Gary H

My next plan is trying the process using my crap top. It has Windows 7. Strangely, win 7 seems to be struggling to find a driver for the cable at the momnet on the lap top. I got a small disc with the programer that contains the driver for the cable but i try to use a driver from searching on line so its upto date!

Yes, exactly like that! Heres the video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKzJ6eHGDJ0&feature=youtu.be

Indeed. After it's done its config bit, whilst writing the sound data it only gets about 1 or 2 mm across the progress bar before it packs it in and error box pops up I've looked at your screen grabs and dialogue boxes are exactly the same as mine! Deffinately clicking the write sound data Icon, the musical note icon. Well I just tried it by wiring the decoder straight to the programer and so by passing any loco and its associatted light board gubbins. Updated the firmware again and tried to write the new sound file. The exact same thing happened. I'm at a loss.

Hi Wiggy, I'm uploading a short video of events to youtube as I type. From my first mouse click It actaully only took 2 minutes before it all went pig!! The USB to serial cable was what came with the retail box. Also meant to say this windows 10. Looking in task manager at Com 5 which is what it uses, the latest driver is installed and it tells me its working OK.

Gents, first off thank you for all your replies, it is very much appreciated. So then, for a little more background with regards to the model which with any luck may show up where I'm going wrong or otherwise. This is a link from the Atlas page for the exact model that some how messed up- http://www.atlasrr.com/HOLoco/hos2.htm#.WfWwtYhpEdU It was released by Atlas as a first run without or with a Lok sound select dual mode sound decoder in 2014. The model I have is the orange and brown #1 in Great Northern livery. As far as the down loadable sound file is concerned, this is the link to the Lok sound page from where the sound file resides for the Select decoder- http://projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/2?page=6&count=10&order=date&type=all&cat=2 Its the 7 th loco down on that page, article number 73411 or 'Select' in the drop down list on the down load button. The full throttle feature set has been carried over to all select decoders as well the V4's. Far as track is concerned, I'm using a short piece attached to a bit of wood, well away from the layout. Its clipped to the rails using crocodile clips and I used the green plug to fit to the programer end. Wheels and rails are good and clean, the loco moves perfectly using the PC Lok programer software. CV8. Thanks Dutch Master and Geoff, I didnt know that, so thats the first thing Ive learnt today, thanks! I have carried out a firmware update of the decoder, it seems to do this succesfully and it seems that it has reverted to its default address of '3' contrary to what I said above so thatssomething I guess! "Traction" asked: I would of thought by reinstalling the firmware it would blank the decoder for you to load the sound file on. Have you tried updating the firmware and then reloading the sound file from the ESU web site?" Aye, tried that mate, all to no avail and i still get the error message. "55020" asked: The Loksound Select can only be reprogrammed with a "Select" soundfile downloaded from the ESU website. Is the file your trying to use a "Select" soundfile i.e. not a V4 soundfile? Another question, have you updated your LokProgrammer with the latest firmware? " Yes and yes, all done!

Hi Wiggy, yes, it was a complete re-write over existing sound file to make use of the new ESU 'full throttle' drive hold feature set. I have tried the firmware update first, didn't seem to alter the outcome, unfortunately! I'm perhaps understandably loathed to try another one! I just tried it again after re-installing the serial to USB driver, exactly the same thing happened. The only thing it does consistently is it happens after 5 minutes in each time.

Looks like I have bricked my first decoder. I just bought a Lok programmer to update some Loksound select sound decoders in some factory equipped H0 American outline models. First loco I tried was the Alco S4, a factory fitted Lok sound select decoder in an Atlas model. Straightaway after about 5 minutes of it writing i would get an "Error writing decoder data" dialogue pop up and everything would stop. I checked everything, track connection, Serial to USB driver, correct firmware version, etc. Every time I tried to write the new sound file, I got the same message after about 5 minutes! The upshot is now, the loco has no sound although it moves OK! Furthermore, I took it to the programing track on the layout and tried a re-set but it seems not to want to re-set! CV8 should be programed to 8 to re-set but its reverts to '151' which is the decoder version number- it will not revert to 8 after a read back of the value! The loco address will also not change from '1' either! Does anyone want a Lok programer?

Il be dammed! An ex Chiltern bubble car eh! Is it temporary loan or were BWR the successful bidders??

Quite. You'd think that after 4 years and millions of words written on this sorry saga these journo's would have a basic grasp of the facts by now! Just after the "10'000 ton locomotive", the train is refered to as a convoy.

A little gem I recently stumbled across on youtube quite by acident. Its real purpose was to tell the viewer about the causes and effects of delays but from an enthusiast point of view it is excellant. The drivers, the guards, the station staff, P-Way personnel and the managers, its all here and from 1969! My favorite scene is the loco change at Crewe where the AL6 comes off in favour of D415!! - solid gold. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttMN2iQCH1o&pbjreload=10

It made a nice change for me to be in the right place at the right time today, to catch one of the celebrities plying its trade like it has done for the past 40 years. 43185 Leaves St Erth for Paddington on 1A83 These will be sorely missed (apart from the handfull of "GTI" modified sets of course). Just as typical though, there was an HST ECS working being dragged by 57XXX in the up direction not long after which I did miss.

A split second from certain death! I wonder how that conversation went?

Surely a model worthy of gracing any sideboard, dresser or display case!! Sure to be "a great" conversation piece. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Hand-Crafted-Model-Train-Locomotive-Unique-One-Off-Model-Copper-Train/302279804972?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3Dc7ecc5105d6c4d8e8c447d5bfe77a25a%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D371220446503&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851 Its bleddy "unique" alrite.

F-F-F-F-F-F Four grand????? I supose a blind man would be glad to see it.

Good god!!

Strange what some try to pass off as 'new'. Not withstanding the broken, hanging off ditch light and the over inflated price! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ATHEARN-GENESIS-HO-G68621-TSUNAMI-SOUND-UNION-PACIFIC-SD70ACe-8365-NEW/142455731809?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140131123730%26meid%3Dce19b097da9044d3804cf06217da84b4%26pid%3D100167%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D263131007191&_trksid=p5411.c100167.m2940

A particularly nasty piece of excrement that one wasn't he!

Some more level crossing madness but this time, with a twist! https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=37e_1501230887

I must admit that I did find that by just hitting the dam thing with some vigour and enthusiasm made me feel like I was getting somewhere and the rest just kinda followed! The more I did and got done, the more I enjoyed it, especially when you start to see some results. Reckon I've been in a rut with it for the last 4 years but its finally fun again! If there's one thing I've learnt since its inception 10 years ago, its not good having a lot of real estate! (greenery!) Less is more in than respect I believe.

Ive still got a long way to go but Ive got the board in for the industry spurs and the new scenery section is pretty much finished. The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed that one of the Woodland Scenics tunnel portals was broken! This was done in transit, although the seller went to great lengths to wrap it, W.S for some stupid reason insist on having a huge void in the card carton thus allowing the casting to rattle around to heart's content leading to the inevitable! No problem, the joint was made using some JB weld stuff and it was weathered to within an inch of its life! The holes you see bored into the outside facia are clearance holes for the bolts securing the frame on the removable piece. thus- The following is the result of having a few reminiscencesof things that I enjoyed in the 80's over the Christmas period! I have an 08 and an 85 aswell somewhere but normality has now been restored. Theresstill much to do, I have the industrial part to construct yet and much scenery to blend and make good but do now feel that I'm getting somewhere. I think this 're-work' will add some interest to the layout. Just as abit of fun, this is what that scene used to look like-

They said it would be fun they said!!!

Well this has been a long time coming. After spending many hours pondering, walking into it and walking out again, followed by more head scratching, I finally struck upon a plan of work, made some decisions and got stuck in. The new connection I went with was this one- This enabled me to use the 3-way I built earlier which would in turn alow the use of the existing cross over and save space. It was also meant a huge and time-consuming rebuild of the scenery as I opted to have this 'open' and apposed to covered which is how it was originally. The 2 fore-ground lines have now been lowered and truncated and have become industry spurs! A lot of destruction followed! Here, the new connection is in via the 3-way. The clamps are holding an extension to the track bed to allow a 'cess' area and to support a removable section which I will get onto in a minute. Looking the other way- I mentioned a removable section. The line you see disappearing downwards at 2% grade nearest the wall is the entrance to my staging yard below the layout. I wanted this section to be removable to access it should any need arise. So, just to add to the "fun", I had to devise a way to get a section of removable scenery built as well as have enough clearance between the line nearest the wall and the adjacent line! This piece would have to slot in between the 2 lines! I hit on the idea of a retaining wall separating the 2 lines. Metcalfe card structure to the rescue. I used my largest and highest freight car seen on the layout for setting clearances. After building the retaining wall, it was glued firmly to an 'L'section quarter ply plinth to give it strength. I then built a timber frame around it to cover in carboard strip. It had ply bulkheads at each end that would marry up with similar bulk heads on the layout. Shame the pic below has gone bad as it showed the frame well. The 2 lines that have been truncated used to be 2 mainlines that followed the rock line on the right of the shot below. They then rose at 2.5% to rejoin the mainline in the distance close to the pair of cov-hops. Now you see it- Now you dont-

I know how it feels. I gave up with PB some time ago. As soon as I entered the site, it was always like walking through treacle, that or traction motor gear case 'motak'!! and the endless pop-up adds covering dialog that you needed to see seemed to be the only thing on the site that worked properly! Even uploading anything seemed to take an age. I suspect its probably gone into a self destruct mode weighed down with so much adware etc. Kudos to Jim and others if they got on well with it, but I found it a pain.

Thanks, Ian, very usefull. Thats a cracking looking layout aswell!!!

Now you mention it, the spotting feature for me is the writing around the wheels! Very P2K.