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Bendigo Rail P 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 P Class

The P class are a diesel locomotive rebuilt from T class locomotives by Clyde Engineering, Somerton for V/Line between June 1984 and September 1985. Only first-series T Class locomotives were suitable for the rebuild which involved a new cab and body design, replacing the EMD 8-567C engine with an EMD 8-645E, replacement of the main generator and traction motors, modernised electrical systems and a diesel generator head-end power (HEP) unit was fitted to provide power for the H car set’s air conditioning and lighting needs.


Whilst the P class was primarily designed for hauling a single 3 car H car set, in their early days they could also be occasionally seen hauling wooden bodied red and blue car sets. In March 1986 tests were conducted using double H car sets with a P class at each end operating in push-pull mode, removing the need for locos to run around a consist at the end of their trip with the crew simply changing ends for the return trip. Following the test workings, this arrangement was then introduced on some Sunbury and Bacchus Marsh services. In an effort to meet increasing demand, during August 1987 some H car sets were increased to 4 cars, this being the maximum capacity for the P class. Whilst primarily designed for their passenger workings, available units were also often seen on routine short to medium distance country freight services as well as suburban goods workings. During the 1990's P class were regularly rostered on Goulburn Valley freights to Mooroopna and Tocumwal where their HEP unit was used for refrigerated containers.


By September 2017, all of V/Line's P class locomotives had been withdrawn from regular passenger service, having been replaced by the Vlocity diesel multiple units. In 2019 Southern Shorthaul Railroad acquired some P class locomotives from V/line. They remain in V/Line colours, but with V/Line logos painted over and replaced with the SSR logo.


DCC with Sound and Light Modifications

In June 2015, Bendigo Rail Models released the P Class locomotive which includes a 21 Pin socket for fitting a DCC decoder plus a provision for a 23 mm round speaker in the chassis. 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 VIC P Class or the LokPilot 5 (No Sound) for those not wishing sound.


We offer a light modification for the Bendigo Rail P 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 6 Function lighting outputs with the DCC Solutions light modification where 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 P Class model. Directional light control will still be available.


Unlike ESU/Auscision factory sound which uses 2 sound slots to operate the lights, our light modification does not use any sound slots for lighting, so all the 10 sound processing channels are available to play sounds when using all the lighting, so you will get the full sound experience all the time.

The DCC Solutions Victorian P 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 Victorian p 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 Victorian P Class Bendigo Rail 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 Only

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

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 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 Bendigo Rail P Class model drive and sound impressive

  • Victorian P Class EMD 8-645E Custom Built Sound Project

  • RVB Hurricane 3 Chime Short Blast and Playable Horn

  • 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 P 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!

  • Victorian P 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 Bendigo Rail P Class Locomotive Model using the DCC Solutions speaker

  • Play 10 different sounds simultaneously

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

  • DCC Solutions High Performance Dynamic Speaker producing fantastic sound

  • Full function button remapping to suit your personal requirements

  • This Sound Project is also suitable for other brands of P 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 P Class Sound Project-No light modifications

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 VIC P 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 P Class Horn

F3    High Beam Headlight

F4    Dynamic Brake Logic Only

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.

All functions can be reprogrammed to suit your own personal requirements.

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