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Powerline 48 Class Diesel Locomotive (2022)

DCC Sound Installation with Light Modifications

Now available with our NEW Remastered Custom Sound Project

including "Full Throttle - Drive Hold" feature

About the NSW 48 Class Locomotive

The 48 Class diesel-electric locomotives were built by A.E Goodwin, Auburn for the NSW Government Railways in four production batches (or mark versions) between September 1959 and October 1970. They were built under the ALCO DL531 model with the largest number of 165 units built for NSW, 44 units built for the South Australian Government Railways 830 Class which operated services throughout SA on the narrow, standard and broad gauge lines. A further 3 narrow gauge examples were purchased by Silverton Rail for use on the Silverton Tramway Line around Broken Hill.

There were four versions built for the NSWGR were:

  • Mark 1: 4801 – 4845 (September. 1959 to March 1962)

  • Mark 2: 4846 – 4885 (June 1964 to September 1965)

  • Mark 3: 4886 - 48125 (March 1966 to July 1968)

  • Mark 4: 48126 – 48165 (January 1969 to October 1970)

The NSWGR 48 Class was ordered to commence the conversion of branch lines to dieselisation and to see if branch line operating costs could be reduced. They became an immediate success, and by the early 1960's the heaviest trains in NSW were being hauled by multiply 48 class locomotives. They later went on to become the backbone of the NSW Fleet.

As well as branch lines, they operated both mainline and metropolitan services and were seen on every line in the state. Aside from a couple written off after accidents in the mid-1980s, withdrawals didn't commence until August 1994. Others have been withdrawn since and as at January 2014, 66 units still remained in service as an extremely simple and reliable locomotive capable of performing any duty. Of the other 99 units, 7 have been preserved, 29 stored, 63 scrapped.

DCC with Sound and Light Modifications

In January 2022, Powerline Models released yet another batch of 48 Class Locomotives. This release covers Mark 1 in SRA Candy and locomotives come as 4808, 4811, 4827 and 4841. The model includes a 21 Pin socket for fitting a DCC decoder plus a factory installed speaker. The model comes with LED headlights, numberboards, red and white marker lights. 

In standard DCC, all lights will operate directional.

Note: The illumination of the numberboards is barely visible, and you really need to look hard to see them light up. The headlight is fairly dim, probably to represent more like a light bulb.


For this DCC installation, we recommend the ESU LokSound 5 (Sound) with our remastered Custom Sound Project for the NSW 48 Class or the LokPilot 5 (No Sound) for those not wishing sound.


We offer a light modification for this Powerline 48 Class to separate the lights for a more prototypical operation

Standard factory lighting in the model has all lights “ON” in the direction of travel, requiring just 2 function lighting outputs in DCC.

Upgraded from the factory standard 2 to 8 Function lighting outputs with the DCC Solutions light modification where we will separate the headlights, numberboards, white markers and red markers lights for individual DCC control to provide more prototypical NSWGR practice lighting operation when running your Powerline 48 Class model. Directional light control will still be available.

Also, we can brighten the numberboards to make them more visible and modify the brightness of the headlight for our featured low beam to high beam switch to actually work to show a greater difference in the headlight brightness.

The DCC Solutions NSW 48 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 very basic sound and features

So why not get fully featured sound from DCC Solutions

Our Custom Sound Project now includes these fantastic features:

Custom Built NSW 48 Class Sound Project

This is not just a basic factory sound project but a completely custom-built sound project by DCC Solutions that contains recorded sounds with customised sound programming plus extra features that will make your NSW 48 Class Powerline model a uniquely, impressive driving and sounding loco that will turn heads!

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.

Dynamic Brake Logic

There are no Dynamic Brakes on a 48 Class Locomotive, however we have included Dynamic Brake Logic in this sound project to allow your 48 Class loco to run in a trailing consist with other locos that may have Dynamic Brakes.

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 playable and short blast horn including NSWGR WABCo A/B Series, RVB Hurricane 3 Chime, RVB Hurricane 5 Chime and Twin RVB Hurricane 5 Chime available to suit your specific model.

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 Powerline 48 Class model drive and sound impressive

ALCO 6-251B Turbo 

NSW 48 Class Custom Built Sound Project
  • 48 Class Short Blast and Playable Horn. NSWGR WABCo Pneuphonic type A/B or NSWGR RVB Hurricane 5 chime
  • Additional Horns: NSWGR RVB Hurricane 3 chime, NSWGR Twin RVB Hurricane 5 chime
  • 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
  • Dynamic Brake Logic to allow your 48 Class loco to run in a trailing consist with other locos that may have Dynamic Brakes
  • 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 48 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 Powerline 48 Class Locomotive Model
  • Play 10 different sounds simultaneously
  • 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
  • This Sound Project is also suitable for other brands of 48 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 NSW 48 Class Sound Project. No lighting modifications

    Premium Sound Installation and Light Modification: Upgrade to 8 Function lighting outputs with the DCC Solutions Light Modification to separate all lighting for individual function control on your DCC throttle, plus our ESU LokSound 5 Custom 48 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    NSWGR 48 Class Horn

    F3    High Beam Headlight

    F4    Dynamic Brake Logic as a Trailing Unit

    F5    Coasting on Demand

    F6    Brake

    F7    Brake Squeal on Deceleration

    F8    Prime Mover Start Up/Shut Down/Mute

    F9    Front White Markers On/Off

    F10  Rear Red Markers On/Off

    F11  Rear White Markers On/Off

    F12  Front Red Markers On/Off

    F13  Directional Marker Lights

    F14  Numberboards On/Off

    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  Numberboard Switch - Front_Front+Rear_Rear

    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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