Rapido FL9 in N announced

[daniel_leavitt2000]

That begs the question are there any normal Rapido dealers?

[dougnelson]

They missed a paint scheme!  New Haven McGuiness with blue PC patch.

See the beauty here leading Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited in August 1977, at least 8 years after the demise of the New Haven.  Amtrak only trusted these between Grand Central and Croton Harmon, where a pair of trusty ex-PRR EMD E8s would finish the trip to Chicago.  Who knows if the prime movers were operating, or if they juiced it off the third rail?  At least the steam generator was operating.  Ah, the 1970s.


Along the Harlem River after leaving Grand Central.

Changing power at Croton Harmon.

[sirenwerks]

Nice addition to N scale.  None for me thanks, I was hoping for a RS18...

[lock4244]

Hmmm. That is a strange looking ALCO/MLW speedster...

[nickelplate759]

I'd like to know if the non-LOKsound version will be upgradeable (without major surgery)?

George

[Puddington]

Both the DC DCC version and DCC sound version are identical except for the speaker and specific decoder. They are built you can swap the chip out if you desire.

[peteski]

..you can swap the chip out if you desire.

I know I'm anal Pud, but this bugs me.  Calling DCC decoder "a chip" is not right. A chip (a nickname for an Integrated circuit) is a small electronic component. A DCC decoder usually has few chips on it.  Some early sound decoders had their main microprocessor chip in a socket (like the QSI decoders). That chip could be removed from the decoder and replaced with an updated version. In that instance the chip was swapped.  With the advent flash-based microcontroller chips (which can be reprogrammed on-the-fly) the need for swapping chips disappeared.

Now a DCC decoder is a circuit board containing many components. I install or remove DCC decoder boards in my locomotives. 

[nstars]

I know I'm anal Pud, but this bugs me.  Calling DCC decoder "a chip" is not right. A chip (a nickname for an Integrated circuit) is a small electronic component. A DCC decoder usually has few chips on it.  Some early sound decoders had their main microprocessor chip in a socket (like the QSI decoders). That chip could be removed from the decoder and replaced with an updated version. In that instance the chip was swapped.  With the advent flash-based microcontroller chips (which can be reprogrammed on-the-fly) the need for swapping chips disappeared.

Now a DCC decoder is a circuit board containing many components. I install or remove DCC decoder boards in my locomotives. 

I guess you haven't been to the UK. There they don't know decoders, only chips. It's always fun to see the differences between UK English and US English .

Marc

[peteski]

I guess you haven't been to the UK. There they don't know decoders, only chips. It's always fun to see the differences between UK English and US English .

Marc

You're right.  I'm in US and use American English. So what do they call Integrated Circuits in England?  I guess since Pud is Canadian, he can be excused. 

I still get a chuckle at the expression on Brits' faces when they see the name of one of the American candy shops - Fanny Farmer.  Anybody in for a shag or smoking a fag? 

[Puddington]

Actually I'm just a simple DC N scaler so decoder, chip, dcc thingy, it's just an expensive hunk of plastic and silica to me..... (That ought to drive Jason nuts...... )

I can get more details from Dan when I'mback to the office next week.

[nickelplate759]

I asked the question, and I did put down the reference to "chip" as a Canadianism - even though I actually work some place where we make integrated circuits, which of course we call "chips".   

In any event, I'm glad to know that an upgrade from DC/DCC to Sound is possible without major surgery.

George

[Ed Kapuscinski]

You're right.  I'm in US and use American English. So what do they call Integrated Circuits in England? 

Oddly enough, fries.

[peteski]

Oddly enough, fries.

Now that was funny! But only after they let the magic smoke out.

[Ngineer]

Did Rapido Trains ever build the UAC TurboTrain in N Scale? If I remember correctly, only the H0 model was manufactured and delivered.

Cheers,

Javier

[eja]

I guess you haven't been to the UK. There they don't know decoders, only chips. It's always fun to see the differences between UK English and US English .

Marc

I thought "chips" are something that is served with fish in the UK