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.
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.
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
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.
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.
- 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
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
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
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.
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