Atlas Gold Series, User Manual

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Atlas User Manual: Diesels with QSI Sound 43/52 13 January 2015
Decoders (Quantum, Quantum Titan, or
Quantum Titan with ET)
going on randomly in all directional states although they are more obvious when the locomotive is stopped in Neutral .
Quantum Titan Air Dryers and Spitters have separate volume controls to allow the user to customize his locomotive
according to age and/or modifications of the prototype (firmware Versions 8 and 9 only).
Appliance Air Release: Compressed air is used on locomotives for operating various appliances. You will hear a
variety of Short and Long Air Release sounds emitted at various times.
Bell:
Diesels and Electric locomotives, as well as larger steam locomotives, usually have pneumatically operated
mechanical Bells . Small steam locomotives often have hand-pulled Bells . During turn-on in Neutral , you can hear the
pneumatic clapper gain greater throw with each stroke until it finally strikes the Bell . During shut down in Neutral , you
will hear the Bell fade out along with the Short Air Release sound associated with turning this appliance off.
Locomotives equipped with a Quantum Titan sound-decoder and Version 9 firmware offer a choice of four different
Bells which include recordings for one prototype pneumatic Bell and one prototype hand-pull Bell, in addition to a
programmable pneumatic Bell and a programmable hand pulled Bell. Programmable Bells have CV’s to set ring rate
and pitch
Brake Squeal:
You can hear the brakes squeal on prototype locomotives when the locomotive is moving slowly, and
this noise can become particularly loud when the wheels are just about to stop turning. Listen at slow speeds for
automatic
Brake Squeal sounds in the model locomotive and the final distinctive squealing sounds as the diesel
locomotive slows to a stop.
Cooling Fans:
The enormous Prime Mover [the Diesel Engine and Generator (or Alternator in some modern
locomotives)], which are enclosed in the diesel locomotive body, need ventilation in order to stay cool. All diesel
locomotives have powerful
Cooling Fans on the roof to draw outside air through louvers on the sides of the
locomotive. The outside air is blown across large radiators. In all Atlas Gold Series model locomotives that are
equipped with QSI Quantum sound, you will also hear the sounds of
Louvers opening before the Cooling Fans start.
When the Cooling Fans shut down, you will hear the Louvers close.
Coupler:
To give you the most authentic coupler sounds, QSI has identified three distinct types of coupler activity on
prototype locomotives and incorporated them into the model. The first is when the Coupler is Armed where you will
hear the clanking sound of the coupler lift bar and coupler pin raising. The next is the sound of the Coupler Opening ,
along with the hiss of the coupler air-hoses parting. The third is when the locomotive couples up to its load of cars ,
and you hear the crash as the cars bunch together from the impact. DCC and QARC only
Diesel Turbo:
On modern diesel locomotives, Turbo appliances are used to improve the Prime Mover’s horsepower
by pumping air under pressure into the intake manifold. The power to operate the Turbo comes from the Prime
Mover’s exhaust pressure , which causes the high-pitched whine of the Turbo to lag the revving of the engine.
Quantum systems use a separate sound record for the Turbo to allow it to lag behind revving the Prime Mover up and
to “hang” for a few seconds when the Prime Mover is revved down.
Doppler Run-by:
The locomotive sounds get louder as a prototype train approaches, then immediately drop to a
much lower pitch and lower volume as the train passes by. Doppler Shift is based on the speed of the locomotive;
hence, the sounds change more dramatically when the locomotive is running faster. In a Quantum-equipped model,
with a little practice you can change the pitch exactly when and where you want. After the
Doppler Shift has occurred
and the Horn is no longer being blown, the Bell shuts off automatically, and locomotive sounds return to normal.
Dual Prime-Mover Sounds:
Quantum Titan diesel sound sets include two independent Prime Movers (#1 and #2),
each with their own separate Prime Mover volume controls. You can choose to use either Prime Mover or both at the
same time, although most diesel locomotives (including all Atlas Gold Series locomotives produced to date) had only
one Prime Mover. The choice of using one Prime Mover or the other can be an advantage in Consists where you
might want each of the locomotives to have its own unique sounds.
Dynamic Brakes:
Electric traction motors can act as motors or generators depending on whether they are using
power or generating power. When used as generators , the traction motors are disconnected from taking power from
the locomotive’s prime mover, and instead are connected to large Resistor Grids in the roof. By increasing the