SFX Sound Capsules
Easy low cost sound which works on any railway - see video below for sound demo
• Easy to fit in seconds - no wiring or switches!
• No pickups or wires - works on regular DC & DCC
• Self contained capsule - built-in speaker & battery
• Tiny - smaller than a 50p: 25mm x 20mm x 12mm
• Fit capsule into a loco, tender, wagon, coach....
• Real recorded sounds from Steam, Diesel, DMU, Wagons & Coaches
• Includes facilities for adjusting volume and fitting an external speaker and battery
How to fit SFX Sound into N Gauge guide
Many modellers like the extra realism which sound can bring to a layout but until now it has been an expensive and complicated feature to add & usually requiring DCC, extra wiring and quite a lot of space. SFX needs none of this and works in ANY train! Priced at £45
Please note price SFX sound capsules is currently £45 and not £40 (as shown in the older SFX10 and SFX20 videos)
How does it work?
At the heart of each SFX is a microchip containing the real recorded train sounds and a small motion sensor which detects what the train is doing and replays the most appropriate sounds through its tiny loudspeaker. The motion sensor also turns on and off power so that there is no need for any switch and battery life is preserved.
SFX Sound capsules each supplied with battery and fitting guide
SFX10 Steam Express locomotive sound capsule
These are the sounds you can expect to hear from your SFX10. They are not simulated effects but real sounds recorded by us on the North Norfolk Railway from Steam loco B12 8572 except the coaling shoveling which is from Oliver Cromwell 70013.
- Resting - Gentle steam hiss plus a Pump and occasional Fireman coaling
- Any movement triggers the sound of steam release and if motion continues there is a short whistle followed by ‘chuffs’
- Steam chuffs get gradually faster as speed builds and then coasts with a steam hiss for a while before the “chuffs” return
- A double whistle sounds if the loco travels continuously for a while
- When motion stops it returns to Resting sounds.
- When there is no motion for around a minute the SFX automatically goes to sleep and waits for movement to wake it up.
User Manual
SFX10 Steam Express locomotive sound capsule - Available now. 
SFX11 Steam Freight locomotive sound capsule
These are the sounds you can expect to hear from your SFX11. They are not simulated effects but real sounds recorded by us on the North Norfolk Railway from Steam loco B12 8572 except the coaling shovelling which is from Oliver Cromwell 70013.
- Resting - Gentle steam hiss plus a Pump and occasional Fireman coaling
- Any movement triggers the sound of steam release and if motion continues there is a short whistle followed by ‘chuffs’
- Slow Steam chuffs get a little faster after a while, as heard with heavy goods or shunting
- A double whistle sounds if the loco travels continuously for a while
- When motion stops it returns to Resting sounds.
- When there is no motion for around a minute the SFX automatically goes to sleep and waits for movement to wake it up.
User Manual
SFX11 Steam Freight locomotive sound capsule - Available now.
SFX20 Diesel locomotive sound capsule
These are the sounds you can expect to hear from your SFX20. They are not simulated effects but real sounds recorded by us from Class 31 locomotives No D5631 (31207) on the North Norfolk Railway (www.nnr.co.uk) and No 31235 on the Mid Norfolk Railway (www.mnr.org.uk)
- Stationary - Engine Tickover sound and the occasional compressor noise cutting in and out
- Any movement triggers the sound of air release and if motion continues a single horn sounds followed by gradual speed up of the engine
- After speed up engine power is maintained until you hear the turbo whine down and gentle coasting before power applied again
- The two tone horn sounds after the loco travels continuously for a while
- If there is no motion for over a minute the SFX automatically goes to sleep and waits for slight movement to wake it up.
User manual
SFX20 Diesel locomotive sound capsule - Available now.
SFX21 Diesel locomotive sound capsule
These are the sounds you can expect to hear from your SFX21. They are not simulated effects but real sounds recorded by us from Class 31 locomotives No D5631 (31207) on the North Norfolk Railway (www.nnr.co.uk) and No 31235 on the Mid Norfolk Railway (www.mnr.org.uk)
- Stationary - Engine Tickover sound and the occasional compressor noise cutting in and out
- Any movement triggers the sound of air release and if motion continues a single horn sounds followed by gradual speed up of the engine
- After speed up engine power is maintained
The two tone horn sounds after the loco travels continuously for a while
When motion stops it returns to stationary sounds
- If there is no motion for over a minute the SFX automatically goes to sleep and waits for slight movement to wake it up.
User Manual
SFX50 DMU sound capsule
These are sounds you can expect to hear from your SFX50. They are not simulated effects but real sounds recorded by us on the Mid-Norfolk and North-Norfolk Railways from several different sets of Class 101 DMU’s, though these would sound good in most vintage DMU’s.
- Startup - hear the classic engine start up, then a steady tickover while resting until the train moves again
- Further movement triggers the distinctive guard ‘buzz-buzz’, then if there is still motion sometimes a quick horn, followed by...
- The classic rasp of the engine starts speeding up with gradual gear changes & coasting as journey continues
A quick High-Low horn sounds if train travels continuously for a minute, then less often if the train continues
After the SFX detects that motion has stopped, the DMU capsule returns to the sound of a gentle tickover...
- When no motion for around a minute SFX automatically goes to sleep & waits for movement to wake it up.
User Manual
SFX50 DMU sound capsule - Available now.
SFX70 Goods Shunting sound capsule
These are the sounds you can expect to hear from your SFX70. They are not simulated effects but real sounds recorded by us from loose coupled stock on the North Norfolk Railway (www.nnr.co.uk) plus a few wheel squeals from the Mid Norfolk Railway (www.mnr.org.uk)
- Stationary - nothing at all! The capsule knows nothing is moving and so remains completely silent waiting for motion.
- As soon as the capsule detects motion it starts playing the sounds of wheels slowly squealing to life...
- Then the clanks, bangs and creaks of loose coupled stock being shunted around...
The more jolts the motion sensor detects, the more often sounds are played...
After motion completely stops the sound capsule returns to silence and waits for the next movement.
- If there is no motion for over a minute the SFX automatically goes to sleep and waits for some movement to wake it up.
User Manual
SFX70 Goods shunting sound capsule - Available now.
SFX80 Passenger Coach sound capsule
These are the sounds you can expect to hear from your SFX80. They are not simulated effects but real sounds recorded by us from original slam-door style Coach stock (mainly Mk2) on the North Norfolk Railway (www.nnr.co.uk) and on the Mid Norfolk Railway (www.mnr.org.uk)
- A quick motion will sound the guards whistle...
- Continuous motion and you will hear occasional wheel squeal as it sets off...
- When the coach stops you will hear the screech of brakes as it comes to a complete stop...
Once stationary you will hear a few of the slam doors open and close, others being left open for other passengers to alight...
After it has been stationary for a minute or so you will sometimes hear a guards ‘All aboard’ call and more door slams..
- Once there is no motion for over three minutes the SFX goes to sleep and waits for slight movement to wake it up.
User Manual
SFX80 Passenger Coach sound capsule - Available now.
BAT1 Pack of 3 spare batteries for SFX sound, Coach lighting & AL units
Please Note: We are unable to send any batteries or products with batteries outside the UK. Export ersions are available, please contact Gaugemaster for more details.
How to fit into N gauge: Fitting 'N' gauge sound:
We have designed a tiny sound capsule which brings rich real railway sounds from your favourite train! The SFX is completely self contained with a built in speaker and battery which needs no pickups or wiring of any kind and so is both easy to fit and works on any train system, including regular DC or digital. Please note price SFX sound capsules is currently £45 and not £40 (as shown in the older SFX10 and SFX20 videos)
Loco images courtesy © Hornby Hobbies.