HO级三联轴机车，实现三种音效模式

勇者

HO Triplex Delivers Sound in Three Modes

One of the more unusual prototypes to grace North American rails is now available to HO modelers. The 2-8-8-8-2 Triplex is the second HO scale offering from MTH Electric Trains. An accurate replica of the prototype, the model operates with realistic sound in DC, Digital Command Control (DCC), and MTH's own Digital Command System (DCS).

曾在北美铁路上风光一时、别具一格的机车原型现在推出了HO级模型，正式上市！这款2-8-8-8-2轮式的三联轴模型是MTH电动火车公司推出的第二批HO级模型。该模型对原型进行了准确的复制，可以在直流、数控和MTH自己开发的数控系统上带真实的音效运行。

The Prototype:
Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Erie RR in 1914, the 2-8-8-8-2 was attempt to put the power of three helper locomotives into the hands of one engine crew. The locomotive had three engines, two under the boiler and one under the tender, to maximize tractive effort. The locomotive was a Mallet type that had a set of high-pressure cylinders in the center that exhausted steam to low-pressure cylinders on the front and rear engines.
Although it produced 160,000 pounds of tractive effort, the Triplex was expensive to maintain and its boiler was notoriously hard to fire. Used primarily in helper service on Susquehanna Hill and occasionally on drag freights, the Erie P-1 class locomotives usually ran at speeds under 20 mph. 原型介绍：
该模型的原型于1914年由鲍德温机车厂为伊利铁路制造，设计成2-8-8-8-2的轮式是为了使三台辅机的动力掌控于一个乘务组之手。机车有三台引擎，两台在锅炉下面，一台在煤水车下面，以最大限度地增大牵引力。机车为活节式设计，中部一组高压气缸把蒸汽输送至前部和后部的低压气缸。
虽然机车能产生160,000磅的牵引力，但维护费用却很高，特别是其锅炉，是出了名的难生火。伊利人P-1号机车最初在萨斯奎哈纳山上作辅机使用，有时也拉一下货车，其速度一般在每小时20英里以下。

In 1916, the Erie ordered two more Triplexes and the Virginian Railway ordered a 2-8-8-8-4 Triplex. After only four years, the Virginian rebuilt its Triplex into three locomotives. All the Erie Triplexes were retired by 1927.

The MTH model matches the dimensions of the Erie Triplex in the 1919 Simmons-Boardman Locomotive Dictionary and Cyclopedia.

1916年，伊利铁路公司由订了两台三联轴机车，弗吉尼亚铁路公司也订了一台2-8-8-8-4轮式的三联轴机车。而仅仅四年后，弗吉尼亚铁路公司就把其三联轴机车改成三个机车了。伊利铁路的所有三连轴机车都在1927年退役。
MTH的这款模型符合1919年西蒙·博德曼公司出版的《机车词典及百科全书》中收录的“伊利人号”三联轴机车的尺寸。

Details and Paint:

The MTH Triplex is constructed primarily of die-cast metal, and the quality of the casting is excellent, with sharply defined rivet seams and other molded-in detail. Other separately applied parts, such as piping, steam and sand domes, and positionable cab roof vents, are plastic. The detailed cab includes painted fireman and engineer figures, window glazing, and an apron with safety tread.

The coal load in the tender is separately applied, but some chunks measure one HO scale foot across.

Paint coverage on the model is smooth. The boiler on our sample is painted in a glossy, gray-blue color to depict Russian iron. The lettering and cab numbers match prototype photos. The superheater patent plates and Baldwin builder's plates are legible under magnification.

细节和漆水：
这台三联轴机车主要由压铸金属制成，压铸件的质量上乘，其细节客观生动，铆钉缝和其它插件做工非常精细，需另外单独安装的零部件，如管道、汽包、沙包和驾驶室可移动顶盖通气口等则为塑料件。驾驶室内细节丰富，司炉和司机人形均已着色，窗子上安有玻璃，挡板有安全踏面。
煤水车上的煤碳是单独装的，有些煤块按HO比例缩小算起来有一英尺见方。
机车的油漆覆盖光滑明亮，样品车的锅炉被漆为光亮的灰蓝色以表现俄罗斯铁色，车身上的印字和号码符合原型照片。过热器上的专利牌和鲍德温机车厂的铭牌在放大镜下清晰可见。

Drivetrain:

Housed on the boiler, the modells flywheel-equipped can motor powers the third driver set of the front and middle engines. The non-powered drivers of the rear engine under the tender roll freely.

Without any traction tires, our sample pulled the equivalent of 67 HO freight cars on straight and level track. Replacing the rear drivers of the middle engine with the included traction-tire-equipped set increased the drawbar pull to the equivalent of 150 cars.

The model can negotiate curves as tight as 22", since both engines under the locomotive boiler are articulated. On the prototype, only the front engine under the boiler was articulated. The MTH Triplex looks much better rounding broader curves.

When handling the model, you should support the front of the engine from underneath. The steam pipe on the front engine of our sample had slipped out of its slot under the boiler, causing the rear drivers of the front engine to lift off the rails. This has been reported by others who received the model. The problem was easily fixed by using a jeweler's screwdriver to push the pipe back into the slot.

驱动系统：
模型机车锅炉内置五轮罐式电机驱动前部和中部引擎，煤水车下面的引擎没有动力，但可自如滑动。模型的车轮上没有上防滑牵引胶圈，试车时在直线水平轨道上牵引了67节HO级货车车厢。该模型配有一套防滑胶圈，可装在中部驱动引擎的后轮上增加牵引力，能牵引150节车厢。
由于锅炉下的两台引擎均是活节式的，所以模型可以通过22”的弯道；过大弯道时，模型看起来更逼真，效果更佳。
取拿模型时，应用手从下面支撑住前部引擎。我们这台样品车前部引擎的蒸汽管曾从锅炉下的槽沟里滑了出来，导致前引擎下的轮子脱轨，其他收到该模型的人也说遇到过着种情况，不过，只要用珠宝螺丝刀轻轻一推，就可以把管子压进槽沟。

DC and DCC Performance:

In DC the model's sounds, lights, and smoke came on at 6.5 volts. The headlight automatically dims when the locomotive is still or moving backward. As the Triplex moves the fan-driven smoke unit puffs, synchronized to the exhaust sounds.

At 7.5 volts the model crept along at 2.5 scale mph and at 12 volts reached 20 scale mph, which is within the prototype's speed range.

The model is designed to operate on up to 24 volts, which is above the 16-volt maximum for HO DC power packs as specified National Model Railroad Association Recommended Practice RP-9. Using an LGB power pack I tested the model from 16 to 24 volts, where it reached its top speed of 70 scale mph.

DC和DCC运行情况：
在直流条件下，模型在6.5伏的时候就可发出声、亮灯并产生烟雾。当机车处于静止状态或向后开时，前头灯自动变暗。机车运行时，由风扇带动的发烟装置有节奏噗噗地发出烟来，与排汽的声音同步。
当电压增到7.5伏时，模型以每小时2.5英里的比例速度慢慢移动；12伏时，达到每小时20英里的比例速度，这正好在原型的速度范围之内。
模型设计工作电压可达24伏，这高于国家火车模型协会（NMRA）推荐规范RP-9关于HO级DC电源最高16伏的标准。我用LGB电源进行了测试，把电压从16伏增加到24伏时，模型达到了每小时70英里的最高比例速度。

For DCC operation, the Triplex supports 128 speed steps. I tested the model with a Model Rectifier Corp. Prodigy Advanced system that supplies 16.4 volts to the track.

Slow speed performance was impressive in DCC, as the Triplex started moving in speed step 1 at 1 scale mph. Again the model reached a top speed of 70 mph, but speed control is noticeably more precise at slower speeds.

The model's 28-function DCC decoder lets you control effects such as the bell and whistle and turn the lights and smoke on or off. The instruction sheet lists only 10 programmable configuration variables, limiting the user's ability to fine-tune the model with DCC.

在DCC条件下运行时，该模型支持128级速度，我用模型整流器公司的“神童高级系统”进行了测试，向轨道供了16.4伏的电，当模型开始以每小时1英里的比例速度在第一档上运行时，机车低速运行的表现非常突出。最后，模型再一次达到了每小时70英里的最高比例速度，不过，在低速档时速度控制明显地更为精准。
模型配有28种功能的DCC解码器，让玩家能控制各种效果，如铃铛、汽笛声音，头灯、烟雾开关。说明书只列出了10种可编程CV，限制了玩家用DCC对模型进行微调的能力。

DCS Mode:

I also tested the model using an MTH DCS Commander. The unit is easy to install and provides access to all the model's functions. The Commander allows you to toggle instantly between multiple DCS locomotives. You can also adjust the volume levels of individual sound effects.

The Triplex ran well using DCS. The thumbwheel throttle increased or decreased the speed in accurate 1 scale mph increments displayed on the LCD screen.

The DCS Commander can be connected to a DC power pack or DCC system but will only control DCS-equipped locomotives. To use the Commander to run DCS-equipped models and conventional or DCC-equipped models in the same block, you have to toggle between DCS mode and conventional or DCC (called Pass-through) mode. You can't run a DCS-equipped locomotive in DCS mode simultaneously with a locomotive in the same electrical block.

DCS模式：
我还用 MTH公司自己的数码控制系统控制器对模型进行了测试，该系统可以调节模型单个音量的大小。
模型用DCS控制时运行非常顺利，速度控释柄完全按每小时1英里的比例速度提速或减速，同时显示在LCD屏上。
DCS可以与DC电源或DCC系统连接，但只能控制配有DCS的机车。（略） Great Sound:
In all three modes the sounds of the MTH Triplex are impressive. The whistle is one of the most realistic that I've heard in HO scale, and you can vary its pitch and duration with the DCS Commander's thumbwheel. I especially enjoyed the ability to easily shift between labored and light chuffs in DCC and DCS modes.
The sound effects include multi-part dialogue between the engineer and fireman and a fun train wreck scenario. A master volume control knob and smoke unit on/off switch are under the tender's coal load.
Standout sounds and details make the MTH Triplex a fine depiction of a unique prototype. 美妙的音效：
在所有三种模式下，模型的声音都给人以深刻的印象。汽笛声是我听过的HO级模型中最真实的声音，而且其音调高低和持续时间还可通过DCS的控制手柄调整。我特别欣赏在DCC和DCS模式下对机车负重前行和轻装运行之间的切换，操作非常方便。
音效包括司机和司炉之间的多部分对话及火车出事故时一个有趣的情景。主音量控制钮和发烟器开关设在煤水车下。
MTH机车杰出的声音和细节使这台独特的三联轴机车原型精致再现。 HO Triplex Features:
- Automatically switched between DC, Digital Command Control (DCC), or MTH Digital Control System (DCS);
- Constant-voltage headlight;
- Die-cast metal construction
- Drawbar pull: 4.8 ounces;
- Engine and tender weight: 2 pounds 2 ounces;
- Front and rear scale-size magnetic knuckle couplers (mounted at correct height);
- Five-pole skew-wound motor with flywheel;
- Illuminated marker lights and cab interior;
- Minimum radius: 22";
- MTH Proto-Sound 3.0 operates in DC, DCC, or DCS;
- NMRA RP-25 contour metal wheels (in gauge)
- Operating fan-driven smoke unit;
- Sprung drive wheels;
- 24-wheel electrical pickup;
- User-installed traction-tire-equipment (or plain) drivers.

HO级三联轴模型的特色配置：

模型可在DC、DCC和DCS系统间自动切换

恒电压头灯

压铸金属结构

牵引杆牵引力：4.8盎司 （译注：1盎司=1/16磅）

引擎及煤水车重量：2磅2盎司

前后比例磁力转向车钩：安装于准确高度

五极斜交绕线电机，带飞轮

标志记灯亮及驾驶室内照明

最小弯道半径：22英寸

MTH原型音效3.0版本，可在DC, DCC或DCS模式下运行

NMRA RP-25号轮廓金属车轮（按比例）

可工作风机带动的烟雾发生器

弹簧张力驱动轮

24个车轮均拾电

动轮的防滑胶圈可由用户自己安装，还配有无胶圈的光轮对

Written by: Dana Kawada, Deputy Editor of Model Railroader

Translated by: Chen Yong

Photographs: by courtesy of Trainman

作者：《火车模型家》杂志副主编 达纳·卡瓦拉

翻译：陈 勇

图片特许：乘务员

原载海子铁路网，曾发表于2008年第4期《火车模型》杂志