Either flip the direction switch back to shut off the Horn, or continue with long or short Horn operations. When you are finished blowing
the Horn, the locomotive sounds will automatically return to normal after a few seconds. If the Bell was on, it will shut off just before
the sounds return to normal.
Note:
The faster the locomotive is moving, the greater the Doppler shift. Below 15 smph, there is no Doppler shift.
Special Horn Ending Sound
Prototype engineers would often “play” their horns by controlling the flow of compressed air. In particular, engineers often had a
signature sound associated with how they ended their horn sequences. Some Quantum System sound sets have special Horn
Endings that can be activated using the direction switch to produce a unique sound effect similar to that of a prototype engineer’s
“playing” the Horn.
Flip the direction switch to blow the Horn for at least one second.
The normal way to end the Horn is to flip the direction switch back. To do the special Horn Ending, add an immediate
Quick
flip-and-
back operation.
Note:
If you wait too long to do the
Quick
Flip-and-Back operation, the Bell might turn on instead.
Note:
Your Quantum equipped locomotive may not have special Horn Ending sounds included.
Neutral
In Neutral, the locomotive will continue to make prototypical sounds appropriate to its resting state.
Enter Neutral by
turning the throttle down below V-Start but not off and wait for locomotive to stop
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. The Headlight or (if so
equipped) Mars Light switches to a steady dim or (if so equipped) the Ditch Lights will turn off and Reverse Light will turn off if
entering Neutral From Reverse (NFR).
You will hear a Short Air Let-Off when the locomotive stops moving and enters Neutral, and a Long Air Let-Off about three seconds
later followed by Air Pumps and other background sounds. In addition to the Air Pumps, Electric Traction Motor Cooling Fans and
Vents will come on at random time intervals in Neutral. After ten seconds the Electric Traction Motor Cooling Fans shut off if they were
on when you entered Neutral. Optional Cab Lights come on 10 seconds after entering Neutral.
If the electric locomotive is left in Neutral from Reverse, a special Low Idle state marked by subdues throbbing motor sounds will
automatically come on after 30 seconds (see description of Low Idle in the section on Quantum System Sounds on Page 17). The
electric locomotive will return to normal Diesel Motor sounds when the throttle is turned up.
After the Air Pumps start, you can also use the direction switch to blow the Horn or turn on or off the Bell
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(if so equipped).
If you cannot enter Neutral, or have difficulties with any of the operations, you may need to program your locomotive for optimal use with
your particular DC power pack (see Analog Programming in next section).
Changing the Locomotive’s Direction without Turning off the Sound
You can use the power pack’s direction switch while the locomotive is in Neutral to change the locomotive’s direction.
Put the locomotive in Neutral by bringing the throttle down below V-start and wait for the locomotive to stop
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.
Flip the direction switch after you hear the Short Air Let-off but before you hear the Long Air Let-off and the Air Pump sounds turn on.
During this short time (3 seconds) the Horn will not blow when you flip the direction switch.
Turn up the throttle anytime thereafter to operate the locomotive in the opposite direction.
If you have waited until the Air Pumps start in Neutral and now wish to change direction, you can either:
1. Turn the power all the way off, change the direction switch and turn the power back on, or,
2. Flip the direction switch (the Horn will come on) and then turn up the throttle. When the locomotive starts to move in the opposite
direction, the Horn will stop automatically and then hoot one more time if the direction is Forward for a total of two hoots. Or if the
direction is Reverse, the Horn will hoot two more times for a total of three hoots
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.
Note:
To prevent the first Horn hoot from being too long, do not delay in turning up the throttle after you have flipped the direction
switch.
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If Regulated Throttle Control is enabled (see below) it is important to wait until the locomotive stops on its own. The locomotive’s electronic Inertial Control will keep it moving
even though you have reduced the throttle far enough below V-Start to stop the locomotive. In your attempt to stop the locomotive, do not try to reduce the throttle so far that all
sounds turn off.
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In Neutral, the mechanical bell feature has a distinctive turn-on effect as the pneumatic clapper gains full motion to strike the bell. The Bell may also have a shut-down effect
where each strike becomes less loud as the clapper slows its motion.
13
On some power packs that have high internal resistance, the track voltage may rise slightly as the locomotive slows down and requires less power to operate. With these power
packs, as the locomotive slows, you may need to reduce the throttle a little more to remain below V-Start.
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Standard U.S. prototype railroad signaling is two hoots before starting in forward and three hoots before starting in reverse. Other countries have different signaling. Check your
Electric Model Specification sheet for horn sequences used on your model.
Electric Loco Q1 w/Volume Pot Operation Manual, Version 2.8
4/21
8 March 2006
