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On the advice found in the Hornby H class forum I purchased and fitted a Zen Micro ZN8D direct fit 8 pin decoder. It fits nicely in the available space and the loco runs excellently. However it came with a stay alive capacitor which I would like to fit and have located an available space almost tailor made in the bunker. When I had made sure the decoder itself was working and the loco running well I test fitted the stay alive, and this is where my question comes in. The decoder has a purple wire at one and and two wires at the other end - one blue and one black. The stayalive capacitor also has a blue and a black wire. No specific instructions were provided with the decoder but logic says connect the blue and the black wires together - blue to blue and black to black. When I test fit the capacitor in this manner the loco stops working and emits just a very low buzz. When I remove the capacitor again it works normally. Am I doing something wrong? Are my assumption about how to wire it incorrect? Thanks to anyone who can provide guidance Norm

All your replies are much appreciated. I'm away until next week but will definitely try these suggestions and report back. I did sort of know I should use zimo for steam but as I said these were Hornby factory sound fitted models from their pre TTS days. Norm

I am hoping some of the noted experts on this forum can provide some suggestions to improve the CV settings on a couple of Hornby sound fitted locomotives in my fleet. The first is R2897XS Kidwelly Castle, which I know has a Loksound 3.5 factory fitted The second is R2991XS Class A4 Sparrow Hawk, which I believe is also Loksound V3.5 but just might be a Loksound V4. Decoder Pro says it is a V4 but I have mislaid the leaflet that came with the loco. My problem is this. Both locomotives will coast to a halt from what you might call mid to high speeds, but from lower speeds there is no way to make them coast and they just chuff to a halt.. Are there any CV's I can tweak on V3.5 and possibly V4 to lower the speed (or throttle position) from which the loco will coast once the throttle is closed . I have set fairly large values in CV4 so deceleration is a leisurely affair which I found did improve things over the factory settings. Any advice, or just an answer that says 'Not possible with these decoders' would be gratefully received Norm

With respect Keith I think you are making things complicated for yourself. You really don't need your Lenz system at all now. Switch your loco control to the Digikeijs DR5000 and use either Traincontroller and/or the z21 mobile app. (Either will work separately or if both are in use ( I.e switched on and connected to the DR5000 built in hub) then symbols will update in both places regardless of where you operate the layout from) For anyone interested in this solution check out Z21.co.uk. One caveat however is that although you can control turnouts,signals, lights etc with the mobile app I do not see a turntable selection in the available accessories. maybe this will be available in a future release. For anyone looking at the Z21 website above you can substitute the DR5000 for the Roco command station shown in the middle of the diagram. It's marked Z21 with WLAN router. You will need to update your DR5000 to the latest software version which is currently 1.4.4 A little background may be useful. I was in a somewhat similar position Keith. I was using digitrax equipment and JMRI before I discovered Digikeijs. I still have a lot of digitrax DS64's and BD4's for turnout operation and block detection and I was using WIThrottle for a remote control. I took the plunge to purchase the DR5000. It works seamlessly with my digitrax DS64s and BD4's and for further detection blocks I've added a DR4088LN. Finally I updated to RocRail for the computer control and like you found that although I had everything else I wanted I had lost the remote control capability since WIThrottle does not work in this environment. Hence my discovery of the Z21 app Norm

You ask why Keith? Why because doesn't even cost you a pound. It's free as long as you have a tablet or smartphone. You say 'away from a computer connection'. Well to use the Z21 app technically all you need is wifi connectivity to the DR5000. However, to answer the previous post, yes you can control accessories and if you also DO have a computer control program such as JMRI or RocRail linked to the DR5000 the position of points will update on the diagram

I don't know about IR control Keith, I think I read in the documentation that it is yet to be implemented. However I have found that with the latest dr5000 software it is very easy to use the Z21 mobile app via the DR5000 wifi. I'd be happy to give you the steps I took if you need themNorm

I know Ron but this was posted in the hope it might be a cheaper alternative Norm

Having done some more with the Z21 mobile app I can report that it's quite impressive. Control of locos and accessories is possible. Quite a neat interface. Take an actual photo of your track and overlay points, crossings etc on the photo. Touching the points changes the setting once configured. I'd say it makes a nice handheld controller. Search the App Store for Z21 and you'll find it Norm

Ask me in a few days!! There are two versions of the app, one for iPhone and one for iPad. So far I've been using the phone version which seems to have limited capability for accessories such as points. The iPad versions on the other hand appears to be able to comtrol points. I am still researching and found some YouTube videos suggesting you can take a photo of your track from above and overlay point diagrams which are then clickable. Remember however it all ultimalty depends on your command station which is not Roco in my case. Incidentally I believe there are also android versions of the app. The tablet version gives you two panels and I think you can have two throttles or a throttle and a track plan I'll report back after I have more info. I should also add that in the case of the Digikeijs command station I had to get the latest firmware to support the multimaus protocol via wifi Norm

Not sure if this helps Chris but before you purchase any handheld you could try the Z21 mobile app (free). I use a Digikeijs DR5000 as my command station and just discovered that I can use the Z21 app as a handheld controller. I would think that if you can attach your 23151 to your network and would be able to connect to that address from the mobile app

Many thanks Graham. Norm

Apologies if this has been discussed before although I haven't seen it mentioned. It looks to me from the illustrations that the BR Black early crest version announced for 2018 is a non push pull fitted version is that correct? I don't have my reference books to hand to check the history. I did note that it also has the flat sided bunker to differentiate itself from the initial late crest version Norm

Just an idle thought but didn't Bachmann promise to DCC upgrade all their split chassis locomotives? And didn't their range include a certain Southern express loco? Hat and coat on. Out of here!

Not to mention trying to arrange deals on affordable delivery

. This is all for fun but imagine the scenario. A failed class 40 on the Royal Scot. Lurking nearby is number 10203...... Rule 1 ..... And yes SRMan. I agree. The two together would take more than 2 coach lengths!!! Probably time to end these flights of fancy now but it's certainly helped the time pass as I wait for my package from Cornwall !!! Norm

Fascinating stuff. Thanks for that information dunsignalling. So maybe even if I can't (prototypically at least) run a combination such as 10001 and 10202 in early black I could just about run 10203 in green with a Bachmann class 40 Only problem is it probably wouldn't be on the southern!! Norm

OK guys. My brain is definitely having a field day. Here's another question to ponder. We're told that 10201 and 10202 often worked as a pair. Same goes for 10000 and 10001. But could they work in multiple with each other? 10000 and 10201 on the Bournemouth Belle- now that would be a sight!! Were the mu controls compatible? Who will be the first to run such a train on their layout? Off for a nice cup of tea now!!!!!

Interesting replies to my question of the day. I think you maybe hit it on the head dunsignalling. It probably depends on whose hand was in charge at the build time of the first of each series. The southern railway / region did indeed start all othe bulleid classes at number 1. (I love the thought of 1CC1201). whereas the midland BR method often started at 0 as evidenced by the later standard classes. I know 10000 was completed under the auspices of the LMS and attributed to Ivatt. But someone remind me. Wasn't Riddles ( who started sequences at 0) involved somehow. 10201 however was indeed a Bulleid brain child Fascinating to wonder whether the trainspotters of the day when copping 10201 wondered whether they'd ever see 10200. Or were they all well informed even in those days via their Ian Allen ABC's and the pages of Railway Magazine? And who among us will be the first to renumber their new model to 1CC1201/2/3? I think I'm having an off day!!!!! Norm

So here is a question that just occurred to me ( no idea why). Why was the first build numbered 10201 and not 10200. The first LMS twin was 10000 not 10001. Norm

Many thanks to all who've posted concerning the running issues of these models. For those like myself who live abroad there is a considerable expense involved when taking the advice to 'just send it back'. That is why this is such valuable information. In this case I think I have learned and/or deduced enough information to take a chance and let my pre-order for the Crimson/cream W14 stand. If the running is as described by others then I will try both turning off BEMF assuming the factory decoder allows this, and packing the gears with grease. What type of grease would others recommend?

Many thanks for that response. Do you know if it's possible to turn off BEMF on the factory fitted decoder. I'm trying to decide whether to cancel my preorder for W14 Norm

Has anyone received and run a factory fitted DCC version yet? I see the GWR livery versions are now shown as in stock on a certain box shifters site. I am curious to know if these versions exhibit the same 'hunting' that has been experienced by some of the previous posters Norm

I did indeed live on Western Rd!! Please feel free to send me a PM and we can re-connect

I don't think you need too much of an excuse. See my previous post number 139 !! Go on. You know you want one Norm

I have to admit I am glad they're producing 30089. I lived in Winchester during the era they shunted the goods yard and 30089 and 30096 were the last two regulars. I still remember how quiet they usually were. But of course they usually weren't moving too many wagons at once!