SoundBytes: Train Talk from Milepost 141

George has been fielding our support calls and emails over the past couple of weeks, and he’s noticed a few common themes. First, he strongly recommends checking out our User’s Guides—these are packed with helpful information and can answer many of your questions right away. He then takes a deeper dive into some of the most frequently asked topics, especially around speaker installation. George ex...

In this episode, George shares an inside look at his latest YouTube series, which takes a deep dive into the world of locomotive upgrades. From disassembling engines to installing detail parts, lighting, and modern decoders, he walks you through every step of the process. Later, George visits with the Colorado Model Railroad Museum director Michelle Kempema and social media manager Jennifer Howell...

George brings out his InterMountain Tier 4 GEVO to show offhis impressive Blunami upgrade. He’s installed the BLU-21PNEM8 decoder and shares a full installation and setup video to help others do the same. George has also added a ton of lights to the model and gives a full demonstration of the effects. Special guest Christopher Brown joins the conversation toshare his lifelong passion for trains. H...

Graham has been shopping on eBay and picked up a few new models. This week, he shows off his new Atlas Master engines, which he upgraded with Blunami decoders. George also shares his GP15, which he upgraded with Blunami as well. He talks about how he enhanced the lighting on this older model, renumbered it, and added some weathering details. This week’s model show-offs are a great example of how o...

Blunami works seamlessly in DCC, but our app removes the confusion of CVs and decoder setup. You can configure everything in the app, then switch to DCC operation with ease. Our decoders are full of features, so chances are, if you want your train to behave a certain way—it can! And if you’re stuck, just give us a call. We’re happy to help. Graham runs an Athearn BNSF GP38 with a factory-installed...

On this week’s podcast, Graham showcases his True LineTrains Railrunner, upgraded with a Tsunami2 decoder and customized lighting. His enhancements include a directional headlight, backup light, illuminated number boards, a cab light, and ditch lights. Meanwhile, George discusses his brand-new Athearn GP15s, which come factory-equipped with Tsunami2 decoders and upgraded lighting. He also compares...

This week, Graham has an Atlas Master GP38-2 upgraded with a Blunami BLU-21PNEM8 decoder, and George has outfitted an Athearn RTR SD40 with a host of added details and a Blunami decoder. We'll also be at the Chicago O Scale Meet in a couple ofweeks! Blunami is a game-changer for O Scalers, offering full decoder capabilities without the need to upgrade your DC layout —it's truly amazing. If...

You may have already met our new Support Technician, Graham, but we're excited to officially welcome him to the podcast! This week, George and Graham share their experiences upgrading older models with Blunami, including InterMountain F7A and F7B units and a Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-2 Light Mountain. They also dive into the topic of speed matching—if and when is it necessary? Let’s find out!

In this episode, we share the highlights from our January shows, covering the latest updates and standout moments. Plus, we sit down with Kevin from Arnie’s Trains for an exclusive interview. He shares insights on the model train industry, his passion for the hobby, and what’s new at Arnie’s Trains. Don’t miss this fun and informative episode! 🎙🚂 #ModelTrains #Podcast #ArnieTrains

George discusses the design and manufacturing of decoders in Durango, CO. He showcases his upgraded SD40-2C and SD40 models from Athearn, equipped with Blunami and LEDs. Additionally, he explains how Blunami features can simulate the real-world operations of these locomotives.

This week’s podcast is a special one! George takes us on a tour of his home layout, showcasing the impressive expansions and upgrades he’s made since his last reveal. There’s a lot to explore—let’s dive in!

George showcases two Athearn GP38s equipped with BLU-PNP8s and a Proto 2000 GP38 fitted with a BLU-21PNEM8. He discusses the decoder installations, upgrading these models with LEDs, and demonstrates just how simple it is to consist these locomotives using the Blunami Android App.

George upgraded an Athearn GP38 with Blunami and added LEDs to the headlight, rear headlight, class lights, number boards, and ground lights. These lights are all labeled by their name and controlled by the press of a button in the Blunami App.

George shows off a Scale Trains Rio Grande SD40T-2 and Norman is working on a Kato steeple cab electric switcher that he will run with SurroundTraxx (get realistic train sounds that move with your train without the need for onboard speakers or decoders).

George showcases his upgraded Walthers Fuel Loading Kit and provides an overview of how easy consisting is with the Blunami App – no CVs required! Now, you can spend more time enjoying running your trains instead of calculating CVs for setup.

Check out Rapido’s new 44 Tonner and we talk to Reggie Thomas an avid user of SoundTraxx products and an amazing modeler. See his models, his layout, and talk trains with the guys from SoundTraxx!

In this episode, Norman shows off his Dynamometer car, discusses how to select a speaker for your decoder, and we welcome special guest Matt Dowd from ReSourced Rails. This is a fun one, don’t miss out!

George has upgraded a couple of Rapido F40PHs with Blunami, weathering, HEP mode, and various lights. We also talk with Mike from Doc’s Caboose in Kansas City, MO about their services and the SoundTraxx products that are most popular in their area.

Norman shows his Dapol Great Western Large Prairie locomotive that he upgraded with Tsunami2 and George has a Missouri Pacific ICC offset Wide Vision Caboose with SoundCar installed. They also touch on the audio tools we have built into our decoders to help you modify the sound to give each model a unique voice.

George has been busy with layout updates. He is in the process of upgrading his oil loading platform using a Walthers kit and adding custom details to enhance his setup. He also addresses some common Blunami FAQs, including whether Blunami can run on DCC and how to disable auto-start. Meanwhile, Norman dives into the topic of short circuits—explaining what they are, what they aren’t, and how to tr...

Join George and Norman, from the SoundTraxx Support Team, as George shows off his layout expansion and they discuss how youth are interacting with the model railroading community in today's technical-driven world. Remember that there are no dumb questions. No one is born knowing how to be a model railroader, and we are happy to help you learn. At the end of the day, we are modelers, just like...

In this episode, we visit with Jim Wiggin from Athearn Model Trains. He is Athearn's brand manager and a model railroader himself. Join us as we discuss Athearn, factory-equipped Tsunami2 decoders, and trains!

In this episode, our team shows off the model trains they have been working on recently. George has a highly customized GP12 in the Missouri Pacific paint scheme. He upgraded it with a Blunami sound decoder, added extra lights, and did a fabulous job weathering the paint. Norman shows off his British Railways Standard Class 2 steam locomotive. He discusses the Tsunami2, TSU-N18 decoder installatio...

Welcome to our new podcast where we talk about all things trains! In this first episode, you will meet our Product Expert, George, and our Support Technician, Norman. They both show off one of their recent model railroading projects and then we will speak with George Hansen from Show Me Model Railroad Company about how Blunami has affected his hobby shop. Norman has an N-Scale LNER Y1 shunting eng...