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There was mention on RMweb this week of the Class Forty Preservation Society (CFPS) which in turn reminded me that Bachmann had produced a Digital Sound model of D211 ‘Mauritania’. A Google search returned a model priced at not a lot more than the current price of the non sound fitted Class 40s. I succumbed.

 

26673415746_4090ea88b9_b.jpg
D211 ‘Mauritania’

 

For use with my analogue DC controllers it was my intention to replace the digital sound chip with a blanking plate. However on reading the Bachmann instructions for the Class 40 (almost a first for me) I noted that the default settings showed that sound was enabled for analogue DC. I would investigate.

 

Here is what the ESU data sheet has to say about the Lok 4 decoder fitted to the Class 40:


 


LokSound decoders work on conventional DC layouts. From the factory, load compensation is active. This provides smooth control of your locomotives even at low speeds (in DC mode as well). Since load compensation requires about 3 – 4 Volts as ‘base voltage’ you must turn the throttle further than normal (c.f. locomotives without decoder) before the locomotive starts moving.

 

I use Gaugemaster DS controllers and run them entirely with the ‘simulator’ switched on. For those of you unfamiliar with the Gaugemaster DS, the ‘simulator’ introduces a delay between turning the control knob and the engine responding. This is also referred to as ‘inertia’ control. Use of the simulator also cuts the maximum power (voltage) applied to the engine. I mention this because on my first attempt to run D211 I had the simulator switched on and nothing happened (I thought another duff model). I repeated the exercise and noticed that the lights had come on, but no movement. I would have one more attempt at running the model with the sound chip inside. The lights came on, I waited a bit longer and to my amazement the ‘engine‘ fired up and after a rather lengthy delay the locomotive slowly moved off. I then had an epiphany - if I switched off the ‘simulator’ would it all happen more quickly? Yes it did – we were in business.

 

http://youtu.be/IjKFyBB8Qk8

 

When you look around there are plenty of references to running digital sound locomotives on analogue DC. Briefly the chip needs power so nothing can happen until the control knob is switched on. Equally important – at the end of a running session you don’t immediately switch the control knob right off because that would kill all the power to the chip and there would be no further sound. Instead you have to slowly decrease the power, a few increments at a time, and this enables the chip to close the engine down and broadcast a sequence of engine shutdown sounds. Only when all the sounds have died down and the lights have shut off should the control knob be fully turned off.

 

Stopping:

 

http://youtu.be/PV3hqdFS8zk

 

Shut Down:

 

http://youtu.be/Zw3RGAGWvlc

 

Sounds and the power supplied to the locomotive motor are loaded in sequence within the chip and are output according to the power input from the DC controlled supply. There is one set of instructions for increasing power and another for decreasing power. For DC operation other people have suggested 2 volts to bring the lights on, 6 volts to start the engine and 8 volts to move off. My understanding of the Gaugmaster Controllers is that the voltage is kept constant (around 14 volts DC) and power output is varied by altering the frequency and lengths of pulses. My observations suggest ‘starting’ and ‘shut down’ require a control knob setting between five and six, whilst running needs a value around eight. A little above eight and the locomotive can emit a strong engine noise, drop the knob below eight and the engine coasts. ‘Stopping’ seems to be activated at settings between six and seven.

 

Running:

 

http://youtu.be/ROn0EtjKnyY

 

Bachmann provide ‘Hints for using the model’ – (I am guessing for digital operation):




 

“F5 turns on the fuel pump, then F1 on for warm start....”
(For analogue DC running that equates to switching the control knob about half scale.)


“Wait
for the loco to settle into an idle rhythm......and increase the throttle...”
(On analogue DC turn the control knob higher – position seven or eight.)


“Reducing or closing the throttle just a few digits will coast or return to running sound according to throttle position.”
(Read for that,: when running on analogue DC small adjustments of the position of control knob above and below eight will change the running sound.)


“If more power is required open up again,
but be patient to allow sound to play.
(My bold because I think being patient becomes even more important when running on analogue DC.)


“At the end of the running session reduce the throttle to zero and allow the loco to idle for approx 10 seconds.....then F1 for shut down. Wait 5 seconds and turn off....”
(You have to remember that for the sound chip to make a sound it needs power. It is a case of moving the control knob down in small increments. First wait whilst the engine starts to idle and then reduce the control knob further and shutdown will commence.)


“Be patient (again) and wait for the sound to reach your throttle position before making sudden changes,
drive to the sound produced by the model
.”
(My bold again because when running on analogue DC there are no function (F) keys to press and you have to rely on making subtle changes to the control knob to shift from one sound to another.)

 

It also becomes apparent that the speed of the locomotive is dictated by the embedded settings within the chip. The position of the control knob should be viewed as a setting for a particular running condition rather than as a variable speed control. For each setting the chip contains a target speed together with incremental steps to reach that speed. The result is a smooth increase (or decrease) in speed between control knob settings in much the same way that the Gaugemaster simulator gradually ramps the speed up or down in response to changes in control knob position.

 

I am amazed at how much play value there is in ‘driving’ the digital sound locomotive. I am still on a learning curve but the following compilation video hints at what is possible. I was holding the camera with one hand and moving the control knob with the other – well, that is my excuse for the rather bouncy pictures.

 

Compilation:

 

https://youtu.be/CXb7WGdsOto

 

Will I purchase another Digital Sound locomotive? Possibly (bank manager / wife permitting). Running on analogue DC comes literally without a lot of the bells and whistles although you can hear the screech of brakes. Even without all the detail the engine noise is full of nostalgia. Would I want all my engines sound enabled? No. It is surprising how much noise is emitted by one engine. The volume completely drowns out the clickety click sound from the carriages. I would say that after a short session with sound, running a non-sound locomotive comes as a bit of a relief. (With full digital control there is the capability of reducing sound levels – that might be a bonus.)

 

Am I going to change to DCC operation? No. Coincidently my last Blog Post showed the complexity of the current wiring beneath my analogue DC layout. As others have observed, DCC operation could require much more with some people recommending connections to every length of rail and separate microswitches for all the points. I cannot see that happening here! If I can run the odd Digital Sound locomotive – why should I change?

 

26700137325_450e4bc382_b.jpg
From above Bachamann D211 ‘Mauritania’ ( R ) with D210 ‘Empress of Britain’ ( L )

 

What about the appearance of D211? There are number of views below comparing the earlier 2007 Bachmann model of D210 ‘Empress of Britain’ with ‘Mauritania’. From a distance there seems little to choose between D210 and D211.

 

26094310314_a8a2ec4d9d_b.jpg
Side on Bachamann D211 ‘Mauritania’ ( R ) with D210 ‘Empress of Britain’ ( L )


However on closer inspection there are subtle changes to the body shape and some more obvious changes to handrails and lamp irons which I believe had been added erroneously by Bachmann to the early model.

 

26673420196_6d80182de0_b.jpg
Front on Bachamann D211 ‘Mauritania’ ( R ) with D210 ‘Empress of Britain’ ( L )

26673411116_5bbe9db3f6_b.jpg
Rubbing noses Bachmann D211 ‘Mauritania’ ( R ) with D210 ‘Empress of Britain’ ( L )

26700121585_51d94077d9_b.jpg
Spot some differences to the under frame, Bachmann D211 ‘Mauritania’ ( R ) with D210 ‘Empress of Britain’ ( L )

 

This Blog post is about Bachmann 32-480DS. It was bought new and the default settings for the chip include running on analogue DC. My understanding is that both the ESU Lok 3.5 and 4.0 chips will produce sound on analogue DC. However not all Bachmann locomotives are shipped with chips set at their default settings. Straight out of the box some Bachmann models will not produce sound on DC analogue and may not even run with the digital chip in place. I am guessing that for these models the access to a digital system is needed to reset the chip to the default values. I have no knowledge or experience of Hornby TTS locomotives so may have to stand corrected but from comments on the ‘web’ these models cannot produce sound on analogue DC.

 

Well it is 01 May this weekend and we are still getting snow. It is definitely not gardening weather so time to go and play!

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Well you learn something everyday! I had no idea you could use sound on DC.

 

As for wiring excess, I am currently soldering the control panel for Buckingham West with 47 levers and about 120 wires off the back of it. Yet it is all simple DC open/close circuits. Some of our DCC stuff at the club has far more complicated and numerous wiring. The controls are simple to connect, but not necessarily the underboard wiring.

 

Yet again, a wonderfully put together and interesting blog post. Thanks.

 

Rich

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Thanks Rich

 

I am glad that I was not the only one.

...! I had no idea you could use sound on DC... Rich

Reading the ESU literature it appears that they have been marketing analogue DC sound chips for years - initially for Marklin products.  It might appear that some manufacturers had a vested interest in making out that Digital Sound required a digital system?

 

A proper lever frame then - I shall await your next instalment with renewed interest.

 

Speak again

 

Ray

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A proper lever frame then - I shall await your next instalment with renewed interest.

 

.........well a line of toggle switches!

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  • RMweb Gold

You'll be buying a DCC controller next Ray!

 

But diesel sound is such another dimension isn't it?

 

Phil

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Thanks Phil.........not just yet.

 

You'll be buying a DCC controller next Ray!

 

But diesel sound is such another dimension isn't it?

 

Phil

 

 

Ray

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Yes, there are quite a few changes between the 2007 Class 40, and "version 2", mainly to do with the cantrail grilles and bodyside depth which were all wrong - too shallow - on the 2007 model, and ride height. 

 

Some modellers resorted to grafting the 2007 Bachmann cabs, which were relatively correct, onto the centre section of the Lima Class 40. Others simply put Lima 40 bodies on the Bachmann 40 chassis. In those days, you could get whole running Bachmann 40 chassis as reasonably cheap spares on eBay. No longer!

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Thank Horsetan, the nose to nose picture above hints at there being a difference in ride height - I have a centre head code model where I altered the fixings inside the shell to allow the body to sit lower on the chassis.

 

The older models run very well.

 

Regards

 

Ray

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Fascinating, I didn't know sound on DC could, errr, sound that good.  We briefly had a sound fitted Sulzer Type 2 and I would contentedly listen to it ticking over while I got on with the day (DCC obviously) - I think it reminded me of trainspotting at Manchester Victoria in the 70s.

 

Regarding the differences, I was quite happily rivet counting the roofs over the boiler compartments.

 

Alun

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Thanks Alun (where have you been).  Yes it has been a bit of an eye opener - or perhaps earful?

 

Speak again

 

Regards

 

Ray

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Thanks Alun (where have you been)...

 

I was stupid enough to let the eBay sales turn into a business and now I don't have any time...  Keep meaning to drop you a line and I will.

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Good

I was stupid enough to let the eBay sales turn into a business and now I don't have any time...  Keep meaning to drop you a line and I will.

I trust that you are keeping up with this thread.

Regards

Ray

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I trust that you are keeping up with this thread.

 

I did up to a point, I stopped before your post and have just read it - funnily enough we had a similar experience after switching energy suppliers.  Both eBay and PayPal favour the buyer to the point of he or she only having to prove a parcel has been delivered to qualify for a refund.  Thankfully, most people seem to be fairly reasonable, remarkable what picking up the phone can do if someone perceives a problem and the Royal Mail haven't "lost" a single parcel since I went to recorded deliveries.

 

Bringing it back on topic, I was chatting to a customer today who used to drive Class 40s (along with Class 31s, Peaks and Class 47s) on the Trans-Pennine route.

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