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Austrains X - Diesel Locomotive 

DCC Sound Installation with Light Modifications

Now available with our NEW Remastered Custom Sound Project

including "Full Throttle - Drive Hold" feature

About the Victorian X Class

The X class are a class of mainline diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville and Rosewater for the Victorian Railways between 1966 and 1976.

First Series - X31 to X36

The first batch of six were built in 1966 with mostly the same mechanics as the S class but with a hood type of body and entered service in the second half of 1966 and they hauled passenger and freight services throughout Victoria. On the broad gauge they operated with the ten broad gauge S Class locomotives, with typical assignments being the Adelaide freights, and associated passenger working like The Overland and The Vinelander. However, it was rare for them to venture out to Gippsland until the late 1970s.

Second Series - X37 to X44

Only a few years after the delivery of X36, additional locomotives were needed due to increased traffic volumes. Clyde Engineering was the only company to submit a tender for the contract. The tender was essentially for an upgraded version of the X Class, this time with at least 2,000 hp and, for the first time, crew comfort was taken into consideration. The 2nd series was delivered with the newly developed EMD 16-645E engine at 2,200 hp in place of the 16-567 and the eight new locomotives were delivered across 1969–1970.

Third Series - X45 to X54

With further increases in rail traffic and the fact that the earlier diesel-electric locomotives were soon coming due for major overhauls, there were no spare locomotive power to fill the gaps in the rosters, a third tender for 10 more X Class locomotives closed on 20 February 1974. This time Comeng, offered their standard ALCO locomotive while Clyde Engineering offer was similar to the 2nd Series X Class locomotives they previously built including the EMD 16-645E engine. The ALCO offer totalled about $3.75 million against Clyde's $3.95 million, but the ALCO offer was rejected on grounds of much higher maintenance and running costs. The ten new locomotives were delivered across 1975–1976

This series of locomotives were normally used on the interstate runs, where multiple engines were required, and about half the class spent extended periods on standard gauge. They were the first Victorian Railways class of engine allowed to run in revenue service from Albury to Sydney from December 1982.

DCC with Sound and Light Modifications

In 2004, Austrains released the X Class 2nd and 3rd Series locomotive, which includes an 8 Pin socket for fitting a DCC decoder with no provision for a speaker. The model only comes with incandescent light bulbs for the front and rear headlight.

In 2005, 2007 and in 2009, Austrains released more models of their X class which had the same features as the original release.


For this DCC installation, we recommend the ESU LokSound 5 (Sound) with our remastered Custom Sound Project for the VIC X Class or the LokPilot 5 (No Sound) for those not wishing sound.


We offer a light modification for the Austrains X Class to install LED headlights

Here at DCC Solutions, we offer a lighting upgrade for the Austrains X Class to replace both headlight bulbs with LEDs.

The DCC Solutions Victorian X Class Custom Sound Project

is packed with sounds and features not found on other sound decoders,

especially factory fitted sound

Factory Fitted Sound only offers you the very basic sound 

So why not get fully featured sound from DCC Solutions

Our Custom Sound Project now includes these fantastic features:

Custom Built Victorian X Class Sound Project

This is not just a basic factory sound project but two completely custom-built sound project by DCC Solutions that contains recorded sounds with customised sound programming plus extra features that will make your Victorian X Class Austrains model a uniquely, impressive driving and sounding loco that will turn heads!

Two Sound Projects Available:

EMD 16-567E Prime Mover Sound (X31-36) First Series

EMD 16-645E Prime Mover Sound (X37-54) Second and Third Series

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 can be controlled independently by adjusting the speed on the throttle, so this can simulate a hard-working locomotive. This exciting feature gives the operator the ability to have the loco crawling in notch 8 or coasting at 100 km/h along the track. 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 or sound from other providers will not stop your loco at speed step 0 with the drive hold switched on, which can damage your model because you ran into something.

Coasting On Demand

This feature allows you to enter coasting mode whenever you want with a press of a button. Often, when coming to a stop, the throttle of a real locomotive is put into idle and the locomotive coasts to a stop. Another situation that occurs is that once a train is up to speed when operating over rolling countryside, the driver can coast to maintain a certain speed. By pressing the coast function button, the sound drops into coasting and remains there. Using the throttle speed control, you can now speed up or slow down the train, with the sound remaining in coasting mode. Press the function button to exit coasting, the sound will return to the speed that's set when exiting.

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. The brake can also be used while driving to slow the locomotive up.

Working Dynamic Brake

Apply the Dynamic Brakes and the Prime Mover will wind down to idle and slow up, then the Dynamic Fans engage to assist with cooling. Reduce the throttle, and the decoder's dynamic braking logic will reduce your speed faster than normal. Disengage Dynamic Braking and the primer mover will return to it's notched speed and the fans will turn off.

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.

Random Start-up Sequences with Move Off and Stopping Sounds

Now, with random start-up sequences, your start-up and shut down will not always sound the same.

As your locomotive begins to move off you will hear the sounds of brakes releasing with random speed activated wheel squeal, rail noises and other sounds. Some of these sounds are random or speed sensitive that will turn on/off automatically depending on your take-off speed. When the locomotive comes to a stop you will hear the squeal of the brakes, air releases and then the compressor will cut in automatically to fill the reservoirs with air until full and will cut out.

Remastered Horn Sounds

New remastered RVB Hurricane 3 Chime Series or Nathan P5 playable and short blast horn.

Random Sounds

While the factory fitted sound will only offer you 1-2 random sounds, DCC Solutions will have up to 10 random sounds that will play when either the loco is stopping or moving, to create even more realism to running your model.

Manual Notching

For those who really want to drive their train and manually control the notching rather than letting the decoder do it.

And includes all these great features to make your Austrains X Class model drive and sound impressive

Victorian X31-X36 Class 1st Series EMD 16-567E Custom Built Sound Project

  • Victorian X37-X54 Class 2nd and 3rd Series EMD 16-645E Custom Built Sound Project
  • RVB Hurricane 3 Chime Series or Nathan P5 Short Blast and Playable Horn
  • Random Start-up sequences, including Automatic Hot or Cold Engine Start
  • Air and Brake Release Sounds when loco moves off and stops, including Brake Squeal
  • When the loco stops after braking, the compressor cuts in to fill the reservoir and will turn off when the tanks are full
  • Speed sensitive Wheel Squeal and Rail Noise when the loco moves off
  • Full Throttle Drive Hold - Lock the loco speed and control the sound independently to simulate a heavy loaded or empty train
  • Coasting On Demand
  • Working Brake to bring your locomotive to a stop even when Full Throttle Drive Hold is active, unlike other ESU sound files
  • Proper Working Dynamic Brakes: When activated, automatically slows down with Dynamic braking, cooling fans operate 
  • Directional Coupling and Release with brake line release plus auto active shunting mode to reduce the speed of the loco
  • Stop & Drive Random Sounds including fans, compressor, rail noise, track wheel squeal, air releases and more!
  • NSW X class compressor
  • Wheel Squeal
  • Brake Squeal on deceleration and off on acceleration
  • Guard's Whistle
  • Manual Notching - manually control the notching rather than letting the decoder do it
  • And more (See below for full list)
  • Modified Lighting Option for more prototypical light operation
  • Low beam to High beam Headlight operation
  • Motor settings tuned for slow speed performance, perfect for shunting
  • Sound volumes tuned to specifically suit the Austrains X Class Locomotive Model using the DCC Solutions speaker
  • Play 10 different sounds simultaneously
  • Individual sounds slots and master sound volumes can be adjusted by the user to suit personal requirements
  • DCC Solutions High Performance Dynamic Speaker producing fantastic sound
  • Full function button remapping to suit your personal requirements
  • This Sound Project is also suitable for other brands of X Class Models

    • DCC INSTALLATION AND MODIFICATION FEATURES

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

    Premium Sound Installation: ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder with our Custom VIC X Class Sound Project-No light modifications

    Premium Sound Installation and Light Modification: Upgrade the headlights to LEDs plus our ESU LokSound 5 Custom VIC X Class Sound Project

    DCC Solutions SOUND and FUNCTION Labels

    Premium Sound Installation and Light Modification using the ESU LokSound 5

    F0    Directional Headlights

    F1    Full Throttle Drive Hold

    F2    VIC X Class Horn

    F3    High Beam Headlight

    F4    Dynamic Brake

    F5    Coasting on Demand

    F6    Brake

    F7    Brake Squeal on Deceleration

    F8    Prime Mover Start Up/Shut Down/Mute

    F9    Reserved (Light Mods)

    F10  Reserved (Light Mods)

    F11  Reserved (Light Mods)

    F12  Reserved (Light Mods)

    F13  Reserved (Light Mods)

    F14  Reserved (Light Mods)

    F15  Fan

    F16  Compressor

    F17  Coupling /Uncoupling + DCCS Shunting Mode

    F18  Wheel Squeal

    F19  Guard's Whistle

    F20  Sanding Valve

    F21  Volume Fader - Reduces Sound 50%

    F22  Front Headlight

    F23  Manual Handbrake Ratchet Set/Release

    F24  Spitter Valves

    F25  Manual Notching

    F26  Notch Up / Short Air Release

    F27  Notch Down / Cab Door

    F28  Rail Clank

    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.

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