Horns & Bells - GMC Rapido F9B Operating Manual

F13 Curve Squeal
Let's face it, the curve squeal has been the greatest success we've created in recent
years. It's absolutely wonderful. It sounds wonderful and can be easily applied to
any train. Since most yards and terminals featured rather tight-radius curves, it was
never possible for anything to SILENTLY go around them. Press F13 to wake up the
neighborhood, and subsequently press F13 again to turn off the noise and avoid a
complaint. Now all we need to do is get Jordan a haircut and we'll consider it our
next greatest success.
F14 Steam Generator
Press F14 at any time to start up the steam. We don't include random loud blowdowns,
but we include the irregular hiss that you can hear coming from the regulator and
blowdown valves all the time when the steam generator is operational. We've moved
this out to the back woods of functions because there's a solid chance you might be
running a freight train and as such, don't need steam heat.
When you accelerate, the volume of the steam generator gets lower as you wouldn't
hear it as clearly when the train is moving. If you want MORE STEAM! you can
adjust the volume of the steam generator by adjusting the value of CV 307. Please
refer to Sound Volume Settings (below) before attempting this. If you want MORE
COWBELL you are in the wrong hobby.
Note that not all B-units have steam generators. If yours does not, do not use this
function. Don't make us get mad like we did back in the description for F4 Dynamic
Brakes! You wouldn't like us when we're angry! And we should add that using steam
on a freight F7B will get you Brown Cooties
F15 Switching Mode
If you press F15, the headlight and rear light will both be on dim. This is appropriate
for switching operations, which would be common in yards and terminals. Press F15
again to turn off the switching mode lighting.
F20 Brake Release On/Off
This function turns off the brake release and brake set sounds when you start or stop
moving, respectively. It has no effect on the function of the engine — it just affects
the sounds.
HORNS & BELLS
Generally speaking, no F7B or F9B had a full-size locomotive horn like their cab-
equipped counterparts. They typically had a smaller single-chime "Blatter" horn on
one end used for when they were being switched around a yard independently (B
units had their own control stand tucked away inside the car body just in case).
The default horn on your model is a Nathan M3H. Yes, we know, even after we
told you it wasn't equipped with one, we defaulted to an M3H anyway. This is all
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