SoundBytes: Train Talk from Milepost 141

George and Tom chat about their passion for customer service and connecting with fellow modelers. Tom shows off his upgraded Athearn Genesis GP38-2 featuring a Blunami BLU-21PNEM8 decoder, while George shares a fewmodeling tips and gives an update on his recently rebuilt Bachmann engine that still needs a little TLC after a nose-dive. They also cover upcoming tradeshows SoundTraxx will be attending and share news about the soon-to-be-releasedBlunami Apple App.

George has been on the road! He recently visited Doc’sCaboose in Kansas City, Missouri, for a meet-and-greet, where he had the opportunity to operate on several incredible layouts. He shares stories from the trip along with photos from the operating sessions.Back in the workshop, Tom has been painting his Phase 4Ziegler Coal train and walks through his process, complete with progress photos. George also dives into a new project: upgrading a Rapido C30-7 with Blunami. He explains how to work around Rapido’s proprietary motherboard to gain full access to the lighting functions and get the most out of the installation.The episode wraps up with a practical discussion on choosingthe right decoder board format for your model. They cover key considerations like motor stall current, speaker wattage, and available space inside the locomotive. When it comes to selecting the perfect sound profile, SoundTraxx offers a range of tools on our website, including a Decoder Selector, Sound Selection Reference lists, Sound Samples, and more to help you make the right choice. Helpful Webpages:Decoder Selector: https://soundtraxx.com/reference/decoder-selectorChoosing the Right Diesel Sound: https://soundtraxx.com/reference/choosing-the-right-diesel-sound/Sound Selection Reference Lists: https://soundtraxx.com/ssr/ Sound Samples: https://soundtraxx.com/reference/sound-samples Related Videos:Rehab My Loco: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwWuwya-crVYBbyNyogz_tHG3wIsL45of

George is back with his BNSF GEVO, upgraded with a Blunamidecoder that he has been using for his walkthrough of the Blunami App. This impressive model features 20 added LEDs for outstanding lighting effects, making it the perfect teaching tool. The guys emphasize why it’s so important to read the manual and understand how each CV functions—many CVs control multiple features, and without knowing it, you could accidentally disable something you want to keep. Tom even drops a hint about what he’ll be bringing to the next podcast.Later, they welcome special guest Tom from Southeast Hobbies. A frequent traveler to trade shows with an impressive mobile setup, Tom shares insights from the show circuit, talks SoundTraxx products, and explains how quickly they move off the shelves. He also shares his firsthand experience running SoundTraxx decoders—especially the fun and realism of manually notching up your locomotive before it starts to move.

George and Tom recap the 2026 Amherst Railway Society Show! Despite plenty of snow, the turnout was strong, and the show was a great success.Tom shares his plans for a Kato GP35 Phase I B, debating whether to make it a GP28 or a GP35M and install a Blunami decoder. Meanwhile, George dives into his latest project: a Rapido E8. He removed the factory red class lights, repurposed them as a cab light, and added Blunami for full sound and control.The two break down how Rapido configured the class lights, Mars light, and emergency light—and how George plans to separate and customize their control. He also demonstrates how to program a cab light to automatically illuminate when the locomotive comes to a stop—a feature you can set up with any lighting effect on any Tsunami2 or Blunami decoder.Plus, Tom chased the RGS No. 20 coal-fired locomotive and shares some great footage from the trip.Snowy railroading, decoder upgrades, lighting tips, and prototype inspiration—it’s all in this episode.Related Videos: Operations 101: Class Lights (Episode 9): https://youtu.be/l0i5vqmFYWM

George brings in a Missouri Pacific brass model caboose he painted, upgraded with new trucks, and outfitted with a SoundCar. Then Tom walks you through the correct way to reset the decoder, highlighting a crucial step that’s been missed a lot lately: cycling the power. Tune in for hands-on modeling tips and decoder know-how you can use right away.

George and Tom are back after the holidays and talkingtrains once again! This week, they dive into layout building and Tom’s plans for a new home layout, with a focus on how real railroads operate—and how you can model those same practices through thoughtful layout construction and locomotive operation.They also highlight the beautiful work of Charlie Duckworth,sharing photos of his impressive layout for those watching the video version of the podcast. The conversation then shifts to upcoming shows, including Prototype Rails in Cocoa Beach, Florida on January 8, 2026, and Amherst in Massachusetts on January 24.To wrap things up, George and Tom get practical with adiscussion on wire management, exploring different options to keep your installations clean, organized, and reliable.Related Videos:Wire Management with SoundTraxx: https://youtu.be/PtOP5-fmKuE

Tom kicks things off with an undecorated Bluford Shops Missouri Pacific caboose, sharing plans to paint it, add lighting, and install either a SoundCar decoder or a BLU-1100. George then brings in his “Rehab My Loco” Athearn SD40 to show how far a model can be elevated with some hands-on work and a new decoder. The conversation wraps up with a visit from Wes at Just Trains in California, where they talk about the hobby, running a local hobby shop, and how Blunami makes it easier than ever for beginners to get started.

Tom kicks things off with an undecorated SW1200, walkingthrough his prep work before paint, lighting, and decoder installation. Meanwhile, George pulls his popular General off the shelf for a BLU-1100 upgrade. He covers what he customized on the model, how he dialed in thedecoder settings to accurately replicate the real locomotive, and why the BLU-1100 is such a solid choice.They also dive into an important topic: decoder safety. AllSoundTraxx decoders are designed with built-in safeguards—so you cannot damage a decoder by changing CVs. While you might get an unexpected result, a reset will always bring you back. With Blunami, you can even save your preferred CV setup, experiment with new features, and easily restore yourchosen settings without reverting to factory defaults.Tune in to see the upgrades, learn helpful tips, and get theconfidence to experiment with your own decoder settings!Related Videos: Tsunami2 TSU-1100 install in a Walthers P2K SW1200: https://youtu.be/c6oht73h_64Isolated Tsunami2 Steam Sounds: https://youtu.be/mGdqRMe6YZU

George and Tom are joined by Arron from A&S Trains to talk about the A&S website and their unique approach to traveling to tradeshows—bringing the full hobby shop experience right to attendees. From there, the conversation shifts into a deep dive on Blunami, where George, Tom, and Arron share why it’s one of their favorite ways to run and enjoy their trains.

Tom shows off his newly upgraded Athearn GP15-1 C&EI, now equipped with Blunami and renumbered. George brings his ScaleTrains D&RGW Rio Grande GP30—also upgraded with Blunami—and demonstrates full lighting control.Together, they dive into how SoundTraxx decoders can enhance your layout. By using realistic features like momentum, braking, and other prototypical behaviors, you can make your layout feel larger, extend your operating sessions, and boost overall enjoyment of the hobby.

It’s fall in Durango, CO, and Tom has a new undecorated Walthers NW2 that he plans to paint to resemble a Zeigler Coal NW2. He’s also preparing to install a new BLU-1100 in it. Meanwhile, George shows off his Precision Scale On3 C-19 RGS 41, which he’s upgraded with Blunami. This model is battery-equipped, eliminating the need for track power. George explains how he upgraded the lighting on the locomotive and shares how class lights were used on real locomotives. He and Tom also discuss battery power and how you can run Blunami in deadrail. Watch now to join the discussion! Related videosDirectional Lighting with Blunami: https://youtu.be/VuzeuecC3no

George shows off our 35th Anniversary gear, available now on our website. He highlights some of our industry firsts, including our very first product, the Hyperlight, and our role in helping establish the DCC standard. Then, he gives a sneak peek at the new Blunami App for Apple devices, featuring powerful updates like CV Copy, CV Utility, Function Mapping Management and Naming, Consist Functions and Consisting, and Locomotive Sorting.Explore the Basics of DCC with SoundTraxx (Webinar4): https://youtu.be/t4xYHXkJXUk?si=WNm3g7ntKHarQ8IcConsisting Blunami Decoders https://youtu.be/uiJFCPT9VN4?si=sGLbWXUd6rFaL-cM

Tom shares his modeling plans for a GP15, inspired by George’s Rehab My Loco series. With the paint stripped and the model prepped, he's ready to dive into upgrades—including a new Blunami decoder.Meanwhile, George shows off the nearly completed SD40 from his “Rehab My Loco” series, highlighting the custom lighting and some of the Blunami features he’s using.George recaps his whirlwind month of July with a behind-the-scenes look at life on the tradeshow circuit. From setup to teardown, hear what it’s really like for presenters on the road and he drops a small teaser about what’s next for Blunami.Lastly, the duo tackles the common confusion around DCC and programming terms. They explain why understanding these terms matters when troubleshooting or setting up your decoder—and where to find helpful resources like our User Guides and the DCC glossary on the SoundTraxx website.

Tom is hard at work on a 2010 Athearn Genesis GP15-1. He has given it a fresh paint job, cleaned the mechanism, added new wheels, installed a Blunami decoder, upgraded the speakers, added several detail parts, and is now focusing on upgrading the lighting.George doesn’t have a model to show off this week—but he does have a scary story about a night scene on his layout.Decoder Tip of the Month: Is your model acting like it has a mind of its own? It might not be a decoder issue. Before you panic, try resetting your DCC system—it could be the trick to bring things back under control! Operations 101: Dynamic Brakes (Episode 6): https://youtu.be/t4Gyx7g9bsg Consisting with SoundTraxx Decoders (Webinar 14): https://youtu.be/wE_-Swn4WX4 Introduction to DCC Operation & CV Programming (Webinar9):  https://youtu.be/-w5ttfthhNk Explore the Basics of DCC with SoundTraxx (Webinar 4): https://youtu.be/t4xYHXkJXUk

We’re excited to introduce the newest member of our Support Team — Tom Austin! A lifelong model railroader and fast learner, Tom is already diving in and ready to help you get the most from your SoundTraxx products.In this video, Tom shows off his GP15-1 and chats with George about the installation process, lighting upgrades, and how to rename functions using the Blunami App for Apple devices.George also shares his brand-new Atlas B23-7 and walks through how easy it is to set up with Blunami. By copying settings from his GP38, he quickly gets the B23-7 running — only needing to swap in the correct bell, prime mover, and airhorn. Thanks to CV copying, momentum, braking, and other performance features are already dialed in. He also demonstrates how simple it is to add and remove models from consists.To wrap things up, George and Tom review some awesome customer installs: a Walthers GP15 with a BLU-PNP8 decoder and a large-scale USA Trains SD40-2 equipped with a BLU-4408 decoder.

George shares how to find SoundTraxx Authorized Retailersall over the globe—perfect for discovering amazing hobby shops during your summer travels! He’s also been busy handling customer support as we wish Grahamwell on his new adventure and welcome Tom, our new support technician.In this video, George shows off his older Atlas GP38,featuring upgraded lighting and smooth momentum, and braking settings.Decoder Tip of the Week: Always insulate your solder joints! Bare wire can lead to electrical issues and frustratingtroubleshooting. Take your time and keep your installs neat and reliable.

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 explains how to properly wire speakers to your decoder and how to incorporate multiple speakers into a single installation for optimal sound performance.Tsunami2 TSU-21PNEM8 Decoder Set Up for an InterMountain Tier 4:  https://youtu.be/RkD_JlMU0hcGeorge's June 2025 Layout Update: https://youtu.be/ru7cZGKAs2U?si=WCKeqe3GwuO7Wz9R

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.They discuss the museum’s exciting lineup of events for the year, including the Colorado RPM Meet.Let’s jump in! Colorado Model Railroad Museum: https://www.cmrm.org/Colorado RPM: https://corpm.org/

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. He talks about how he got into model railroading as a kid and how the hobby has evolved over the years with changing technology.Together, they dive into topics like trains, decoder installs, LED lighting, and more. Listen now to pick up some great modeling tips and inspiration! Christopher Brown’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@christopherbrown5338 Tsunami2 Install into a Scale Trains ES44 GEVO: TSU-21PNEM8, Mini Cubes & Decoder Buddy: https://youtu.be/hAFjiwZD7ao SoundTraxx Soldering Class (Webinar 8): https://youtu.be/1Qxv3iZcL6s Sound Theory | Speakers, baffles & more! (Webinar 5): https://youtu.be/9CdJtdK8GEg

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 older models can be brought back to life with a new decoder and a bit of elbow grease. In today’s challenging economic climate—especially with tariffs affecting prices—model trains can get expensive. This is a resourceful way to get a high-quality model at a fraction of the cost of buying new.Watch now to learn more!