Merlin242

Is anyone able to log into the Bachmann spares website? I am registered but it wont let me in . Tried several times over several days so I registered again with a different email. This was accepted but when i tried to log in same as before. Mike

Interesting to see someone quotes a 30% failure rate with the decoders? My failure rate is Zero with 22 decoders from many different batches. (Bought in ones and twos from many suppliers over months). Its hard to reconcile that as chance.

I have been fairly busy adding TXS decoders to some of the locos stock and bringing more locos into service and adding and upgrading a few older locos. I started with my models of banking engines based at Oxenholme many of which moved to Carnforth when Oxenholme closed in 1962 and now have a decent collection. There are 6 fowler tanks, 3 Stanier 2-6-4t's and 3 Fairburn tanks. That far more than I need but I like modelling them and they all run well. It means I can ring the changes at will . Three of the fowler tanks 42313, 42314 and 42355 and 42464 have Hornby TXS decoders. These have modified speed curves which means the sound much more closely matches the wheel revolutions and ideal for banking trains. They are controlled via an App on a phone or Ipad so you can easily move around following the train. Its proved that banking is reliable and realistic especially with sound. I am now looking forward to adding Grayrigg Bank to the layout Mike

I am definitely changing the CV's much more. Vastly easier to set each loco up individually to get optimum performance. I have 3 Fowler 2-6-4T's all slightly different. I frequently change sound levels as I find that the level if the loco is shunting right next to me can seem a bit low if its running 20 feet away. I am also into banking trains which can also benefit from a much higher sound level than running light. I also have changed all the speed curves to get much more realistic chuff rates. This is a pain with a normal dcc controller and a breeze now with the updated App. Overall this is a brilliant product. My only issue is with power bank charging and higher current draws cutting out. But this is a promised update for the future which is great.

I would also appreciate a copy please Mike

Just a few views around the layout. Hincaster station, Hincaster Junction box and the road ahead to Grayrigg Bank and Indore at Windermere

I have 7 decoders all fitted with the power bank. 4 are relatively new (Princess, 4MT, Hardwick, Clan) these operate faultlessly all the time. The 3 older locos (2 Fowler2-6-4 tanks, Ivatt 2) all have the same issue. On first using them the with sound on the loco starts for part of a wheel revolution then the decoder trips out. Resets and tries again usually this happens 2 -4 times. Then after that they work fine all the time for the rest of the day and sometimes the day after. My solution is to switch off the sound on first using it which helps and if I remember in time use the plus key to start the motor control to 1 or 2. The loco wont start but the power bank slowly charges. After a couple of minutes doing that the loco will start normally and will run fine for the rest of the day. This is almost a throw back to the TTS decoders which have the same issue sometimes even worse especially I found the Black5 with the older models. Those decoders had a lower power rating and the older engines do use more power. Ideally the power bank would be allowed a trickle charge when not running which would get over this problem and also avoid programming errors. I always now first set up the decoders without the power bank installed.

I am now at the stage of deciding what happens to Phase3. Pretty much all the layout has a reasonable level of scenery and rolling stock so its time to decide what form Grayrigg bank will take. The junction is in place and ready to connect to and some photos will follow. To that end I have been playing with the banking of trains to see what the practical issues are. The video shows some of the experiments. The positives are its pretty easy to control the trains on a dcc layout. I have three banking engines ( 2 Fowler 2-6-4T & Standard class 4) at the moment fitted with Hornby TXS decoders which allow me to follow the train if I want. Using any dcc engine as the train engine works . The sound adds a lot to my enjoyment whereas for normal running it can be intrusive especially with several engines running. I have not had to weight the stock yet although. I think that may be sensible in future especially if I venture outdoors which is an option. My inclination is to do a quick venture outside on a gradient with return loops at the end. This will allow for as much longer gradient and really test the practicalities. It will also see if my interest in banking trains continues. The other option is to extend the building first. Any views or experiences are welcome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY9hrEFr-MI

I have been playing around using the new Hornby 7000 system alongside my existing dcc set up to experiment with banking trains. This is because the next phase of layout development is intended to be some key elements of Grayrigg bank. I am pretty happy with the results. No examples of pile ups with wagons derailing and I find the sound variations between train engine and banker adds a lot to my enjoyment. My only issue is an odd case of buffer locking on the curve at the start of the bank. Slightly bigger buffers may be added as a precaution . On the proposed layout the curve would not be there. I find having the freedom to move around following the train with iphone(s) in hand much more useful than I imagined. With care its possible to decide how much of the train weight the banker is taking. All the stock is unweighted so far. I do find that the TXS as downloaded files are unrealistic because they show up as one cylinder engines very clearly in contrast to the others. I have found the Bluetooth commands to be reliable on the 7 TXS decoders installed so far and its great to be able to change set up and sound levels whilst the train is on the move. The sounds are currently set right down. The video shows some early experiments with a variety of sound fitted locos. ESU , Zimo, TXS standard downloads, TXS modified speed curves. Can you identify which is which? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY9hrEFr-MI Just need proper smoke units now!

I agree its very frustrating that Hornby don't seem to get that the exhaust beats on their sound files are awful at the slower speeds at which you can hear and see and count the revolutions. It makes all the nonsense about attention to detail seem pretentious nonsense. As one of the lateral thinkers I have tried to upload video clips of what can be done but the forum wont let me. It says the files are too big which they aren't. There are examples on Facebook of what can be done. I have a standard 4mt which is very good . The locos on this clip are much better than the downloaded sound files if not quite right yet. If you run a loco with the standard downloaded sound file on a train banked by one with a modified file the difference is stark and really shows up the standard set up. Overall I am happy that at least a significant improvement is possible and beauty of this system is that you can play around easily and if you mess it up reset the chip and start again. If its of any interest I can put up the cv values I have used if the forum will let me. https://www.facebook.com/mike.hanson.790/videos/191054283824632

In amongst all this froth I have installed my first 6 TXS decoders in a variety of models and the only issues I had were my learning my way round the app. I had an interesting time today banking trains up the gradient at Hincaster with a Clan on the front and a standard 4MT at the back. This worked really well. Both locos now have modified chuff rates . At first I ran the Clan as it was with the Brittania sound file and the discrepancy of the Clan missing half the exhaust beats with the 4MT which is pretty good was really stark. But with both modified its great to watch the slower exhaust beat as the Clan goes past first then with the faster chuff of the banker at the back. The fine control available on the app means that you can in fact adjust how much weight each loco is taking. I don't think I could have done that with a my normal dcc controller. My long planned next phase to add Grayrigg has been given a big push

I was delighted to see Glasshoughton No.4 in this batch because I bought the real thing for preservation in 1973 from Glasshoughton. It was in a very faded version of the livery shown on the renders. So I have pre ordered a sound fitted version. Interesting to note that I paid the scrapman £600 plus 10% VAT then and the model will cost around £200 now. Mike

Thanks so much for sharing the CV's . Its solved the only issue I had with TXS decoders I have tried this on a Hornby standard class 4MT with the basic 9F sound file from Hornby and it worked really well for me . I started with your list and then tried it . However mine is a largish layout with a continuous run so I have tweaked the bottom end of the curve from CV84 onwards to to CV 94 set at 160 for a higher top speed. I guess its now around a scale 60mph which is fine for this loco. The start gives the proper 4 beats per revolution still up to the point I cant count them and the sound when running fast is great. I think it will be necessary to have a different set of CV's for each type of loco and yours would be great for a goods engine as it stands. A couple of comments. I had to use railmaster to change the CV's as the app did not give me access to CV's 67 to 94. Did you use the app or something else? It also occurred to me to see if the same trick was possible on a TTS decoder so I tried looking at a TTS fitted Crosti but the CV's do not seem to be in the same place if anywhere. Which is a shame as I have quite a few TTS decoders. Overall I found adjusting the TXS to set up the chuff rate no more hassle than setting up an ESU or Zimo decoder. The overall sound effect is not quite as good as those in my view. But only an expert could tell the difference and at half the price and all the other features the TXS decoders are simply world class for value for money. Must order some more before they sell out! Mike

Thanks that's great. I will have a play with a Hornby standard 4 which I have set up and see how it turns out and if its better share the results mike

Would you be kind enough to expand a little on what you did . What loco you worked on and how you changed the speed curve. The chuff rates out of the box as set up seem to be identical to the original TTS chips on the two I have set up so far. Hardly surprising as that's where they supposedly originate but its the biggest drawback of both TTS and TXS chips and an improvement would be most welcome. As you mention as speed increases quite quickly it becomes a non issue .