Fleischmann BR44 with sound

[propmeup1]

Anyone out there have the n scale Fleischmann BR44 with sound or a BR52 with sound ? I been eyeballing the BR44 and was wondering how they are after running awhile. I suspect very good but would like some input please.

Thank you,
Keith

[peteski]

I have one of the Fleischmann BR03.10 streamlined 4-6-2 locos. Came with a factory installed sound decoder (ZIMO).  Bought it several years ago.

As with most Fleischmann locos, it is a tender-driven loco (the loco itself is a free-rolling dummy, only picking up track power. The decoder and sugar-cube speaker in an enclosure are installed in the loco.  I like it. The sound is good, and the motor control is also very good (as with all ZIMO decoders).
As I mentioned, this loco is several years old. Not sure if Fleischmann still uses ZIMO decoders for factory installations.

I run my trains on NTRAK layouts and the only problem with the loco was the extra large track gaps between some NTRAK modules. When it was pullign a high-drag passenger train, when the driven wheels in the tender woudl fall in the track gaps, the loco would just slip in place.  But that is not a fault of the model, but of sloppy trackwork.

[propmeup1]

Thank you Mr. Peteski,  Now that I think about it I was watching a video of one running and for a moment I seen it moving fwd and the drivers stopped turning even though it kept moving and the chuffing sound was still there.   So if there is any slight bind in the drive rods then that could possibly cause the wheels to not roll freely.
    I do like the sound and they do look beautiful.
Thanks for the info.

[peteski]

Thank you Mr. Peteski,  Now that I think about it I was watching a video of one running and for a moment I seen it moving fwd and the drivers stopped turning even though it kept moving and the chuffing sound was still there.   So if there is any slight bind in the drive rods then that could possibly cause the wheels to not roll freely.
    I do like the sound and they do look beautiful.
Thanks for the info.

That is correct. Since the locos drivers are free-rolling (loco is propelled by the tender's smallish wheels), there could be a hiccup where they get stuck on piece of debris on the track, tight siderods, or the pickup wipers are adjusted too tight creating a lot of friction for the drivers.