases a unique locomotive project—a customized 2-8-2Broadway Limited Mikado paired with a...

George and Tom are getting ready for the Fourth of July bydiscussing how various railroads are doing the same. George also unveils his long-awaited mystery project—a beautifully customized Proto 2000 GP18 painted in a striking Missouri Pacific 1976 Bicentennial scheme. Equipped with a Blunami decoder, upgraded lighting, and scratch-built details, this one-of-a-kind locomotive has an incredible sto...

This week on SoundBytes: Train Talk from Milepost 141,George and take you behind the scenes to show how SoundTraxx decoders are designed and assembled right here in Durango, Colorado. Planning a trip throughtown? We offer scheduled facility tours, so be sure to reach out if you’ll bein the area. Tom also shows off his Missouri Pacific GP15 from Athearn,upgraded with a Tsunami2 decoder, added detai...

Tom shares his custom-painted Athearn Genesis GP15-1featuring upgraded lighting, steps, wheels, decals, and a Tsunami2 decoder. George’s mystery project is still underway, but the reveal is getting closer —and it will be worth the wait. The guys also break down one of the most common installationquestions: how to identify which LED is wired to which decoder output. Ifyou’ve ever been confused whil...

George and Tom talk about the limited-edition SoundTraxxswag you can collect, plus our new loyalty program for shoppers atSoundTraxx.com — the more you buy, the more you save! Tom shares updates on a GP15 custom project he’s beenworking on, while George drops hints about his next layout project. Think youcan figure out what it is from the photos he shares? Let us know your guessesin the comments s...

Tom finally wraps up his Ziegler Coal NW2—fully painted,detailed, and ready to run. He walks through his Tsunami2 decoder install,sharing insights on detailing, painting, and dialing in performance. You’llalso see how he set up automatic lighting and fine-tuned deadband for smooth,prototypical operation. Meanwhile, George showcases a Rapido E8 upgraded withBlunami, diving into Echo and Reverb. He...

Tom takes on an older Atlas U23B, walking through plans torepaint, detail, and upgrade the decoder. George shares his MOPAC Proto 2000 GP38 equipped with Blunami—fully detailed and running beautifully at slow speeds. From there, the conversation shifts to Dynamic DigitalExhaust (DDE), SoundTraxx’s exclusive feature that automatically adjusts your locomotive’s throttle based on load and grade. They...

George sits down with the team from Spring Creek ModelTrains, a truly unique hobby shop redefining what it means to serve model railroaders. While they do have a physical location—more of a “shoppable warehouse”—their reach goes far beyond four walls. From traveling to train shows as a mobile hobby shop to maintaining a strong online presence, Spring Creek connects with customers wherever they are...

Tom shares his newly painted Walthers NW2, now upgraded with a Tsunami2 TSU-N18 decoder. George has been working on a Rapido GP38, installing a Blunami decoder and adding new LEDs for improved lighting effects and motor control. They also discuss how to access the full range of SoundTraxxdecoder features using the higher function keys on your DCC throttle—or easily through the Blunami App. Your DC...

George has been on the road! He recently visited Doc’sCaboose in Kansas City, Missouri, for a meet-and-greet, where he had the opportunity to operate on several incredible layouts. He shares stories from the trip along with photos from the operating sessions. Back in the workshop, Tom has been painting his Phase 4Ziegler Coal train and walks through his process, complete with progress photos. Geor...

George is back with his BNSF GEVO, upgraded with a Blunamidecoder that he has been using for his walkthrough of the Blunami App. This impressive model features 20 added LEDs for outstanding lighting effects, making it the perfect teaching tool. The guys emphasize why it’s so important to read the manual and understand how each CV functions—many CVs control multiple features, and without knowing it...

George and Tom recap the 2026 Amherst Railway Society Show! Despite plenty of snow, the turnout was strong, and the show was a great success. Tom shares his plans for a Kato GP35 Phase I B, debating whether to make it a GP28 or a GP35M and install a Blunami decoder. Meanwhile, George dives into his latest project: a Rapido E8. He removed the factory red class lights, repurposed them as a cab light...

George brings in a Missouri Pacific brass model caboose he painted, upgraded with new trucks, and outfitted with a SoundCar. Then Tom walks you through the correct way to reset the decoder, highlighting a crucial step that’s been missed a lot lately: cycling the power. Tune in for hands-on modeling tips and decoder know-how you can use right away.

George and Tom are back after the holidays and talkingtrains once again! This week, they dive into layout building and Tom’s plans for a new home layout, with a focus on how real railroads operate—and how you can model those same practices through thoughtful layout construction and locomotive operation. They also highlight the beautiful work of Charlie Duckworth,sharing photos of his impressive la...

Tom kicks things off with an undecorated Bluford Shops Missouri Pacific caboose, sharing plans to paint it, add lighting, and install either a SoundCar decoder or a BLU-1100. George then brings in his “Rehab My Loco” Athearn SD40 to show how far a model can be elevated with some hands-on work and a new decoder. The conversation wraps up with a visit from Wes at Just Trains in California, where the...

Tom kicks things off with an undecorated SW1200, walkingthrough his prep work before paint, lighting, and decoder installation. Meanwhile, George pulls his popular General off the shelf for a BLU-1100 upgrade. He covers what he customized on the model, how he dialed in thedecoder settings to accurately replicate the real locomotive, and why the BLU-1100 is such a solid choice. They also dive into...

George and Tom are joined by Arron from A&S Trains to talk about the A&S website and their unique approach to traveling to tradeshows—bringing the full hobby shop experience right to attendees. From there, the conversation shifts into a deep dive on Blunami, where George, Tom, and Arron share why it’s one of their favorite ways to run and enjoy their trains.