
SDS/Eureka K Class Steam Locomotive
DCC Sound Installation

Now available with a NEW Remastered Custom Sound Project
including "Full Throttle - Heavy Load" feature

About the VR K Class
The Victorian Railways built 53 K class engines at Newport Workshops over a 24-year period, between 1922 and 1946.
The K class was a remarkably versatile and dependable locomotive, that went on to outlast every other class of steam locomotive in regular service on the Victorian Railways.
Although originally designed as a goods locomotive, their maximum permissible speed was raised for branchline passenger service, further increasing their versatility. Thus, the K class is credited with working virtually every line in the Victorian Rail system and hauling almost every kind of train during its service years.
During the 1940s, the original batch of ten K class locomotives were equipped with the Victorian Railway's 'Modified Front End' for improved drafting and reduced cylinder back pressure. They also saw other improvements, such as the fitting of cross-compound air compressors, smoke deflectors and a new welded tender tank which incorporated a self-trimming coal bunker.
Later in 1946 the last 9 engines entered service, these engines had single cab side windows and the last 7 engines were fitted Boxpok style driving wheels.
With the introduction of the T class diesel-electric locomotive from 1955 onwards on VR's branchlines, saw the K Class gradually being retired as successive orders of the T Class were delivered throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s. Even so, their reliable and low-cost operability ensured they remained in service around various yards and depots as shunters and workshop pilots until the late 1960s and several into the early 1970s.
DCC with Sound and Light Modifications
The SDS K Class was released in January 2025. It was available in two versions — Factory fitted ESU sound decoder or DC only with a 21 Pin Socket for fitting a DCC decoder. The Eureka Models only offered the DC version.
For this installation, we recommend the ESU LokSound 5 (Sound) with our remastered Custom Sound Project for the K Class or the LokPilot 5 (No Sound) for those not wishing sound.
We offer a light modification for the SDS/Eureka K Class
New Headlight Operation
We have modified the headlight operation to resemble the prototypical operation of a real steam locomotive, where the light generator controls the operation rather than the light function. No more turning off the sound and the light stays on waiting for you to turn it off.
Also, added are:
* Automatic High Beam Headlight Function when the locomotive begins to drive. Bring it to a stop and the headlight will return to dim.
* Low Beam Front Headlight when reversing is also available.
Separate Marker Light Function
Unlike ESU/SDS factory sound which uses 2 actual sound slots to operate the lights via scrolling light logic, our light modification does not use any sound slots for lighting. Therefore, all the 10 sound processing channels are available to play sounds when using all the marker lights, so you will get the full sound experience all the time.
The DCC Solutions VIC K 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 VIC K Class Sound Project
This is not the factory sound project but a completely custom-built sound project by DCC Solutions. It contains additional sounds with customised sound programming plus extra features not available on the factory sound project that will make your VIC K Class model a uniquely, impressive driving and sounding loco with prototypical lighting operation that will turn heads!
Cold and Hot Start Up Sequences
Select the Cold Start Up to activate the cold boiler pre-heat long start. Hear the water pumped into the boiler, the light of a match to start the fire, the sound of the fire crackling, coal shovelling and 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!
Select the Hot Start-Up to activate the hot boiler quick start to skip the pre-heat long start up.
Shut down your loco and the sound just doesn't stop as the locomotive goes through a steam shut down process.
Full Throttle – Drive Hold
This feature allows you to simulate a hard-working loaded train. When activated, 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 great feature gives the operator the ability to have the train crawling along the track while producing an intense chuff. Release Drive Hold 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
Don't just settle for the factory same single play recorded whistle.
A new remastered K 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 SDS/Eureka K Class drive and sound impressive
-
Cold Boiler Start Up Sequence including boiler water fill, fire up sequence, boiler pressure reached before moving off
-
Optional Quick Hot Start Up Sequence — Straight to waiting for boiler pressure to be reach before moving off
-
Full Throttle Heavy Load — Lock the loco speed, control the chuff sound independently to simulate a hard-working loco.
-
Coasting On Demand
-
Working Brake
-
Brake squeal on deceleration and turns off on acceleration
-
K Class Whistle with variations including a reversing whistle
-
K Class Compressor
-
Playable Stop Sounds including boiler/steam sounds, safety values, blower and more
-
Random Drive Sounds including track squeal, compressor, injectors, coal shovelling, and more
-
Individual Coupling and Release Options depending on the locomotive's direction with shunting mode
-
Water filling tender sounds
-
Generator controlled Headlight. The generator sound controls the headlight.
-
Automatic High Beam Headlight Function when the locomotive begins to drive and returning to a dim state at stop
-
Optional low beam headlight when reversing or while driving
-
Guard's Whistle
-
Wheel Squeal and Rail Clanking
-
Can play up to 10 different sounds simultaneously
-
Motor settings tuned to provide Slow Speed motor performance
-
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
-
Modified Lighting Option for more prototypical light operation
DCC INSTALLATION OPTIONS
Standard DCC Installation: Non-sound decoder
Premium Sound Installation: ESU LokSound 5 programmed with the DCC Solutions Custom VIC K Class Sound Project
Premium Sound Project Upgrade: Reprogram the factory installed ESU Sound Decoder with the DCC Solutions Custom VIC K Class Sound Project and enjoy all the extra features and sounds.
DCC Solutions SOUND and FUNCTION Labels
Premium Sound Installation and Light Modification 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 Front White Markers
F10 Rear White Markers
F11 Front Red/White Shunting Markers
F12 Rear Red/White Shunting Markers
F13 Headlight - FWD-Bright_REV-Dim_STOP-Dim
F14 Single Rear White Marker
F15 Blower
F16 Compressor
F17 Coupling /Uncoupling + DCCS Shunting Mode
F18 Wheel Squeal
F19 Guard's Whistle
F20 Sanding
F21 Volume Fader - Reduces Sound 50%
F22 Marker Light Switch (Directional Markers)
F23 Tender Water Fill
F24 Injectors
F25 Safety Valves
F26 Coal Shovelling
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.