Question Does anybody have the new silver series u23b? If so what is inside? I know it has a regular electrical board. But I hear it also has the speaker? With a new 8 pin plug for the sound decoder. Any input is greatly appreciated! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last I heard, the new Atlas locos would only accept an ESU board/decoder. You are correct about the speaker. The new locos also have wired trucks. Not sure if the changes are good or bad, but they are what they are.
I have them. The speaker is not in the fuel tank as was the case in previous Atlas Silver engines (like SD35s for example). The speaker is mounted under the rear of the circuit board. The decoder (either sound or DCC silent) that fits the board needs an E24 interface/plug.
Which road units do you have? Well I just ordered two of the ESU LokSound 58925 E24 V5 NANO DCC Sound Decoder for the new Atlas locomotives. Iron Planet hobbies has them for about $96 online and $98 in their eBay store. Plus they’ll download the article number for the specific locomotive that you are interested in to installing it into. I have to laugh! Each of those decoders cost more than the Atlas silver series locomotives that they’re installed in. I paid $89.99 for each locomotive. The third locomotive is already on its way to my house. I ordered one of the gold series directly from Atlas. For this one I paid full price for. It should be at my doorstep tomorrow morning according to the post office. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have two Lehigh Valley units and one Chessie. I also bought a sound decoder from Iron Planet. I have not installed it yet, though.
Excellent!!! Did you have iron planet upload the files onto your sound decoder? They do offer that. Last question, you did say that the speaker is under the board instead of in the fuel tank? Regardless of where it is, at least it comes with the speaker! Mine should be here in about two days. Same with the other two locomotives. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes, it does come with the speaker. I have a LokProgrammer so I am able to add and modify ESU sound files to my decoder. You may want to consider buying one.
I got the two other silver series from Lombard hobbies today. The other day I pulled the diagram chart from the back of the gold series locomotive to see where things are under the hood. After I had inspected the two silver series, I pulled the shell off the frame. I was impressed that it came off nicely without any stressing the frame or breaking anything off. I did see the speaker on one side underneath the decoder board and what appears to be a circuit board plugged underneath into the other side. I figured that I will just need to unplug the circuit board and plug the sound decoder into the mainframe. As for as buying a ESU LokSound programmer. I think I will have to pass for now. Though I am hoping that they did download the files into each device.I will see tomorrow morning when the mail comes in. I have to say that the new U23B is a beauty! I have some later models that came with DCC and the third one decoder(now DCC equipped)ready. The details on the shell is very worth the price of the locomotive. It is quite as anything! Just as neat as the last GP15-1 that they released. To me, the little fire extinguisher and high voltage sings are better than the earlier ones from 2006 & 2009. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Got the ESU decoders in the mail this morning. Swapped out the circuit board for the sound board and wow the three of them in unison are super loud and crisp sounding! Hats off to Iron Planet Hobbies for adding the article number! At $96 each for the ESU LokSound 58925 E24 V5 NANO DCC Sound Decoder. Only one advice to anyone else who is buying the latest U23B’s from Atlas , PLEASE make sure to clean the wheels on the locomotives! Obviously they have been sitting in China for the last five years. I found some green traces of corrosion on them. All it took me was a lint free cloth and some 99% alcohol to clean them up. I was wondering why they were running a bit funky on my layout. I know the tracks were clean but I did do another once over with cleaning them anyway. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
On all my Atlas engines, I remove the wheel sets and polish them. They chemically blacken them to look more realistic but can make connectivity an issue. I use an old Life Like track cleaner, which is a mild abrasive, to polish the wheel treads as well as the needle points on the axle and reassemble. (Don't use a Bright Boy, that is too abrasive.) I have no issues on my ME code 55 even if the track is slightly dirty.
I had to go back and clean the wheels again because they were obviously still a bit dirty. This time I used my MRC II 1500 and of course the t-shirt material chunk with the 99% (not the 70% because it will not leave a film on the rails or wheels) alcohol. I was surprised by the amount of filth that I picked up from the run on Saturday with a friend’s layout. Here’s a pair of them running this morning after the cleaning. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBG92R_R2VM/?igsh=dHY2MjJvanVrdTl1 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
