DCC Solutions

Australian Railway Models 38 Class DCC Sound Installation

Now available with a NEW Remastered ESU LokSound 5 Custom Sound Project including "Full Throttle - Heavy Load"

Suitable for 38 Class models by ARM, Eureka, Bergs, DJH, Lima and Samhongsa

About the 38 Class

The C38 was a class of coal burning, steam locomotives built for the New South Wales Government Railways in Australia, between January 1943 and November 1949. The 30 locomotives in the class were designed to haul express trains and were the only New South Wales locomotives to use the popular Pacific 4-6-2 wheel arrangement. The C38 were the last steam locomotives built for passenger train operation as all subsequent deliveries being specifically for freight haulage.

In May 1939 an order for the first five 38 class locomotives was placed with and built by Clyde Engineering which had the distinctive streamlined boiler casing. They suffered many delays during construction, mostly due to resource shortages caused by World War II.

The remaining 25 locomotives were built between the New South Wales Government Railways' Eveleigh Railway Workshops (13 even number locomotives) and Cardiff Locomotive Workshops (12 odd numbered locomotives). These 25 locomotive were built as unstreamlined versions,

The Clyde Engineering built C38's were delivered in wartime grey. Following the end of the war, all 5 were repainted green as were the 25 unstreamlined locomotives from new. In the 1950's all were repainted black except 3813.

Among the services they initially hauled were the Central West Express, Newcastle Flyer, Melbourne Limited, Riverina Express and South Coast Daylight Express as well as the overnight mail trains. Because of their axle load they were confined to operating between Port Kembla, Albury, Dubbo and Maitland.

Following the arrival of the 42, 43 and 44 classes of diesel locomotives in the 1950's, these began to take over but the 38 class continued to haul many services. After the electrification of the Main Western line to Lithgow in 1957 and the Main North line to Gosford in January 1960 the 46 class electrics took over but the 38's still operated the Central West Express between Lithgow and Orange into the 1960's and the Newcastle Flyer between Gosford and Newcastle until December 1970. In August 1970, 3801 hauled the Western Endeavour to Perth following the completion of the standard gauge Trans-Australian Railway with 3813 assisting as far as Port Pirie.

In April 1962, locomotives 3830 and 3813 hauled the inaugural standard gauge Spirit of Progress from Albury to Sydney. The first C38's to be withdrawn were 3805 and 3826 in 1961 with the last 3820 withdrawn in December 1970. Although 3801 was already withdrawn by this time, it did return to service and continued working past 1970. Of the 30 locomotives built, 26 were scrapped and 3801, 3812, 3820, 3830 were preserved.

3801 is arguably Australia's most famous steam locomotive, being the only one to have visited all main line states and territories. It was the first engine completed late in 1942 and entered service on 22nd January 1943 to little fanfare. It became known at the time as the Grey Nurse due to its drab, all grey colour scheme due to the wartime economy. In early 1947 it was given a heavy overhaul and was painted in its standard colour scheme of green with yellow lining. In 1955 it was overhauled again, being painted black with red lining as a cost-cutting measure. In December 1956 the popular 3801 was the first in its class to have travelled 1.61 million kilometres. In early 1963 it was given a major overhaul during which it was repainted green. It was often used on special services operated by railway heritage organisations, the most famous being a non-stop run from Sydney to Newcastle on 28 June 1964. Just failing to break the two-hour barrier, this remained the fastest journey from Sydney to Newcastle by rail (2 hours 1 minute 51 seconds) until bettered by an XPT in 1988. From October 1965 until January 1975, 3801 was found on several occasions to have boiler problems which led to it being withdrawn, repaired and returned to service. 3801 returned to service on 6th January 1975 and was then used on tours until December 1976, when more boiler problems led to its final withdrawal.

3801 was sent to the Hunter Valley Training Company on the 20th November 1983 for restoration. By November 1986, it was back on the rails operating heritage trains throughout New South Wales, During the Australian Bicentenary celebrations in 1988, it operated an extensive program across Australia visiting every mainland capital accessible by rail including another trip to Perth in April/May 1988. In October 1988 the Flying Scotsman arrived from England and for much of its year long tour across Australia was accompanied by 3801. The locomotive continued to haul day trips and longer excursions until withdrawn from service for a major overhaul at the end of 2007. In September 2015, Transport Heritage NSW announced that 3801 would return to service in 2017.

DCC with Sound and Light Modifications

Australian Railway Models released their version of the NSWGR 38 Class RTR model in 2020.

The model is DCC ready - NMRA compliant DCC 8 pin socket in the loco, fixed (don't rotate) bogie wheels on the tender with no wiring connection between the loco and tender to be able to use the space inside the tender for a DCC Sound Installation.

It does not come with a working LED Headlight which is a little disappointing for a modern 2020 release model.

For this installation we recommend the ESU LokSound 5 (Sound) with our remastered version 5 Custom Sound Project for the 38 Class or

the LokPilot 5 (No Sound) for those not wishing sound The DCC Solutions 38 Class Sound Project includes recorded sounds from 3801.

We offer a few options of DCC installations for this model and can supply the decoders only for the DIY installers.

We offer a light modification for the ARM 38 Class

New LED Headlight and Operation

We can install an LED working Headlight into this model.

On top of that, we have modified the headlight operation to resemble prototypical operation of a real steam locomotive where the light generator controls the operation rather than the light function. No more turning off the sound and the light stays on waiting for you to turn it off.

Also added are:

* Automatic High Beam Headlight Function when the locomotive begins to drive. Bring the loco to a stop and the headlight will return to dim.

* Low Beam Front Headlight when reversing is also available.

The DCC Solutions 38 Class Custom Sound Project packed with sounds and features not found on other sound decoders

Our Custom Sound Project now includes these new features:

Cold and Hot Start Up Sequences

Select the Cold Start Up and you will activate the cold boiler preheat long start to hear the water being pumped into the boiler, the light of a match to start the fire, sound of the fire crackling, coal shovelling and the sounds of the pressure building up to reach the correct level before commencing to move off. Now that's something you won't hear from other sound decoders!

Select the Hot Start Up and you will activate the hot boiler quick start to skip the preheat assuming the correct boiler pressure is almost reached.

Shut down your 36 Class and the sound just doesn't stop. Steam releases and other sounds will be heard as the locomotive shuts down.

Full Throttle – Drive Hold

This feature allows you to simulate a hard-working loaded train by pressing the F1 function button. When the button is pressed, the motor will remain at a constant speed, while the sound changes into an intense chuff so this can simulate a hard-working steam locomotive. This exciting, new feature gives the operator the ability to have the train crawling along the track while producing an intense chuff. Release the Drive Hold function button and you simply go back to throttle-controlled speed, motion and sound. Available only from DCC Solutions, our Drive Hold will stop your loco when you reduce the speed to zero even while the function is still active. Your ESU factory sound will not stop your loco at speed step 0 with the drive hold on.

Coasting on Demand

This feature allows you to enter coasting mode whenever you want with a press of a button. The loco will enter the coasting mode and remain in coasting until you turn it off regardless of changes in the speed. Experiment with turning it on and off while the loco is moving at speed to hear the sound changes of a steam locomotive when you want. With this feature you can have your model sounding like a steam locomotive.

Working Brake

Press the Brake Function button and your locomotive will come to a stop at a much shorter distance than if you were to bring it to a stop by reducing the throttle speed. Release the brake and your locomotive will move off again or choose to have it remain stationary when the brake is released.

Brake Squeal on Deceleration

Activate this function and when you reduce the throttle speed your locomotive will begin braking and slow up quicker as you continue to lower the throttle speed and you will hear the squeal of the brakes. Accelerating will release the brakes.

Coupling and Release with Shunting Mode

Activate coupling or release and your locomotive will automatically reduce its speed to allow for a more realistic coupling or release operation. Once the operation is completed your locomotive will continue to run at slow speed for a few more seconds before returning to the speed set on your throttle.

Prototypical Headlight Operation

We have also modified the headlight operation to resemble prototypical operation.

In the past you would have turned off the sound (Pressing F8) and all the sounds including the generator would stop playing but your headlight would remain on and you would have to turn it off separately. Well not anymore...

Press the headlight button (F0) to turn on the generator. The headlight won't turn on until enough power has been generated to turn the light on dimmed. While the generator is on the headlight stays on. If you press F8 to shut down and turn the loco sound off which will include the generator then the headlight will also turn off even if you haven't turned the headlight off itself using the headlight button.

Also, added are:

• Automatic High Beam Headlight Function when the locomotive begins to drive. Bring the loco to a stop and the headlight will return to dim.
• Low Beam Front Headlight when reversing is also available.
• Selectable high to low beam while driving.

Remastered 3801 Whistle

A new remastered NSWGR 3801 recorded whistle including a reversing whistle

And includes all these great features to make your 38 Class locomotive drive and sound impressive

• NSWGR 38 recorded steam sounds
• Cold Boiler Start Up Sequence including boiler water fill, fire up sequence, boiler pressure reached before moving off
• Optional Quick Hot Start Up Sequence - Straight to waiting for boiler pressure to be reach before moving off
• Full Throttle Heavy Load - Lock the loco speed and control the chuff sound independently to simulate a hard-working steam locomotive
• Coasting On Demand
• Working Brake
• Brake squeal on deceleration and turns off on acceleration
• NSWGR 3801 Whistle including a reversing whistle
• NSWGR 38 Class Compressor
• Playable Stop Sounds including boiler/steam sounds, safety values, blower and more
• Random Drive Sounds including track squeal, compressor, injectors, coal shovelling, and more
• Individual Coupling and Release Options depending on the locomotive's direction with shunting mode
• Water filling tender sounds
• Generator controlled Headlight. The headlight is controlled by the generator sound
• Automatic High Beam Headlight Function when the locomotive begins to drive and returning to a dim state at stop
• Optional low beam headlight when reversing or while driving
• Guard's Whistle
• Wheel Squeal and Rail Clanking
• Can play up to 10 different sounds simultaneously
• Motor settings and sound volumes tuned to specifically suit the Eureka 38 Class Locomotive Model
• Slow Speed motor performance
• Individual sounds slots and master sound volumes can be adjusted by the user to suit personal requirements
• Full function button remapping to suit your personal requirements.
• DCC Solutions High Performance Speaker delivering great sound

While this sound project has been set up for use with the Australian Railway Models 38 Class is can also be used on other 38 Class Models

DCC INSTALLATION OPTIONS AND FEATURES

Standard DCC Installation: ESU LokPilot Standard Non-sound decoder with no lighting modifications.

Premium DCC Installation and Light Modification: ESU LokPilot 5 Non-Sound decoder with installed operating LED Headlight

Premium Sound Installation: ESU LokSound 5 Sound decoder programmed with the DCC Solutions Custom Sound Project.

Premium Sound Installation and Light Modification: ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder programmed with the DCC Solutions Custom Sound Project and installed operating LED Headlight

Here is the selection of sound and functions using the ESU LokSound 5 Sound Decoder

SOUND and OUTPUT FUNCTION LABELS

Premium Sound Installation and Light Modification

Note: The above functions are for the LokSound 5 Decoder programmed with DCC Solutions Premium Custom Sound Installation with Light Modification.

The functions and sounds will be different from any standard generic ESU Sound Files or other Sound Decoders. To learn how to use these functions see the Info & Help page.

All functions can be reprogrammed to suit your own personal requirements.

Options Available

ESU LokSound 5 Sound Decoder programmed with DCC Solutions Custom NSWGR 38 Class Sound Project

ESU LokPilot 5 (Non Sound Decoder)

Alternative brands of Sound and Non Sound Decoders of your choice.

DCC Solutions upgraded Light Modifications

Supply only Decoders and Speakers for DIY Installations