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IDR Models X200 Class DCC Sound Installation

with Stay Alive

Now available with a NEW​ Remastered Custom Sound Project

including "Full Throttle - Drive Hold" feature

About the NSW X200

The X200 were a class of rail tractors introduced in 1963 and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia. They were a development of the smaller and less numerous X100 class. The X200 class remained in service until 1990 when they were either withdrawn or sold off to private companies, and some remain operational today.

Mark 1 series

The Mark 1 series of the X200 class were 3 times more powerful and twice as heavy as the X100 class. 

Six were built and numbered X201-X206.

They were built using a number of steam locomotive spare parts using the inner bogies of the AD60 Beyer-Garratt class locomotives, and used spare C36 class locomotive windows in their cabs. Their engines were rated at 190 kW at 2,100 rpm and had a top speed of just 39 km/h.

The addition of a train brake allowed them to be run on the main line and also to be used as replacements for various ageing shunting locomotives. X201 was the first entered service in December 1963. The six Mark 1s were initially used in the Sydney metropolitan network, but did later find their ways beyond this region.

Mark 2 series

The Mark 2 series of the X200 class were different again. Twelve were built and numbered X207-X218.

They were built on the outer bogies of the AD60 Beyer-Garratt class locomotives. Their engines were more powerful, rated at 220 kW at 2,100 rpm, and they had a higher top speed of 51 km/h. This made them more practical for light line use. The exterior design of the Mark 2 was squarer, giving it the appearance of a baby-brother to the 49 class diesel locomotives.

The first six were built in 1967. The second six, being an additional order, were placed into traffic from May 1968, with the final member of the class entering service in December 1968. Despite differences in engine horsepower ratings, both variants were rated as having a tractive effort of 17,750 lbf (79.0 kN). This was more powerful than many of the typical small and workshop steam shunting locomotives of the time.

The X200 class must be considered largely successful, as they began to replace the various ageing steam shunting locomotives in various depots of the time. They were cleaner, more efficient to run, requiring less maintenance, and also giving locomotive crews more comfortable working conditions. Another indicator of the class success is that several examples are still operational.

DCC with Sound and Stay Alive

In February 2016, IDR Models released the Mark 2 Series X200 Class Shunting Locomotive, which includes an 8 Pin socket for fitting a DCC decoder. In DCC, the Headlights will operate directional. No Marker Lights are fitted to the model. There is extremely limited space inside the model for a sound installation.


For DCC Sound we recommend the ESU LokSound 5 decoder programmed with the DCC Solutions Custom X200 Class Sound Project or the ESU LokPilot 5 for those no requiring sound. 

It is also recommended the installation of a DCCS PowerPlus Stay Alive to enable uninterrupted performance at super slow speeds, especially travelling through insulfrog points.

YES... We have been able to fit a sound decoder, speaker, and stay alive inside the body of this tiny model without using the cab space. Simply Amazing!!!

.....and sounds equally impressive!!!

The DCC Solutions NSW X200 Custom Sound Project is packed with

sounds and features not found on other sound decoders

So why not get fully featured sound from DCC Solutions

Our Custom Sound Project now includes these fantastic features:

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 top speed 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.

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.

Coupling and Release with DCCS 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 coupling operation is completed, your locomotive will automatically stop while once uncoupled will continue to run at slow speed for a few more seconds before returning to the speed set on your throttle.

And includes all these great features to make your IDR Models X200 Class drive and sound impressive

  • 6-cylinder Cummins Diesel Engine NSW X200 Custom Built Sound Project
  • Random Start-Up and Shut Down Sequences
  • NSW X200 Short Blast and Playable Horn
  • Air and Brake Release Sounds when loco moves off and stops, including Brake Squeal
  • When the loco stops after braking, the random compressor cuts in to fill the reservoir and will turn off when the tanks are full
  • Speed sensitive Wheel Squeal and Rail Noises when the loco moves off.
  • Brake squeal on deceleration and turns off on acceleration.
  • 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.
  • Stop & Drive Random Sounds including fans, compressor, rail noise, track wheel squeal, air releases and more!
  • Guard's Whistle
  • Wheel Squeal and Rail Clanking
  • Individual Coupling and Release Options depending on the locomotive's direction with DCCS shunting mode
  • Shunting mode for slow speed shunting operations
  • Low beam to High beam Headlight operation
  • Play 10 different sounds simultaneously
  • Sound volumes tuned to specifically suit the IDR Models X200 using the DCC Solutions speaker

    Individual sounds slots and master sound volumes can be adjusted by the user to suit personal requirements

    Motor settings tuned to provide fantastic Slow Speed motor performance

    Full 28 function button remapping to suit your personal requirements

    DCC Solutions High-Performance Speaker delivering impressive sound

  • DCC PowerPlus Stay Alive Device providing uninterrupted performance at slow speeds, especially travelling through insulfrog points.
  • DCC INSTALLATION OPTIONS

    Standard DCC Installation: ESU Non-sound decoder

    Premium Sound Installation: ESU LokSound 5 programmed with the DCC Solutions Custom NSW X200 Sound Project with a DCCS PowerPlus Stay Alive

    DCC Solutions SOUND and FUNCTION Labels

    Premium Sound Installation and Stay Alive using the ESU LokSound 5

    F0    Headlight

    F1    Drive Hold - Full Throttle

    F2    Horn

    F3    High Beam Headlight

    F4    Reserved

    F5    Coasting On Demand

    F6    Brake

    F7    Brake Squeal on Deceleration

    F8    Prime Mover Start Up/Shut Down

    F9    Reserved - For Light Mods

    F10  Reserved - For Light Mods

    F11  Reserved - For Light Mods

    F12  Reserved - For Light Mods

    F13  Reserved - For Light Mods

    F14  Reserved - For Light Mods

    F15  Fan

    F16  Compressor

    F17  Coupling /Uncoupling + DCCS Shunting Mode

    F18  Wheel Squeal

    F19  Guard's Whistle

    F20  Sanding

    F21  Volume Fader - Reduces Sound 50%

    F22  Front Headlight

    F23  Cab Window Open/Close

    F24  Reserved

    F25  Shunting Mode - Reduces Speed 50%

    F26  Short Air Release

    F27  Cab Door

    F28  Rail Clank

    Note: The above functions are for the LokSound 5 Decoder programmed with DCC Solutions Premium Custom Sound Installation with Stay Alive Device

    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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