Kato EF66 Sound Card (22-231-5) Deep Dive & Review

In previous blog posts I've looked at steam and diesel sound cards; this time, I'm looking at an electric locomotive sound card. This is another Sound Priority card, like the DD51 card, but also like that card, has the Controller Priority mode available as well. It's a very noisy card, and a lot of fun to use.

Background

Introduced during the late 1960s to be the face of a modern, fast railway network running alongside the Shinkansen, the EF66 was primarily intended to move containerised freight trains at high speed between major cities. Over the years its role expanded to include passenger trains as well, most famously the Blue Train sleeper trains. The class enjoyed a long life, the final example (EF66-27) retiring in 2022. Across its many decades of service the type was well liked by drivers who appreciated its speed, power, and good hill-climbing abilities even with very heavy trains.

Given how popular the EF66 is among Japanese railfans, it's no surprise that both Tomix and Kato have cranked out many different models of the class in all its various forms. My example is the Tomix one, representing one of the early 0-series machines in its condition post-1974. While the model looks good, how well does it play with the Kato sound card?

EF66 Sound Card (22-231-5)

What's in the box?

• EF66 sound card with removable protector for the exposed electrical contacts
• English and Japanese instructions on the backing card
• Removable (bilingual) card that sits on the Sound Box control panel

As with most of the cards produced for the Japanese market, the package is a blister pack that slides open and clicks when closed, ensuring the sound card is kept safe when stored inside the pack. Besides the packaging itself, there's a plastic cap that goes over the electrical contacts — these keep this delicate part of the card safe, so be sure to put it back on after use!

Using the EF66 card

When you turn the card on using the Eject button, you hear the compressor start up and some background hums. Pressing Button #6 will start up the 'blower', the big fans that keeps the machinery inside the locomotive cool. Then you press #3 to release the air brakes and you're ready to go — after giving the customary short toot followed by a long toot from the whistle (#1).

But before you turn the throttle, there are a couple of dials on the Sound Box to review. By default, the card works in Sound Priority mode, meaning that it reacts according to where you have set the Start and Sync dials on the Sound Box.

In Sound Priority mode, the Start dial adjusts when the train moves relative to the start-up sound effects. For me and my Tomix model, just above 0 seemed to work best, giving a good response from the model while also keeping the headlights on when it was stationary.

Changing the Sync setting in Sound Priority mode adjusts the pitch of the motor noises to match the speed of the locomotive. Negative numbers slow down the progression from lower-pitch growls of motors starting up to high-pitch whines of motors running fast, while positive numbers speed it up. Where to turn this will depend on your model. By default, leaving the dial at 0 is fine for modern Kato models. A slightly positive number (+1) seemed cosmetically better for my Tomix EF66 (model# 7142) which has, I think, a heavier motor with brass flywheels.

As the locomotive speeds up you can hear the motor sounds getting louder and louder, and full blast, even from the modest speaker in the Sound Box there's enough sound to fill a room! Slowing down engages the brakes, including the classic high-pitched squeal you expect from modern traction. In fact, the EF66 was noted for making a unique repertoire of noises compared to other classes of electric locomotive, including the roar of its cooling fans and the growl of the hollow shaft (quill) drives connecting the motors to the axles.

The card details six main features, one for each button:

1. Whistle (3 tones to choose from)
2. Coupler (alternates between coupling and uncoupling)
3. Air brake (application when moving, release when stationary)
4. ATS (button toggles the sound on or off)
5. Coasting (can also be used for adjustments after stopping — described below)
6. Blower starting up or shutting down

There are some nuances to these buttons worth mentioning. For a start, the three whistles available for Button #1 includes one with a neat Doppler effect, which has obvious utility if you like watching (and hearing) trains racing along the track at full speed! To choose between the tones: press #1 and #2 simultaneously until the Eject button flashed red. Press #1 to listen to the three different whistles, and when you are at the one you like, press #2 to lock it down.

Button #5 can be used for last moment adjustments when stopping at stations or just in front of a wagon. Tapping #5 cuts out the braking sound effect and the train coasts a little, and if you stop short, holding #5 down allows you to use the throttle to inch the train forwards without the motor sounds starting up.

Conclusion

The sound effects were taken from real EF66 locos shortly before they were withdrawn. You can hear previews of the sounds on the Kato website, here. This is one of the more expensive sound cards at ¥4,000 (around £18) but still pretty good value, especially if you collect model EF66s — as many do, given their fame. Of course, that value only stands if you already own the Kato Sound Box.

Overall, a solid addition to the Kato sound card range!