Ixion Models VIC J Class 2-8-0 Steam Locomotive
DCC Sound Installation
Now available with a NEW Remastered Custom Sound Project
including "Full Throttle - Heavy Load" feature
About the Victorian J Class Locomotive
The Victorian Railways J class was a branch line steam locomotive operated by the Victorian Railways (VR) between 1954 and 1972.
The J Class was an evolution of the highly successful K class design, made to be gauge convertible with a number of modernised features, and it was the last of the steam locomotive introduced on the VR network.
A total of sixty J class locomotives were built by the Vulcan Foundry in Lancashire, England.
With fluctuating oil prices and an unreliable supply of coal in the early 1950s, the VR decided to order thirty of the class as coal burners (J500 - J529) and thirty as oil burners (J530 - J559)
The J Class locomotives were introduced for both passenger and goods traffic on Victoria's branch lines, but they were only in service for a relatively short time, as they were introduced around the start of the diesel-electric locomotive era that ultimately superseded them with the first J Class being scrapped in November 1967 (J523) with the last J550 surviving in revenue service until 25th May 1972.
Of the 60 locomotives produced, J549 was recently overhauled and is currently operational at the Victorian Goldfields Railways, and J515 and J541 are both being overhauled to return to service. With 49 scrapped, the remaining 8 are either stored or on static display.
DCC with Sound
The Ixion J Class was released on 29th September 2021 as a DC model with a 21 pin socket for fitting a DCC decoder. There is no provision for installing a speaker. It has a working headlight when running forward and 3 rear marker lights when running in reverse.
For this installation we recommend the ESU LokSound 5 decoder for sound programmed with the DCC Solutions Custom J Class Sound Project or the ESU LokPilot 5 for those no requiring sound.
The DCC Solutions VIC J Class Custom Sound Project is packed with
sounds and features not found on other sound decoders
and will have your model sounding just like a real steam locomotive
So why not get fully featured sound from DCC Solutions
Our Custom Sound Project now includes these fantastic features:
Cold and Hot Start Up Sequences
Coal Burners - 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, the 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!
Oil Burners - 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 oil being ignited and the sounds of the pressure building up to reach the correct level before commencing to move off. Now that's definitely something you won't hear from other sound decoders!
Select the Hot Start-Up to activate the hot boiler quick start to skip the preheat assuming the correct boiler pressure is almost reached.
Shut down your J Class and the sound just doesn't stop. Steam releases and other sounds will be heard as the locomotive shuts down.
Full Throttle – Heavy Load
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 or sound from other providers will not stop your loco at speed step 0 with the drive hold switched 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 real 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. 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.
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.
Prototypical Headlight Operation
We have also modified the headlight operation to resemble the 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 for lighting are:
Automatic High Beam Headlight Function when the locomotive begins to drive. Bring the loco to a stop, and it will return to a dim state.
Low Beam Front Headlight when reversing is also available.
Selectable high to low beam while driving.
Remastered Whistle
A new remastered J Class whistle that includes user selectable options
Playable with varying starts and ends to the whistle.
Three additional versions of the playable whistle
A reversing whistle
And includes all these great features to make your Ixion J Class drive and sound impressive
Sound volumes tuned to specifically suit the Ixion J Class Locomotive Model using the DCC Solutions speaker
Motor settings tuned to provide Slow Speed motor performance
DCC INSTALLATION OPTIONS
Standard DCC Installation: Non-sound decoder
Premium Sound Installation: ESU LokSound 5 programmed with the DCC Solutions Custom Vic J Class Sound Project
Premium Sound Installation and Light Modification: Not Available
DCC Solutions SOUND and FUNCTION Labels
Premium Sound Installation using the ESU LokSound 5
F0 Headlight - FWD-Bright_REV-Off_STOP-Dim
F1 Drive Hold - Heavy Load
F2 Playable Whistle
F3 Low Beam Headlight while driving
F4 Cylinder Steam Release
F5 Coasting On Demand
F6 Brake
F7 Brake Squeal on Deceleration
F8 Boiler Start Up Sound On/Off/Mute
F9 Directional Rear White Marker Lights
F10 Reserved (Light Mods)
F11 Rear White Markers
F12 Reserved (Light Mods)
F13 Headlight - FWD-Bright_REV-Dim_STOP-Dim
F14 Reserved (Light Mods)
F15 Blower / Oil Burner
F16 Compressor
F17 Coupling /Uncoupling + DCCS Shunting Mode
F18 Wheel Squeal
F19 Guard's Whistle
F20 Sanding
F21 Volume Fader - Reduces Sound 50%
F22 Headlight On/Off (No Generator for Silent Running)
F23 Tender Water Fill
F24 Injectors
F25 Safety Valves
F26 Coal Shovelling (Coal Burner Models Only)
F27 Shunting Mode
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.