MichaelE

That was the operating voltage for the NCE Powercab. It was not sag voltage when current demand increased. When that did happen, I measured voltage as low as 10VAC RMS on the rails before the unit tripped the internal breaker.

I noticed greatly improved operation when I switched from an NCE Powercab to the ESU Cab Control. The NCE only puts out 2A constant with a 3A maximum. Not having anything to compare it to, I thought I didn't have enough drops. No. It was the NCE unit. When I bought the ESU Cab Control and upped the amperage to 4.5A trains suddenly started running smoother without stops or slowing. Headlights and coach lights were brighter without flickering, and overall operation was actually fun again. In addition, the NCE unit will strain to put 12 volts on the track, whilst the ESU unit is adjustable for voltage and current. I am running 17VAC at the railhead @ 4.5A and operation couldn't be better. All but one locomotive has sound and three or four trains are lighted.

I'd like to go back to Germany in 1967 when I was there as a kid. Lots of different electric locomotives in service at that time. Some even left over from WWII and just after. Lots to see.

I'll be getting the ÖBB Rh 1822 when they release it 2Q/24. Or so they say. Can't wait to see the detail on that one.

I like your track plan except the tight curves (for the amount of room you have) in the upper left corner past the yard. Many times I wish I had built an around-the-room layout instead the current layout I have. I'm not about to start all over, but I do wish I had broader curves than 24".

Jägerndorfer ÖBB Rh 4746 Triebzug for the S-Bahn S80 line in Vienna. They did a bang-up job on this model with many applied details, fully lit, and a great sound file. This is my second Jägerndorfer model and I'm very impressed with their level of detail they apply to their models. Runs great too.

No, it doesn't make any sense. They announce buying MB Klein, and they go out of business themselves a month later???

My trains mostly run very slow, especially the freight consists. IR and City Shuttles run a bit faster, but nothing runs so fast it looks like a train around the Christmas tree as is so often seen in O scale here in the States. My layout straight sections are not long enough to run most express and passenger trains at more than about 45 MPH. Freight typically runs around 30 MPH. Sometimes much slower. Now, if I had a layout with 20'+ straight sections, speed would be increased somewhat for both types of trains.

Hi there. I have not found an extensive source of in-depth information on some of the more complicated and intricate programming the Lokprogrammer is capable of doing. As an example, I found a better sound file to replace the factory sound file for my Bemo Ge 4/4 III. It was perfect, except that the transition from the inverter/motor sounds from sound 1 to sound 2 was much too long. The transition should occur at around 20 MPH, but it wasn't happening until around 45 MPH. So how to change this transition time? No clue. It took the better part of an entire afternoon of digging around in the sound file area of the programming to fix this. It is not CV related, so it's not so simple to find the parameters needed to adjust this timing. After finding the correct parameter after much experimentation, it amounted to one value adjustment and it was fixed. I don't know how anyone learns to program sound files used for ESU products. If I had to do this everyday it would drive me insane.

You can buy either. Mine is factory DCC with Loksound 5. The running qualities are superb. The only CVs I changed was 3 &4 for starting and stopping. There were some minor programming problems with the first release that were all corrected 100% in the second release. This is from the second release.

These locomotives are very impressive in HO. Operating pans, working cooling fans, extensive lighting, etc.

That information is very interesting. I model the Arosa line and did not know that was a separate railroad until '43. I also did not know they ran lone Triebwagens, or a Triebwagen and a wagon or two back then. Now if you see a Triebwagen it might have six or eight coaches behind it.

The last set of three Austrian Rail Cargo side discharge gravel hoppers showed up from Germany today. It makes for a good size train without being too long for the layout. This is nine hoppers with the same length as a five-wagon passenger consist. These are from Roco, locomotive is Euro Dual Br.159.

This should be the correct link to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbn3jWx1zuRtAPxwlRZ5EAA

Thanks Keith. And expanded it has. I've added a eight track yard to the extreme left loop extending to the bottom of the drawing. The yard lead starts at the upper, outer track at the top with a #8 Peco a bit before the curve.

I find that five 303mm coaches is about the limit on my layout. The longest leg is about 9' between curves, with two more stretches at 8' and 7'. Five wagons look good on my size layout. Any more and it starts to look toy-like, and although shorter trains also work, most of mine are five wagons. Some are four as well.

I have an Amprobe that has served me well for a couple of years now. Amprobe is Fluke's slightly less expensive line. It does RMS with frequency measuring so it does what I want it to do.

Usually when I see something I like and fear it will be extremely limited production. Manufacturers just aren't making a lot in quantity these days, and if you want something, a pre-order may be the only way you will get one.

Any Christmas movie on The Hallmark Channel or The Lifetime Channel. I don't know how anyone can watch that drivel and not be sick.

That was indeed the solution. After halving this value from 110 to 55, the locomotive now transitions the motor sounds at the correct speed. ESU calls these values 'constants'.

I belive I have found the solution to this problem. None of those adjustments had any effect on the two motor sounds. However, in the sound file block diagram of the main (sound slot 1) drive there is an editable box that has a transition speed between the two sound files. Currently, it is set to 110. I'm going to check this value in the Bemo factory file (if it exists) and use that value. My computer is currently recharging so I can't check it this instant. The Bemo sound file does not have two separate sound slots for these two drive sounds as the file I'm working on uses. I will have to wait awhile to check this transition value if it is listed in the block diagram area.

Just about anyone in the Swiss forum knows what the Ge 4/4 III locomotive sounds like when it start moving. The first thing you hear is the wind up of the traction motors and inverters as the locomotive accelerates. After it reaches a certain speed, this sound is greatly reduced and a sort of 'shshshshshs' whoosh sound takes over. The original sound file loaded by Bemo for this locomotive did not sound very good after this 'Whoosh' sound started and the locomotive was at speed. This sound starts when the locomotive was at around 15-20 scale MPH. That part is correct. I found another Ge 4/4 III soundfile for this locomotive at the ESU website that uses much of the same sounds, but the sound slots are arranged slightly differently and the 'whoosh' sound much more even and just sounds better. The problem, is that the sound doesn't start until the locomotive is at around 45 scale MPH which is way too fast. There are two electric drive sounds listed, one in sound slot 1, and the other in sound slot 30, labeled Drive 2. I believe this is the 'whoosh' sound that takes over after the locomotive is up to speed or still accelerating. This configuration is in the second sound file (S0150) that I downloaded. The Volume, and Minimum Sound Speed and Maximum sound speed are all set differently on the sliders. Whereas on the original sound file (96434) these sounds are combined in the same sound slot and the sliders are all set at the mid-point. Are you with me so far? If, on the S0150 sound file I adjust the Minimum Sound Speed down for the Drive 2 sound in sound slot 30, will this start the sound at a slower speed? I have no way of testing this unless I make the change and load the file to the decoder and I would rather not do that unless I know for a fact I'm making the correct adjustment. I cannot find a reference for this in the manual, though I might have just not been able to find it. Any help would be appreciated.

I don't understand the attraction either. Horribly out of scale for the most part and most lack even the most basic detail like grabs and step loops on freight wagons. They look like toys for the most part. Maybe that is the appeal.

Always, when it doesn't interfere with operation of the locomotive. Some buffer beams can't take the full length hoses without coupler interference. In some cases, like a push-pull locomotive, I will remove the front coupler and mount and attach the included full-front skirt so all of the additional accessories can be installed. I've done that to several locomotive whether or not they are in push-pull service. This RhB Ge 4/4 III is able to have all the accessories hung and still retain the front coupler.