Powerline T Class 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 T Class
The T class are a diesel locomotive built by Clyde Engineering in Granville, NSW for the Victorian Railways between 1955 and 1968. In July 1954 the Victorian Railways placed an order with Clyde Engineering for 25 (later extended to 27) diesel-electric Electro-Motive Diesel G8 locomotives to partially dieselise country branch lines.
In June 1959 the first of an additional ten entered service. Although mechanically similar to the first batch, they differed by having a cab raised above the hood line. A further ten entered service from December 1961. In September 1965 the first of an order for another 32 was delivered. These differed by having a lower nose. A final order for 19 was delivered from April 1967. The last five were built with an extra 10 tonnes (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons) of ballast weight for improved adhesion and low speed controls for use as shunting locomotives in Melbourne. These were reclassified as the H class shortly after being delivered.
Although ordered as branch line locomotives, as branch lines began to close they were often used on main line services.
In 1984/85 Martin & King, Somerton rebuilt 13 flat tops as P class locomotives. This involved a new cab and car body, replacing the EMD 8-567C engine with an EMD 8-645E, replacement of the main generator and traction motors, and provision of a separate head end power generator.
Many were withdrawn in the late 1980s with the arrival of the G class locomotives. In October 1992 six low nose locomotives were sold to Australian National. Others were sold to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia, El Zorro, Great Northern Rail Services, SCT Logistics, Southern Shorthaul Railroad, and West Coast Railway. A number of T class still remain in service, with some being preserved or stored, with the remainder scrapped. Those remaining with V/Line Freight were included in the sale to Freight Australia and in 2000 some stored examples were reactivated and fitted with standard gauge bogies to haul grain services in southern New South Wales. These later were passed onto Pacific National.
The class can be divided into three main styles by appearance:
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Flat Tops: T320-T346 (1st order). Based on Electro-Motive Diesel G8 locomotive design, they had a nose, cab roof and rear body at the same height.
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High Nose: T347-T356 and T357-T366 (2nd and 3rd orders). They differed from the flat tops by having a lower nose and rear body, but were mechanically similar. The 3rd order had an altered radiator design.
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Low Nose: T367-T386, T387-T396, T397-T406 and T407 to T417 (4th-7th orders). The 4th order introduced a new low nose that provided greater driver visibility, and a more modern generator. The 6th order introduced the newer EMD 645E engine, replacing the older EMD 567.
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The H class diesel-electric locomotive were part of the 7th T class order numbered T413-T417 at delivery but renumbered shortly after delivery.
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T413: Built in 1956 for the narrow gauge Fyansford Cement Works Railway, Geelong as D1, it was sold to Victorian Railways, renumbered T413 and had its footplates replaced with similar ones to those already on their pre-existing Ts. Fitted with dynamic brakes.
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T414: Built in November 1956 as DE02 for BHP, was used at their Iron Knob and Whyalla Steelworks. Was not included in Morrison-Knudsen rebuild program like the rest of the class. In 2006, it was sold to SCT Logistics and rebuilt with a cab similar to those on the 4th/5th generation T Class locomotives and was renumbered T414.
DCC with Sound and Light Modifications
In 2006, Powerline Models released the “T” Class low nose locomotive. It included a poor quality DC/DCC decoder that required the user to open the locomotive to access the decoder and slide a switch for it to operate in either DC or DCC. The model comes with LED headlights, red and white marker lights. In standard DCC, all lights will operate directional.
In June 2020 a 2nd run low nose model was released which includes a 21 Pin socket for fitting a DCC plus a 16×35 mm speaker and enclosure. The model comes with LED headlights, red and white marker lights. In standard DCC, all lights will operate directional.
For this DCC installation, we recommend the ESU LokSound 5 (Sound) with our remastered Custom Sound Project for the Victorian T Class or the LokPilot 5 (No Sound) for those not wishing sound.
We offer a light modification for the Powerline T Class to separate the lights for a more prototypical operation
Standard factory lighting has all lights “ON” in the direction of travel, requiring just 2 function lighting outputs in DCC.
Upgraded from the factory standard 2 to 6 Function lighting outputs with the DCC Solutions light modification. We will separate the headlights, white markers and red marker lights for individual DCC control to provide some prototypical lighting operation when running your Bendigo Rail T Class model. Directional light control will still be available.
The DCC Solutions Victorian T Class Custom Sound Project
is packed with sounds and features not found on other sound decoders,
being offered on the Australian market, especially factory fitted sound
Factory Fitted Sound only offers you the very basic sound
So why not get fully featured sound from DCC Solutions
We offer much more than the Powerline Factory Fitted Sound
Our Custom Sound Project now includes these fantastic features:
Custom Built Victorian T 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 T Class Powerline model a uniquely, impressive driving and sounding loco that will turn heads!
Two Sound Projects Available:
EMD 8-567CR Prime Mover Sound (T320-T398)
EMD 8-645E Prime Mover Sound (T399-T413)
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 Only
There are no Dynamic Brakes on a T Class Locomotive. However, we have included Dynamic Brake Logic in this sound project to allow your T Class loco to run in a trailing consist with other locos that may have Dynamic Brakes, so it will operate with your lead locomotive.
Working Dynamic Brake (T413 Only)
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 WABCo Pneuphonic A/B Series or RVB Hurricane 3 Chime Series 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 Powerline T Class model drive and sound impressive
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Victorian T320-T398 Class EMD 8-567CR Custom Built Sound Project
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Victorian T399-T413 Class EMD 8-645E Custom Built Sound Project
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WABCo Pneuphonic A/B Short Blast and Playable Horn (T320-346) 1st Series - Flat Tops
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RVB Hurricane 3 Chime Short Blast and Playable Horn (T347-T412)
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Random Start-up sequences, including Automatic Hot or Cold Engine Start
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Air and Brake Release Sounds when loco moves off and stops, including Brake Squeal
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When the loco stops after braking, the compressor cuts in to fill the reservoir and will turn off when the tanks are full
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Speed sensitive Wheel Squeal and Rail Noise when the loco moves off
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Full Throttle Drive Hold – Lock the loco speed, control the sound independently to simulate a heavy loaded or empty train
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Coasting On Demand
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Working Brake to bring your locomotive to a stop even when Full Throttle Drive Hold is active, unlike other ESU sound files
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Dynamic Brake Logic to allow your T Class loco to run in a trailing consist with other locos that may have Dynamic Brakes
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Working Dynamic Brakes – T413: When activated, automatically slows down with Dynamic braking, cooling fans operate
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Directional Coupling and Release with brake line release plus auto active shunting mode to reduce the speed of the loco
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Stop & Drive Random Sounds including fans, compressor, rail noise, track wheel squeal, air releases and more!
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Victorian T class compressor
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Wheel Squeal
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Brake Squeal on deceleration and off on acceleration
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Guard's Whistle
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Manual Notching – manually control the notching rather than letting the decoder do it
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And more (See below for full list)
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Modified Lighting Option for more prototypical light operation
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Low beam to High beam Headlight operation
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Motor settings tuned for slow speed performance, perfect for shunting
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Sound volumes tuned to specifically suit the Powerline T Class Locomotive Model using the DCC Solutions speaker
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Play 10 different sounds simultaneously
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Individual sounds slots and master sound volumes can be adjusted by the user to suit personal requirements
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DCC Solutions High Performance Dynamic Speaker producing fantastic sound
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Full function button remapping to suit your personal requirements
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This Sound Project is also suitable for other brands of T 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 T Class Sound Project
Premium Sound Installation and Light Modification: Upgrade from 2 to 6 Function lighting outputs with the DCC Solutions Light Modification to separate the lighting for individual function control on your DCC throttle, plus our ESU LokSound 5 Custom Victorian T 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 T Class Horn
F3 High Beam Headlight
F4 Dynamic Brake (T413)
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 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.