It came with the #324AC Hudson and #334DC Northern locomotives.
Unlike other accessories, it was not powered by the transformer. It had its own 120 volt power cord.
Vacuum tube electronics remotely generated the sound in the tender of the engine.
(Picture courtesy of G. Elliott.)
The Electronic Horn Control that came with the #362 Santa Fe Alcos was identical except for the name.
There was no difference in sound, but, given the technology of 1950, that was close enough for a toy train.
(Picture courtesy of G. Elliott.)
It was made in 1949 & 1950.
(Photo courtesy of Walt Alexandrowicz.)
#10 DC Inverter made in 1946.
(Picture courtesy of G. Elliott.)
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#14 Rectiformer made in 1947 & 1949.
(Pictures above and below courtesy of G. Elliott.)
#15 Rectifier on a wood base made in 1948 thru 1952.
(Pictures above and below courtesy of G. Elliott.)
(Pictures above and below courtesy of G. Elliott.)
Heimburger says the differences between #14 and #16 aren't clear;
they look identical except for the number, and are both 150 watts.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#18 Filter made in 1950.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#541 Fuses for #10 inverter made in 1946.
It was advertised as "An exact sound reproduction of the famous 'Nathan Air Chime Whistle'
in service on nearly 100 U.S. railroads."
It was smaller, cheaper, and far more reliable than 1950's unnumbered Electronic Whistle Control above.
In 1951, it powered the whistles in the #295 Pacific, #325AC Hudson, and the #365 Santa Fe Alcos.
Dealer catalogs said it would come with the #315 K-5 Pacific, but the #315 wasn't produced until 1952.
It was also supposed to come with the #305 Atlantic and #335 Northern,
but these engines were apparently never produced.
Later engines that used it include the #285 Pacific, #336 Northern, #405 Silver Streak,
#4713 Santa Fe Alcos, #4856 Santa Fe Alcos, and #4945 New Haven Alcos.
Greenberg's Guide says it was called the "Air Chime Whistle Control" in 1951 and 1952,
the "Air Chime Whistle Remote Control Unit" in 1953 and 1954, and
the "Diesel Horn Control" in 1955 and 1956.
The early units had an aluminum tube with blue lettering.
I am told there was no noticeable difference in sound among the three versions.
I thought it was a #710 until I read Greenberg's.
It's compatible with the tubes on the #708 Diesel Horn Control.
It's usually mounted under the layout, out of sight;
it's a passive control that you don't have to operate, and it neither moves nor looks pretty.
When an engine loses power and stops, the reversing unit cycles.
When power is restored, the train reverses direction.
This happens not only when you turn off the transformer power, but when the engine is stopped by a Semaphore, a #755 Talking Station, or any of several other things.
To prevent that from happening, install a #709 Lockout Eliminator at each such section of track. It keeps a low level of power to the engine, enough to prevent the reversing switch from cycling, but not enough to allow the train to move. So when power is restored, the train proceeds forward without reversing.
Or is it a #26739? I don't know how to tell the difference.
Supposedly, the #710 had a more realistic steam whistle sound than the #708,
but people who have heard both tell me there isn't much of a difference.
(Picture courtesy of G. Elliott.)
#23024 Rainbow Wire made in 1958 thru 1964, the 5-digit version of #24.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
(Picture courtesy of Patrick McElroy.)
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